Brightline Safety Exercise Strengthens Emergency Response Readiness in Brevard
BREVARD COUNTY • COCOA, FLORIDA — The City of Cocoa Fire Rescue and Brightline teamed up last weekend for a full-scale emergency response exercise designed to enhance rail safety and strengthen coordination among local and regional agencies.
The drill, held Saturday, Nov. 15, off U.S. Highway 1 in Cocoa, met Federal Railroad Administration requirements and simulated a complex emergency aboard a stationary Brightline train.
Actors with mock injuries helped first responders practice triage, patient assessment, and extraction techniques, while a staged vehicle on a nearby embankment recreated a potential roadway-rail incident. No trains were derailed or moved during the exercise.
“This exercise allows our teams to interact directly with Brightline responders, conductors, and engineers so those relationships are built before a real emergency occurs,” said Cocoa Fire Chief Johnathan Lamm.
“We aim to make this as real as possible so we can test all aspects of the response and ensure our personnel are prepared.”
Brightline officials echoed the importance of cross-agency readiness.
“Safety is our number one priority,” said Patrick Clark, Brightline’s Head of Safety and Security.
“We conduct this full-scale exercise every year because maintaining those relationships is vital—we never want the first time we meet to be during an actual emergency.”
Agencies participating in the exercise included Cocoa Fire Rescue, Brightline, Brevard County Fire Rescue, Coastal Health Systems of Brevard, Brevard County Emergency Management, the City of Melbourne Public Information Office, the Federal Railroad Administration, and the DOT’s Boston office.
Officials said the training underscores the region’s commitment to unified communication and seamless response during rail-related emergencies.
Rail Safety Reminder: Residents are urged to stay alert near railroad tracks, obey crossing signals, never attempt to beat an oncoming train, avoid distractions, and remember that walking along railroad tracks is both dangerous and illegal.
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