AIKEN, S.C. – The Savannah River Site Fire Department (SRSFD) recently demonstrated its commitment to excellence and emergency preparedness by participating in the National Nuclear Security Administration’s (NNSA) Active Assailant Response workshop—an event that brought together top fire departments and protective force teams from across the NNSA Enterprise. SRSFD’s outstanding performance earned them first place in the Fire Department category.
The five-day workshop, held May 4-8, was designed to benchmark compliance with the NNSA Enterprise Mission Essential Task List (EMETL) for active assailant response, while also fostering collaboration and mutual understanding between rescue and protective force units. Attendees included 14 protective force teams and 11 firefighter or rescue teams, including Centerra personnel. They participated in 14 events—11 graded scenarios and three large-scale scenarios.
Each day of the workshop focused on a specific aspect of emergency response. The opening day was dedicated to collecting information about individual site policies and procedures, providing a baseline for teams in relation to EMETL standards. On the second day, teams engaged in “deliberate practice,” honing critical emergency response skills essential in active assailant situations.
Grading began on the third day, with rescue task force teams tackling increasingly complex real-world scenarios that built on the previous day’s training. The final two days featured large-scale, realistic exercises requiring multiple rescue task forces to work together in dynamic, high-pressure situations.
SRSFD was proudly represented by: Division Chief of Training T.J. Brown; Division Chief of Health and Safety Phillip Weathers; Captain Reynaldo Ruiz; Captain Anthony Feraci; Firefighter/Paramedics Jonathan Brown, Alex Murray, Justin Benton, and James Martinez; and Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technicians Jerry Tysdal and Thomas Johnson. Their collective expertise and teamwork were instrumental in the department’s outstanding performance.
SRSFD personnel plan to share lessons learned and new techniques with on-site colleagues. This training enhances the department’s own emergency response capabilities and also strengthens ongoing collaboration with Centerra, which helps to protect the Site and its community, during any emergency situation.
“This workshop was an invaluable opportunity to test our skills, learn from our peers and strengthen our partnerships across the NNSA Enterprise,” SRSFD Fire Chief Travis Scott said. “I am incredibly proud of our team’s dedication, professionalism and commitment to keeping our Site and community safe.”
SRSFD’s success at the workshop not only highlights their readiness and expertise but also contributes to the ongoing development of best practices and interagency cooperation throughout the NNSA network.
Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, a Fluor and HII partnership company, is responsible for the management and operations of the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site, located near Aiken, South Carolina.
SRNS-2026-1754