The sound of fire engines fills the air on isle of La Plume. They are the fire fighters are teaming up with soldiers to sharpen skills and save lives.

"This kind of training can set the stepping stones in place in the event of a real emergency so when we have an opportunity to participate in training like this our Hazmat team was on board from the get go,” says La Crosse Fire Department Division Chief Warren Thomas.

Local fire fighters from around the Coulee Region worked with the U.S. Army Reserve 415th Chemical Brigade in a mock chemical spill and terror attack.

"They can provide a massive Hazmat decontamination response to an urban setting if needed where our resources are stretched to the limit,” says Thomas.

Lt. Col. James Murphy with the U.S. Army Reserve says drills like this make sure if a terror attack or large chemical spill happens, local and federal agencies could work together smoothly.

"It's a tremendous benefit to our soldiers we think because we don't get to work with civilian authorities as a military operator in a consistent or regular basis,” says Lt. Col. Murphy.

Soldiers got the chance to be victims of a chemical spill saved by local fire fighters and soldiers got the chance to practice saving lives themselves.

La Crosse Mayor Matt Harter says he feels better knowing our fire fighters are prepared for anything.

"For us to take on those big challenges if in the unfortunate event they do come along this does make me very confident everyone is performing very well, says Harter.

With intense drills running for two days, Thomas says the La Crosse Fire Department Hazmat Team will be ready if a disaster ever hits.

"To get a chance to have them actually come and work with us in an urban setting its training that's priceless,” says Thomas.

About 300 soldiers and 30 fire fighters are participating in the two day training drill.