Tim Meadors, center, of U.S. Army North evaluates Justise Damron, left, and Justin Richard of the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team on Thursday at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston. Damron and Richard are two of 22 members of the CST that trained during a simulated radioactive explosion during “Operation Colisée.” The team, based out of Waterville, is evaluated every 18 months on their response to incidents involving hazardous materials, said Lt. Col. Ian Hepburn. The equipment that Damron pulled up four flights of stairs was used to search and test for poisonous agents, including radioactive material. 

Military personnel walk Thursday outside the Androscoggin Bank Colisée, the location of a training exercise involving a simulated radioactive explosion. The simulated incident happened during a hockey game. The Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team held a similar training exercise at the Maine Ice Vault in Hallowell earlier this week.

Justise Damron of the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team wears protective equipment Thursday while searching the Androscoggin Bank Colisée during a simulated radioactive explosion in Lewiston.

Lt. Col. Ian Hepburn, at Androscoggin Bank Colisée on Thursday, said that the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team has a lot of “self-sustained capabilities” that allows the team based out of Waterville to be self-sufficient as far as communications, internet, cell phone service and mobile lab testing.

Troy Cyr, a physician’s assistant with the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team, prepares equipment Thursday during “Operation Colisée” in Lewiston. The training scenario involved a simulated explosion during a hockey game that released an unknown hazardous material. 

Lt. Col. Ian Hepburn, center, of the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team gives directions Thursday during “Operation Colisée” in Lewiston. The training scenario involved a simulated explosion during a hockey game that released an unknown hazardous material. Hepburn said that the 2001 anthrax attacks is one example of a situation that his team out of Waterville would respond to.

Justise Damron of the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team puts on her hazardous materials suit Thursday in the parking lot of the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston. Damron is one of 22 members of the CST that trained during a simulated scenario involving a radioactive explosion. 

Blue trucks from the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team occupy the Androscoggin Bank Colisée parking lot Thursday morning. 

Justin Richard, front, and Justise Damron of the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team enter the Colisée Club Thursday during a training mission at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston. Richard and Damron are two of 22 members of the CST that trained during simulated radioactive explosion. Thursday’s “Operation Colisée ” involved an explosion during a hockey game that released an unknown hazardous material. The team, based out of Waterville, is evaluated every 18 months, said Lt. Col. Ian Hepburn. 

This is the scene of a simulated explosion that released a radioactive agent during a training exercise at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée on Thursday. Lt. Col. Ian Hepburn of the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team said the explosion was only simulated and that no harm was done. 

Justin Richard of the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team discovers the site of a radioactive explosion during a training mission at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston. Richard is one of 22 members of the CST that trained during the simulated scenario. The team, based out of Waterville, is evaluated every 18 months. Thursday’s “Operation Colisée” involved an explosion during a hockey game that released an unknown hazardous material. 

Justin Richard of the Maine National Guard 11th Civil Support Team collects an element of a simulated explosive device Thursday during a training mission at the Androscoggin Bank Colisée in Lewiston.