Chief Matt Wilcox of the Maplewood Fire Department answers interview questions on Friday, Sept. 13, during a simulated disaster training exercise at Chesterfield Mall. The training was for the St. Louis region’s Urban Search and Rescue. “This specialized task force deploys to disaster areas to aid in structural collapse rescues,” according to a Metro West Media Advisory.

A firefighter climbs up a ladder onto the roof to begin the practice training. The mall owners, The Staenberg Group, partnered with area firefighters to conduct this large-scale disaster simulation training.

Firefighters laugh amongst themselves as they prepare a rescue simulation on the roof of Chesterfield Mall. Much of the mall has been vacant for years and the last of its tenants moved out in August.

Remnants of the playground that once stood in the mall are now a dumping ground for trash and debris. Many students spent time in this space as children.

A firefighter oversees the practice rescue operation through a hole they blasted out in the side of the Sears building.

According to a Metro West Media Advisory, “The exercise included firefighters from across the entire St. Louis region and was organized as training for the Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams who specialize in structural collapse rescues. The USAR team’s mission includes physical search and rescue in damaged or collapsed structures, emergency medical care for entrapped survivors, damage assessments, hazardous materials evaluations, and a variety of other rescue operations.

Sunlight shines down on the firefighters as they drill through the floor to begin their rescue operation.

A fire fighter watches his partner being lowered down into a hole in the floor of the mall building.

Sparks spray out from the power equipment as a firefighter drills through the floor.

A fighter fighter anchors a test dummy off of the roof.

A firefighter oversees the progress being made in the training.

Firefighters complete the rescue mission after successfully removing a test dummy from the building.

Taylor Reich, head of Mixed-Use Development & Operations with the Staenberg Group, answers interview questions.