Do not be alarmed if you see, not just a variety, but scores of emergency vehicles at Matthew Knight Arena next week.

The University of Oregon Police Department and local public safety agencies will hold an “active violent incident” training April 7-9. Fire vehicles, ambulances and police cars will move to and from the east end of the arena between 7 a.m. and noon. Lights and sirens will not be used and there should be few disruptions to the public, said Chief Jason Wade of UOPD.

Operation: Merganser Roost is a training for emergency response to an active threat at a large venue, with people playing the part of “casualties” who must be quickly treated and transported to area hospitals. UOPD will hold the training with Eugene Springfield Fire; Eugene, Springfield, Cottage Grove, Junction City and Oakridge police departments; the Lane County Sheriff’s Office; and PeaceHealth, McKenzie-Willamette and Cottage Grove hospitals.

Most of the training will be within the arena and away from public view to minimize concern.

“We’re doing it this way so we can train in a building in which something like this could happen, while minimizing the concerns of the community,” Wade said. “People will mostly see a high level of activity with fire apparatus, ambulances and police cars, primarily in the area of the loading dock on the east side of the building.”

Conducting the training over the three days will enable more participation from emergency personnel from each of the public safety agencies, he added.

“We’re going to be focusing on saving lives — how to get people the help they need, as quickly and as efficiently as possible,” Wade said. “This is not something we routinely get to practice. This is about getting that real-world experience where you have to deal with environmental factors along with the trauma that is occurring.”

—Matt Cooper, University Communications