Held the week of Oct. 13, the training sessions brought together Bi-County Ambulance personnel, as well as personnel and professionals from multiple local and regional emergency response agencies. Photo courtesy of Bi-County Ambulance

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) – In advance of one of the region’s largest annual public gatherings, Bi-County Ambulance (BCA) hosted a weeklong series of Multi-Casualty Incident (MCI) Training sessions at its Yuba City headquarters to prepare local emergency response teams for the upcoming Sikh Parade.

Held the week of Oct. 13, the training sessions brought together Bi-County Ambulance personnel, as well as personnel and professionals from multiple local and regional emergency response agencies for both morning and afternoon sessions throughout the week. Participants engaged in a series of briefings and tabletop exercises designed to strengthen inter-agency coordination and readiness for large-scale emergency scenarios.

“The Sikh Parade draws hundreds of thousands of attendees from across the country each year,” said Alex Bumpus, President and CEO of Bi-County Ambulance. “These trainings ensure that every responding agency — from EMS and fire to law enforcement — is operating from a shared plan and ready to protect the safety of all attendees. Preparation is what allows us to deliver the best possible outcomes when seconds count.”

The Multi-Casualty Incident Training is part of the Bi-County Ambulance ongoing commitment to community safety and regional emergency preparedness. Each year, the Bi-County Ambulance provides this specialized training to enhance collaboration among first responders and reinforce operational excellence ahead of major events.

Agency partners who participated in the exercises observed firsthand how simulated emergency situations, such as multi-vehicle collisions or medical incidents in large crowds, are coordinated across multiple jurisdictions and disciplines.

“This is a model for proactive planning,” Bumpus added. “We’re grateful for the strong local agency partnerships with Yuba-Sutter County fire and emergency response agencies and regional hospital partners. Their participation and collaboration are what make this community’s emergency preparedness efforts so effective. Together, we’re ensuring that the Sikh Parade remains not only a celebration of faith and culture, but a safe and successful experience for everyone.”

The 2025 Yuba City Sikh Parade, also known as the Nagar Kirtan festival, is scheduled for the first weekend of November. The main parade, featuring a float carrying the holy scripture Sri Guru Granth Sahib, will take place on Sunday, Nov. 2. The event celebrates the installation of the scripture as the living Guru and is one of the largest Sikh gatherings outside of India.