South Bend Firefighters have participated in a new training program for disaster responders in a joint program with the Indiana Army National Guard.

It’s a multi-state aquatic helicopter rescue training event, and Indiana Guard aviators worked with the firefighters to help establish the Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Teams, or HART, Academy.

The HART Academy is a state-developed emergency response asset that will deploy help to the worst situations in the most difficult conditions and locations.

Instructors from Texas and both Carolinas are sharing their experiences, as are Hoosier Guardsmen and women and with three South Bend swift-water rescue technicians.

There are plans to establish a similar program in Indiana and other parts of the country in the near future.