Welcome To “HAZ-MATTERS” Burlington County Hazmat Team

Today we at Hazmat Nation are kicking off a new segment called “HAZ-Matters” to feature pictures and descriptions of hazmat teams, trucks, and Tech’s across the nation (the “Hazmat Nation” that is).

Today’s Haz-Matters are: Burlington County, New Jersey Hazmat Team

Brian Petuch, Chief

Department Name:  Burlington County Hazmat Team

State: NJ

County: Burlington (Largest NJ county)

City/Town: Westampton, NJ  08060

Population Served: 450,838 (2013)

Hazardous Materials Team Overview

Under the leadership of the Burlington County Office of Emergency Management, HAMMER-15, quartered at the Emergency Services Training Center, Burlington County Hazmat Team has 30 personnel that operate the 6 component NIMS Type 1 Hazardous Materials Response Unit.

These components are staffed by paid and volunteer Police, Fire and EMS personnel from the Burlington County Office of Emergency Management, Health Department, and Sheriff’s Office, Westampton Fire and EMS Unit and other first response organizations.

Burlington County HAMMER-15 utilizes a unique “All-Hazards” approach to hazardous materials response.

The Unit responds to an average of 70 hazardous materials incidents each year. While some emergency response organizations have scaled back and eliminated some levels of hazardous materials response, Burlington County continues to be innovative and proactive in their approach to hazmat response.

Apparatus:

• 1541 — 2006 International Hackney Heavy Rescue PTO High Volume Air Compressor, PTO 25 KW Onan Generator and Integrated Weather Station

• 1542 — 2006 Ford F-550 Hackney Medium Rescue

• 1569 — 2004 Ford F-450 Utility Decon Support Vehicle

• T-1    — 20 ft. Equipment Trailer w/ work room

• T-2    –  14 ft. Equipment Trailer w/ Portable Decontamination Equipment

• T-3    –  16 ft. Heated Water Decontamination Trailer

• T-4    –  20 ft. Equipment Trailer for Bulk Equipment

Training Requirements:  Hazardous Materials Technicians in Burlington County train through the New Jersey State Police 80 hour and 40 hour RCRA training programs.

Technicians have also received Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) technician level training. In-service training is conducted monthly to keep hazmat skills sharp.

Monitoring Instruments & Identification Equipment:  Burlington County HAMMER-15 uses an Unknown Hazardous Materials ID System Matrix for identifying unknown materials in addition to their on-board computer and reference materials.

Other portable monitoring devices for air monitoring and biological and chemical testing are shown below:

Computer/ GIS Resources

• CAMEO

• ALOHA

• MARPLOT

• HOTSPOT (rad plume mapping)

Radiological Kits:

• Ludlum Radiological Response Kit 2241-3 & Ludlum Model 3 w/ 44-9 Probe

• SAIC GR-135 Identifier w/ Neutron & CZT Detector

• SAIC/ Mirion PagerDosimeter

• ThermoElectron Identifinder

• Portal Monitors

• Mini Rad-V vehicle mounted radiation detector

Remote Monitoring

• Allen Vanguard Vanguard ROV w/ remote sensing, x-ray transport

• SAIC Portable X-ray Wireless Imaging System

• FIRECAM K-80 Thermal Imaging w/ Transmitter

• AreaRAE system w/ Rad

Terrorist Agent Detection:

• Alexeter BioThreat Detection

• Bio 20/20 Protein Testing

• Indipro Protein Residue Testing

• APD-2000

• DropEX Explosives Detection

Low Level Detection:

• Air Particle Monitoring

• RAE Systems ppbRAE

• Ahura First Defender FTIR

• Smiths HazmatID

• Smiths GasID

• Foxboro TVA-1000 FID/PID

• Dräger Colorimetric Tubes, WMD Kit

Identification Kits:

• HAZCAT – Chemical ID, Methamphetamine/ Waste ID & WMD Kits

• Spilfyter Chemical & Wastewater Classifier Strips

Miscellaneous

• Propane Flare

• Chlorine Kit A, B & C, Midland Capping Kit

• Edwards & Cromwell Kits

• Magnetic & Non-Magnetic Patching Equipment

• Bett’s Unloading Valve

• Various Diaphragm Pumps (10 GPM Drum, 25 GPM, 45 GPM), Offload Hose and Stinger

• Grounding Kit and Inductive Ground Ohmmeter

• Chemical, Biological and Radiological Evidence Collection Supplies

Hazardous Materials Exposures

Most of Burlington County’s hazardous materials facilities are located on the western edges of the county and consist of chemical plants, and transportation routes.

Several major highways pass through Burlington County including Interstate highways 295, NJ Turnpike (I-95), Garden State Parkway and U.S.

Highways 130 and 206. Conrail is the major railroad that serves the county and their routes pass through the North and Western Central portions of the county.

Joint Base MDL (McGuire AFB, Fort Dix, and Lakehurst Naval Air Station) is also located in the county.

Many of the hazardous materials transported through the county travel the Delaware River to or from the many chemical facilities located on the rivers banks.

Dangerous chemicals located in and transported through Burlington County include cryogenics, sulfur, styrene, sulfuric acid, sulfur dioxide, ammonia, hydrochloric acid, chlorine, and a wide variety of petroleum products are manufactured, stored, and shipped through the county.

More than 90 LPG MC331 cargo tanks are transiting roads in Burlington County every day. In addition, Delaware River barge traffic transports aircraft fuel to an unloading station to supply McGuire AFB.

Special thanks to Brian Petuch of the Burlington County Hazmat Team for submitting your team information to Haz-Matters!

We want to know about you! You can have your team, truck, or techs featured on hazmatnation.com by submitting your pictures and hazmat  biography to [email protected]