HMN- Today’s HAZMATTERS are from Glendale, AZ!
Glendale Fire Department’s Special Operation units respond to both Hazardous Materials (HazMat) and Technical Rescue (TRT) calls. HazMat calls may include an accidental or intentional release of dangerous chemicals, flammable substances, biologic or radiologic agents. Some of the causes of these incidents include accidents, construction mishaps, drug labs or terrorism. TRT calls involve rescues of all sorts in any possible environment including mountain, trench, confined space, swift water, and trees to name just a few.
It may also involve complex vehicle or machinery extrication and building collapse. These incidents may be the result of an accident, explosion, collapse, flood or any other natural or manmade disaster. Besides local emergencies our members and equipment are deployable as federal resources through the Department of Homeland Security as a Rapid Response Team. Members of the team are selected from qualified firefighter candidates and must complete an initial 200-hour course in each specialty to achieve the basic certification to operate in these environments. Following that, Special Operations personnel must participate in additional training and courses in order to maintain a high level of competency and readiness. These duties and skills are in addition to the strenuous work schedule of a Glendale firefighter.
“Glendale firefighters set to graduate from hazardous materials training” according to the Glendale StarÂ
Glendale Fire Department is adding three firefighters to its Hazardous Material Team. Firefighters T.C. Lee, Joe Librandi and Markell Williams are set to receive their certifications Nov. 10 at Phoenix Fire Training Academy Special Operations Facility.
The Hazardous Materials course requires 200 hours of intensive classroom and field training. Firefighters Lee, Librandi, and Williams learned chemistry; decontamination; how to dress in protective clothing; management of a hazardous materials scene; the use of high-tech meters; and the different classifications of chemicals.
The opportunity to certify more hazardous materials technicians was possible after the fire department was awarded a grant from the Department of Homeland Security’s Urban Area Security Initiatives (UASI). There were zero costs incurred by the city to bolster the Hazardous Materials Team stationed at fire station 157, 9658 N. 59th Ave.
There will now be a total of 58 Glendale firefighters who are hazardous materials technicians.
Due to the “Automatic Aid†system in the Valley, the Glendale team could respond to incidents involving hazardous materials almost anywhere in the Phoenix metropolitan area.
The firefighters’ break from school will be short-lived, as all three were selected for technical rescue training, set to start Nov. 14.
The firefighters will begin working immediately as Hazardous Materials and Technical Rescue Technicians after their TRT graduation Dec. 16.
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