Why cheap drones pose a significant chemical terrorism threat By Zachary Kallenborn, Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Earlier this year, police in the United Kingdom arrested Mohammad Al-Bared for building a drone designed for the Islamic State, the terrorist group that once held vast territory in Iraq and Syria. The 3D-printed drone was designed to deliver chemical weapons or explosives, and a search of […] Written by Phil Ambrose December 14, 2023December 14, 2023
3 Lessons from a Propane Incident As is often the case, the first-due rig cannot fully trust the information it gets through dispatch until the crew arrives on scene. That’s exactly what happened to the Springville Fire and Rescue C-shift in mid-October. Springville is located in central Utah in the Provo-Orem metro area with a population just over 35,000. The combination […] Written by Phil Ambrose December 8, 2023December 8, 2023
NVFC Offers Hazmat PIT Crew Travel Stipends The National Volunteer Fire Council is offering stipends to help offset the travel costs related to attending a hazmat train-the-trainer program through the NVFC’s Partners In Training (PIT) Crew program. Find out more about the program at www.nvfc.org/hazmat. To apply, provide the requested information in the form here by January 2, 2024. Stipends are available […] Written by Phil Ambrose December 8, 2023December 8, 2023
Chemical Database Updated A new version of CAMEO Chemicals is now available. CAMEO Chemicals is a database of hazardous chemical data sheets with response recommendations and physical properties for thousands of substances, and it also includes a tool for predicting possible hazards that could occur if chemicals mix and react with one another. New changes in version 3.0.0 […] Written by Phil Ambrose November 23, 2023November 23, 2023
California Hosts Large-Scale Hazmat, WMD Exercise Images: HAZMAT Resources and Hazmat Roadshow TV In early November, multiple agencies conducted a two-day 2023 California Weapons of Mass Destruction Summit. Cal OES, the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services, was the lead agency. Four California FBI offices put on the training exercise that had two different terrorist attack events. About 250 attended, most trained […] Written by Phil Ambrose November 16, 2023November 16, 2023
EPA: Hazmat removal in Maui 85% Complete Source: EPA The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has removed hazardous materials from over 85 percent of the burned properties in Lāhainā, Maui – the first phase of the overall federal cleanup response to the Maui Wildfires. EPA personnel continue to remove hazardous materials from properties and apply a soil stabilizer to the ash and debris […] Written by Phil Ambrose November 9, 2023November 9, 2023
CRACKYL Media and The Leary Firefighters Foundation Partner to Improve Firefighter Wellness The two organizations will collaborate on efforts to raise money and awareness to better equip firefighters with the skills and tools they need to live long, healthy lives. Realizing symmetries in their missions, The Leary Firefighters Foundation and CRACKYL Media Inc. launched a partnership to improve the lives of firefighters. CRACKYL will use its reach […] Written by Phil Ambrose November 3, 2023November 3, 2023
NTSB Assesses Texas Hazmat Derailment The National Transportation Safety Board recently issued an overview of its report on the Jan. 8, 2022 BNSF derailment in Texas where more than a half million gallons of denatured ethanol was released. Here’s the report. What Happened This is a synopsis from the NTSB’s report and does not include the Board’s rationale for the […] Written by Phil Ambrose October 26, 2023October 26, 2023
Truck Crash, Hazmat Leak Kills 5 In late September a semi carrying about 7,500 gallons of anhydrous ammonia crashed on an Illinois highway. Approximately 4,000 gallons leaked, killing three adults and two children and setting off an evacuation. According to a National Transportation Safety Board member speaking at a news conference Oct. 1, at 8:40 p.m. Friday, the tanker was going […] Written by Phil Ambrose October 17, 2023October 17, 2023