DES MOINES, Iowa — The Des Moines Fire Department recently added a training tool that will help firefighters better prepare to respond to a rollover of a tanker carrying hazardous material.
The Associated Press reported that the tanker will help firefighters learn how to remove the material from the tanker.
“We know we’re going to have emergencies involving gasoline tankers, so it’s imperative we teach responders some of the tricks of the trade so they truly understand the mechanisms and the quantity of hazards associated with this kind of material,” Lt. Bob Suarez, with the department’s special operations section, said.
Before receiving the tanker, firefighters had to attend specialty schools to receive training. The truck can hold about 9,000 gallons of material in its four compartments, according to the report.
The training tanker is an outdated model and is made of steel. New tankers are made out of aluminum, Lt. Suarez said. Newer tankers also have safety features that the older models do not.
“It isn’t realistic in every sense, but it allows the responder the opportunity to practice the skills and abilities he would need to execute in a real-life situation,” Lt. Suarez said.
The fire department plans to use the tanker for its first training exercise in about a month.