Hazards and Hazmat
The hazards and hazmat topic section covers operations involving hazardous materials, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) incidents.
How OCFA uses tabletop drills with partner agencies to coordinate preparedness for major incidents
A University of Maryland probe reveals 130,000 hazardous-cargo cars rolled past 2.5M residents in six months, yet most local fire departments lack the teams, gear and data to handle a derailment
A driver struck gas lines at the Eastern Carolina Veterinary Medical Center, leading to an explosion as Wilmington firefighters searched for occupants
One of the college’s buildings was evacuated due to a gas-like odor that led several to experience trouble breathing
The Durham Fire Department had requested 75 more firefighters prior to the explosion that killed two and injured 25
Seven fire and medic units were dispatched to assist the patients ranging in age from 7 to 58
More than 80 departments and dozens of volunteers have pitched in to help Farmington firefighters after the Sept. 16 explosion
The safety board said it’s still conducting its investigation, including determining what ignited the fire
Capt. Scott Baxter was released from a rehab facility and escorted home with a procession to the fire station
Six firefighters were hospitalized, and a seventh, 68-year-old Capt. Michael Bell, was killed in the explosion
Hazmat crews responded to an oil leak after a bus crash and overturned, sending nine patients to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries
The Maine Fire Marshal’s Office said that the leak was discovered in a propane line buried under the paved parking lot
The Lawrence fire chief says a leak in a high-pressure line has released a volume of gas in the “explosive range”
Fire departments were not able to reach a gas company official for several hours and company officials were slow to provide vital information to first responders
Youngstown Battalion Chief Sil Caggiano is concerned that first responders sent to hazmat-related emergency calls could have problems determining the type of hazard they are handling
A firefighter was taken to an area hospital with a minor injury after responding to the sodium tert-butoxide spill
The blast killed Fire Capt. Michael Bell and injured his brother, Fire Chief Terry Bell, five other firefighters, a LEAP worker and an ambulance professional
The blast injured four other firefighters, including the town’s fire chief, one employee of the nonprofit center and one ambulance professional
Video showed more than 10 train cars derailed and flames shooting from the wreckage
The funds will be used to replace 107 outdated SCBAs and provide specialized training in responding to hazardous incidents
A hazmat incident at a California hotel left one person dead and nine people hospitalized when guests reported smelling a chemical odor
Chief Michael O’Brian describes the biggest risk management issues facing the fire service – and where progress can be made
Guests of the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose reported smelling a chemical odor and feeling faint, light-headed and short of breath
The IMT team will deploy for a 16-day mission to help assist with Hurricane Dorian response efforts
Fire crews were investigating a report of a gas leak and evacuated the area before the explosion occurred
City of Durham officials released bodycam footage documenting the aftermath of the April 10 explosion that left one dead and 17 injured
The Durham Fire Department issued a report on the explosion that killed two people and injured 25 while leveling a downtown building and damaging others
Three firefighters, the homeowner and a neighbor were injured in the explosion that officials believe was caused by a gas leak
Some structures were consumed by the blaze, and five to seven people were unaccounted for when firefighters extinguished the flames hours later
The blast injured two firefighters and trapped one firefighter under large portions of debris
Firefighters Nicholas Schroeder and Anthony Stewart admitted to obtaining and taking pictures of the hazmat training exam
Boston EMS said the 11 firefighters and one resident were taken to area hospitals as a precaution
CalGas representatives said one gas worker was killed, a second was taken to the hospital and one person living in the home may be unaccounted for