Hazards and Hazmat
The hazards and hazmat topic section covers operations involving hazardous materials, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) incidents.
Early ventilation is a key element in reducing cancer risk for firefighters
Investigators are still unclear how the propane ignited; the blast killed Sterling Firefighter Trevor Brown
Check your knowledge of carbon monoxide poisoning causes, symptoms and protective strategies on scene
Man was holding a large cache of explosives and weapons
Chemicals were taken from the basement of Marshfield home and then from high school’s chemistry lab
Propane leaked for 3rd straight day out of well at fuel storage plant; officials feared fire hazard if strong winds carry vapor into town
Hazardous materials crew initially thought odor was coming from propane company, but ruled out that and natural gas
Blue Buick driven by 18-year-old Vallejo man struck house, sheared off gas meter, causing gas to continuously leak from broken line into house
Firefighters/inspectors Eion Pelletier and Lt. Shawn Esler went to inspect new store, saved 2 ‘who probably were moments from dying’
Workers at BP Cherry Point refinery near Blaine in northwest Washington’s Whatcom County were evacuated shortly after fire started
Warehouse was used to store pieces of crushed polyvinyl chloride plastic that were to be recycled and used to line new metal pipes
Hundreds of small bottles of sterilization fluid, each containing small amount of formaldehyde, spilled from the truck
Chemical plant’s ammonia pump caught fire on Tuesday
‘It appears to be some sort of an underground cable failure,’ says DTE spokesman Len Singer
Fire is potentially being fueled by hazardous materials, but officials won’t know for sure until they can investigate, which isn’t possible until fire is fully extinguished
More than 2 years ago, man’s wife went mysteriously missing; man’s emails seemed to confirm that he planned deadly blast
Damage to gas service line Monday caused it to separate from main line at level of about 6 feet underground
High levels of carbon monoxide, as much as 500 to 600 parts per million, were detected on hotel’s 3rd, 4th and 5th floors
Natural gas explosion left neighbors shaken, several without gas service, debris scattered across neighborhood
Firefighter John Kelly died after being overcome by low oxygen and sewer gases while attempting to rescue utility worker from sewer manhole near firehouse
Improvement seen in most categories of fire calls; rare technical rescues, hazmat situations fall short of goal
Of 2011’s total calls, 72% were ambulance-related, 10% were MVA-related, 9% were alarms, 3.5% were investigations
Assailant had turned on gas in apartment before leaving, possibly in attempt to start fire, but another building resident smelled gas, called 911
Authorities said US Merchant Marine Academy water heater was found to be leaking poisonous gas; 8 injured students back at school
Firefighter Jim Rice, 42, of the Peabody Fire Department, inhaled toxic fumes and collapsed
So far this year, there have been 46 reports; in 2010, there were 25 reports; February’s freeze, this month’s cold temperatures may have contributed
Rescuers found young couple, 2-month-old boy inside house, ruptured gas line behind stove, high levels of carbon monoxide throughout home
Electrical worker installing meters at Naples Bay Resort suffered severe burns after explosion that produced fireball
Couple in their 60s hospitalized after leaky boiler sent high levels of carbon monoxide into their house, which firefighters ventilated
Fire department hazardous materials team members were in full hazmat gear, decontaminated with sprayer outside
Deputy, firefighter both responded to report of down power line; firefighter tried to flag down cop, who did not see him
Photos of mine have been taken and sent to Navy; bomb squad removed device, which is 6 feet long, 2 feet in diameter