Hazards and Hazmat
The hazards and hazmat topic section covers operations involving hazardous materials, including chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) incidents.
Chattanooga firefighters thought they were responding to just a vehicle fire at metal recycling facility
The fire in Solvay sent up a large plume of orange-colored smoke seen for miles
Paramedics evaluated, transported three people to hospitals for additional testing as firefighters evacuated judges’ chambers
There is a wide range of hazmat and bio-detection kits on the market, with different potential sources of grant funding
At least two victims had serious respiratory complaints or complaints of burning eyes, said Sacramento City Fire Department Assistant Chief Niko King
Off-duty firefighter Timothy B. Larson lost an arm and a leg in the blast; his brother died in a June 2010 blast at the same facility
Authorities said the explosion may have been caused by two compressed natural gas cylinders that likely exploded
The truck driver escaped unharmed, but spilled gasoline burned for about two hours
Fumes from spilled hydrochloric acid overcame police officers as they attempted to get a woman out of the vehicle
Putting out a clothing fire caused by gel fuel requires a chemical fire extinguisher, a large amount of baking soda, or close access to a large body of water
The chemical was found in a bottle that indicated it was sodium cyancide, and the team on scene treated it as such
The firefighters spent much of the day knocking down the heavy flames at the 180,000-square-foot fabricated steel structure
The injured were taken by ambulance to a local hospital
The cause of the explosion is under investigation
Businesses adjacent to the fire were evacuated and residents within a mile of the blaze were asked to stay indoors
Gas flowed into a drainage ditch and ignited, then spread to ignite three structures
Firefighters fought through heavy flames and smoke and were hit with fragments from pressurized oxygen tanks exploding
The nearby firefighters responded and called 911, as dispatchers called in four more engines and trucks along with a Haz-Mat team
The first entry teams, wearing green, Class B hazmat suits, assessed the spill and made sure the chemicals were not reacting with other substances in the warehouse
The blast shook a restaurant a half-mile away
Responders had to spray the area with fire foam before they could access the accident scene; all were subjected to multiple bee stings
Crews worked to help stabilize canyons and prevent runoff from stirring up trace amounts of Cold War-era contamination
Section Chief Chris Martinez said the unit’s changeover from the police department has been a good one for Dallas Fire-Rescue
Alamos County Fire Chief Doug Tucker said he is confident that the fire won’t spread onto the nearby nuclear lab
The mine was cited for 600 violations in less than a year and a half before the blast
The accident at the plant resulted in the evacuation of about 300 workers, 173 of whom were treated at hospitals
The dynamite was found Monday in a bunker-like structure
The testing of contaminated PPE is most effective when there is reason to believe that specific chemicals are involved
Lab personnel are monitoring the air for radionuclides and particulate matter
The fire department is talking to the student’s professor about the experiment
Four firefighters were transported to the hospital for minor issues
Firefighters could have been killed, Fire Marshal Ken Anderson said, after they first used water while trying to extinguish a June 9 oil fire
Fire crews were making sure all of the storage tanks were cool and that none were leaking before allowing residents to return