(Iron Ridge) The Dodge County Hazmat Team recently partnered with several area fire departments to conduct a first of its kind training. The Iron Ridge, Allenton, Theresa, Hustisford and Neosho Fire Departments gathered in Iron Ridge to conduct decontamination training with the Hazmat Team.
Emergency Preparedness Coordinator Matt Bartol says the focus was to familiarize area firefighters with the Hazmat team so they can support decontamination operations during a real-world event.
“People don’t realize that there is a lot of hazardous materials out there…thankfully we don’t see a lot of releases but it’s not something that fire departments train on very often…mostly it’s the car accidents and the fire calls…and then you have one little section of hazmat maybe a year,” says Bartol.
The training focused on mass decontamination, technical decontamination and familiarity with Dodge County’s Hazmat apparatus. Volunteers covered in flour helped to simulate contaminated victims and were sent through corridors where large volumes of water were used to remove the simulated contaminants.
Firefighters also had the opportunity to set up a decontamination line and decontaminate Hazmat responders. Bartol says this was a great training opportunity for the agencies involved and exposed them to a topic that is not often covered during regular trainings.
“Decontamination is done by anybody with a operational level certificate…so, basically that means your entry level certificate to get into hazmat and by including fire departments it frees up a lot of the technicians to do the work that the fire departments are not allowed to do and it allows them to get out…they can have a little fun and learn something new.”
Bartol says the Hazmat Team also thanks Iron Ridge Captain Kelly Keller for her efforts in bringing the departments together, the volunteers for donating their time, and the firefighters for their engagement and willingness to train.
–Photos courtesy of the Dodge County Emergency Management Facebook page
