HazMat

Hazardous Materials Response Team
The ever present threat of chemical, biological, radiological, and explosive mixture incidents ensures that the Lafayette Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team must be prepared to contain any possible situation.

Team
The Hazardous Materials Response Team is 32 members strong. In 2010, with the addition of 7 new recruit firefighters who were trained to the hazardous materials technician level, the number of Hazardous Materials Technician Firefighters is now over 60. Two additional firefighters also completed the 80-hour hazardous material technician training along with the recruits.
Training
The team holds monthly training exercises in order to stay proficient at their skills. In addition to training locally, some team members attended training around the country sponsored by the Department of Homeland Security and various other hazardous materials training organizations. These training sessions included response to:
  • Biological
  • Chemical
  • Explosive
  • Flammable liquid
  • Pipeline
  • Radiological
  • Railroad incidents
  • Tank truck
Partnerships
The Lafayette Fire Department Hazardous Material Team continues to work with Purdue Fire Department, Frankfort Fire Department and Tippecanoe Emergency Management Agency to provide hazardous material response throughout the 9 county area of District 4. The team is also deploy-able throughout the state in the event of a large scale disaster.

Equipment
The Hazardous Materials Team has a 32 foot enclosed trailer that is towed by a Ford F-550. The trailer contains a variety of materials for hazardous situations:
  • Containment equipment
  • Decontamination equipment
  • Meters
  • Monitors
  • Plugging/patching
  • Protective clothing
Mission
The mission of the Hazardous Materials Response Team is 4-fold:
  • To ensure the safety of all emergency responders
  • To ensure the protection of public health and safety.
  • To ensure the protection of the environment and mitigation of environmental damage.
  • To ensure the protection of property and assets.