Knowledge is Power

Jul 1, 2009 12:00 PM

By Janet Wilmoth (janet@firechief.com)

Better-designed and -equipped vehicles make hazmat response safer and more effective.

Hazmat incidents demand quick response, accurate assessment, and extended amounts of time to safely resolve. Over the years, the best defense was extensive training and the right equipment. Today, technology advancements are lifting hazmat response to a higher level. For example, hazmat detection equipment continues to become more sophisticated and portable, which in turn is changing the design and specification of hazmat-response vehicles.

"With all the new technology, hazmat response has become more information-driven," said Tim Butters, assistant chief of operations for the Fairfax (Va.) Fire Department. "The interior work areas of hazmat-response vehicles are being designed to accommodate all of that. I know that the electronic requirements for wireless, satellite and Internet access are becoming more and more critical."

While hazmat units currently don't require the temperature-controlled compartments of EMS, sensitivity regarding equipment monitoring and compartment specialization that does exist that factors into the design and specification.

Butters added that multiple computers have become necessary on hazmat vehicles.

"There is a shift from carrying volumes of books and research documents, to more than one computer where the research can be done," said Butters. "Some departments have added laboratory capability because they have machines that can do field analysis, so having an area that is isolated on the vehicle for research is becoming more common."

Previous hazmat-detection systems required a series of tests to identify a chemical agent. Today, new analytical devices that have database access to thousands and thousands of chemicals can instantly determine what chemicals are present. While DNA-type technologies are being tested with varying results, the bottom line is more sophisticated analytical equipment is being carried to the field as part of the command process.

In addition, hazmat-response vehicles are carrying more protective clothing and equipment that can be used in a WMD or explosives environment. Such specialized protective clothing requires larger compartments for storage.

Bill Hershman, director of defense, government and rescue sales for Pierce, offered his perspective on hazmat-response vehicles.

"The biggest surge we've seen is in combination-style hazmat rescue units, like the one being used for Harris County, Texas, where a portion of the crew cab area and/or the body is converted into command, research or operations areas, and the remainder of the body is for storage or hazmat equipment," Hershman said.

Hershman added that Pierce has produced multiple units that have some type of work space inside that isolates the members of that unit. "We're starting to see and get inquires on to how to isolate positive and negative pressure," Hershman said. "We have produced one laboratory that has that capability and we're getting more inquiries."

While all departments want more storage on response vehicles, for hazmat units the priorities are a walk-in module, research lab and oversize storage.

The Glendale (Ariz.) Fire Department recently replaced an old bread van it was using for hazmat response and took delivery of a new vehicle built by SVI Trucks.

Glendale Deputy Chief Pat Berkel was tasked with specifying a vehicle that would respond to all hazmat calls. Besides Berkel on this apparatus committee were Capt. Mark Mann and Capt. Pat Martin of Hazmat Technical Rescue 2. "Martin was the go-to guy and went to operations support," Berkel said.

Requests for the new vehicle included an onsite lab, two-way storage space, as well as a protected area for the hazmat command and control. The new unit, delivered last January, goes on all the hazmat calls.

"I foresee the unit being added to more calls because it has the command module and once other areas recognize its capabilities," Berkel said. Previously, the hazmat team would be dispatched and respond with the converted van and an engine; now they respond with this unit.

Berkel said the 38-foot long unit is an SVI Trucks and Spartan Gladiator cab/chassis with a 22-foot long aluminum body and an 8-foot long slide-out command wall. The vehicle can carry up to six people in the cab, two in the separate research section behind the cab and four at the command center, including two in the command wall.

According to Berkel, secure wireless access was critical and is available around the perimeter of the unit. "We also gave them access to large compartments from two sides," he said. "There's also a curbside electric awning system, scene lights and a Command Light [unit]."

Hershman believes technology will continue to develop that will let crews monitor and be informed of what they are dealing with as they are actually pulling into a contaminated area.

"It's very difficult, especially with some contaminants, to know where the hot zone is and because firefighters just bull rush in, before you know it, you've contaminated your whole hazmat rescue team," Hershman said.