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HomeMy WebLinkAbout204.003 - Dispatching Hazardous Materials STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM 204.003 DISPATCHING HAZARDOUS MATERIALS EFFECTIVE: OCTOBER 2007 Current Revision Date: 10/3/19 Next Revision Date: 10/3/22 Author’s Name/Rank: Robert Camp, Fire Battalion Chief Review Level: 1 Administrative Support: Sherrie L. Badertscher, Management Analyst II PURPOSE This document establishes Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) policy, responsibility, and procedures for response to hazardous materials incidents. APPLICATION This procedure is to be used by Fresno County EMS Communications Center personnel involved in the dispatching of the FFD Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT). It is also to be used by Department personnel as reference to response and responsibilities for hazardous materials incidents. OPERATIONAL POLICY This section intentionally left blank. OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE RESPONSIBILITIES: Scene Management: The Department should assume responsibility for scene management at all hazardous materials incidents occurring within Fresno city limits, with the exception of incidents occurring on freeways which should be under the jurisdiction of the California Highway Patrol (CHP). Hazardous Materials Coordinator: The responsibility of the team coordinator at a hazardous materials incident is to support the incident commander and/or group supervisor. The coordinator should assist with scene management, incident documentation, government agency notifications, and acquiring unusual resources. Section 204.003 Page 1 of 4 Hazardous Materials Duty Officer: This person should generally be the most senior hazardous materials captain on-duty. Their responsibility during a hazardous materials incident should be to assume the role of hazardous materials group supervisor. If in the event a hazardous materials captain is not on-duty at the hazardous materials station, the most senior HMRT member on-duty should assume the role of hazardous materials duty officer. The hazardous materials duty officer should also be the contact person at the station for inquiries made by headquarters staff, dispatchers, or members of the public. If information is provided to the Communications Center that involves potential hazardous materials release and the dispatcher would like direction on whether this incident warrants a hazardous materials response or other action, the dispatcher may contact the duty officer or coordinator for assistance. PROCESS Response within Department Jurisdiction: Upon receipt of an incident involving a chemical release, potential release, chemical explosion, or other event involving a hazardous material, the following resources are to be dispatched as a minimum: The closest first responding engine or truck company Engine 1, Truck 1, and HazMat 1 The closest first responding battalion chief An advanced life support ambulance unit, if reports indicate possible patients or victims or if Level A entry is going to be made NOTE: If Engine 1 and Truck 1 are committed to other incidents (other than a hazardous materials incident), the Communications Center is to notify the incident commander and dispatch a replacement truck to relieve Truck 1 and/or a replacement engine to replace Engine 1 from the incident that they are assigned. Upon request from a hospital or EMS for decontaminating a patient, the closest available engine company is to be dispatched along with Engine 1, Truck 1, and HazMat 1. Section 204.003 Page 2 of 4 Automatic Aid Response within the City of Clovis: The City of Fresno (City) provides a full hazardous materials response to the City of Clovis (Clovis) when requested. Clovis will send its HMRT to the City when requested by the Fresno HMRT. When a request from Clovis is received; Engine 1, Truck 1, and HazMat 1 are to be dispatched. Mutual-Aid: An on-duty battalion chief is to be notified of requests for mutual-aid by the HMRT for requests in outside jurisdictions. The battalion chief can evaluate the request, and approve the mutual-aid. A battalion chief may also respond as an agency representative. The dispatcher is to acquire the following information from the requesting agency: The type of incident (MVA, fire, spill, etc.) The type of material if known Designator of the scene manager Location of incident command post Radio channel frequency High-Hazard Facilities: There are a number of locations within the city that if involved in fire would be extremely dangerous to suppression members as well as the community. These facilities are identified in the Target Hazard Program. They state “Hazardous Materials Response Required on All Confirmed Working Fires”. Notifications: If a working hazardous materials incident is declared, communications center personnel are to use the Emergency Notification Reference Guide to make the required notifications. Some of the information that may be provided: Type of incident (MVA, fire, spill, or other release) Type of material if known Section 204.003 Page 3 of 4 Location of incident and zone If Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has been notified. This action initiates the Fresno County Hazardous Materials Response Plan When a release occurs on a roadway, the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction is to be notified. Additional HMRT Staffing: On-Duty Availability: The HMRT members are assigned to Station 1. However, due to shift trades or temporary assignments, team members could be on duty at any station or shift. Team members are identified by the letters HM after their name on the unit roster. This designator is designed to help the dispatcher identify on-duty HMRT members prior to recalling off-duty members. Off-Duty Recall: In the event additional HMRT members are needed for staffing and/or another hazardous materials incident is received, the dispatcher is to contact the battalion chief or incident commander at a hazardous materials incident, to ascertain if off-duty team members are to be recalled. In the event an insufficient number of members respond to the recall, a request to Clovis Fire Department for additional members may be placed. INFORMATION This section intentionally left blank. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES Standard Operating Procedures Manual Section 204.002e, Emergency Notification Reference Guide Automatic Aid Agreement for Fire Protection, HazMat and Urban Search and Rescue Services between the City of Fresno and the City of Clovis Section 204.003 Page 4 of 4