HAZMAT Incident Response

• SFD.004, Revision 03, was issued on 23 Aug. 2024, with an effective date of 23 Aug. 2024.
• Approved by Scott C. Seifert, with a review date of 1 Aug. 2025.

Executive Summary

• Incidents include biological agents, chemical spills, warehouse fires, gas releases, and flammable liquid fires.
• Harris County Haz Mat must be notified for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive incidents, and narcotics labs.
• Start HAZMAT incidents using a defensive strategy by defining/isolating the hazard zone while evacuating/protecting exposures.
• The first arriving officer establishes safe operations, assumes command, assesses the incident from a distance avoiding vapors/spills, and provides information to resources.
• The Incident Commander manages the operational plan, establishes a command post, identifies hazardous materials, develops an action plan, coordinates with the Hazmat Team, and ensures proper PPE.
• Safety Officers identify/evaluate hazards, provide safety direction, consult with the Incident Commander, and ensure decontamination.

Purpose

• The policy guides fire department personnel in mitigating hazardous materials incidents without injury or harm to the public, environment, or property.

Policy Statement

• Guidelines and policies should use the provided template and methodology.

Scope

• Guidelines apply to all members participating in hazardous materials response.

Definitions

• Refer to the Glossary for definitions.

Procedures and Responsibilities

• Examples of hazardous materials incidents: biological agents, chemical spills, warehouse fires, compressed/flammable gas releases, IDLH/inert atmospheres, liquefied gas/pesticide/radioactive material fires, railcar/tank truck accidents, and incidents posing chemical/biological health risks.
• Harris County Haz Mat must be notified for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive incidents, narcotics or drug labs, and when hazardous material is present needing expertise.
• HAZMAT incidents must have a defensive strategy.
  • Defensive tactical priorities include defining the Hazard Zone, isolating it, searching/evacuating exposures, and protecting exposures.
• The first arriving apparatus officer is responsible for establishing safe operations.
  • They must assume command, approach from uphill/upwind if possible, assess from a distance to identify products, avoid vapor clouds/spills/inhaling fumes, and follow the DOT ERG.
  • When safe to do so, contain product, assess capabilities, and request resources, including SDS if available.
• The Incident Commander is responsible for an operational plan to ensure a successful outcome, which involves:
  • Establishing a command post, identifying hazardous materials/conditions, and developing an incident action plan including pre-entry safety briefings.
  • They must coordinate with the Hazmat Team officer for IAP development and implement a response to favorably change the outcome by developing the organization to the appropriate level.
  • Direct and coordinate, within this procedure's framework, all emergency services and agencies at the scene.
  • Additionally, personnel must wear appropriate PPE, have qualified medical personnel available with equipment, and evacuate personnel in the Hot Zone, using continuous air horns for 30 seconds or dispatch evacuation tones.
  • Zone boundaries must be defined, limiting personnel with a minimum of two per group, and analyze the incident to understand the issue.
• The incident analysis involves:
  • Collecting hazard and response information, estimating potential outcomes, identifying threatened areas, and deciding the desired protection method, such as shelter-in-place or evacuation.
  • If needed, define the perimeter using major streets, waterways, or landmarks.
  • When necessary, notify dispatch, warn citizens via law enforcement or social media, and utilize the EMERGENCY BROADCAST SYSTEM for rapid notification.
  • Residents can return when conditions permit cancellation of the alert.
• Designate a Safety Officer.
• The Safety Officer identifies and evaluates hazards, and provides direction, which involves:
  • Consulting with the IC, identifying hazardous situations, consulting with the Hazmat Team Officer, correcting unsafe acts, and emphasizing exposure reporting.
• Company Officers direct their companies per this procedure and the Incident Commander's direction.
• The Hazardous Materials Team Officer assists the Incident Commander in stabilizing the incident.
• Division Officers direct and coordinate in the division to which they are assigned, within this procedure.
• Pre-Entry information to obtain:
  • Location and size of the site, type of response activity required, duration of the planned activity, and hazards involved.
• Establish the following groups, and assign officers to the following responsibilities, if the magnitude of the incident warrants:
  • Access Group: Clear unauthorized personnel, limit Hot Zone entry to trained personnel, ensure PPE/SCBA, record personnel entering/leaving the Hot Zone, and direct personnel through decontamination.
  • Containment Group: Ensure assigned personnel protection, determine containment points, and request necessary supplies/equipment.
  • Decontamination Group: Determine the level of decontamination, obtain supplies, establish a decontamination area in the Warm Zone, identify PPE for the decontamination personnel, assess decontamination success, and advise on medical treatment.
  • Medical Group: Establish a medical group in a safe, cold zone for triage, treatment, and transport of victims and furnish the chemical information to the receiving hospitals.
  • Hazard Group: Control hazardous materials in the Hazard Zone, determine hazards, ensure the proper PPE, provide proper backup personnel, confirm decontamination, coordinate with the Hazmat Team Officer for vapor monitoring, and stabilize the incident.
  • Rescue Group: Work with the Hazard Group to protect rescue personnel, assess equipment needs through command, effect extrication, decontaminate victims/personnel, and request EMS for patient assessment.
  • Evacuation Group: Establish an evacuation plan, determine perimeters, locate shelter sites, coordinate resources, notify law enforcement, establish transportation, evacuate those in danger first, and monitor/revise the process.
• Necessary groups/branches to assign and utilize include PIO, Staging, and Rehab.
• Ensure atmospheric monitoring throughout, and readings must be logged.
• Appropriate decontamination procedures must be implemented and continuous.
• Bring the incident to termination when stabilized, debrief personnel when appropriate, accurately document the incident, and analyze the incident to improve future operations.

HAZMAT Accountability Guidelines

• The IC is still responsible even if units/members are not working in the hot zone on a HAZMAT incident.
  • The IC will use a tactical worksheet to keep track of incident resources.
  • Group supervisors use tactical worksheets/passports to manage accountability.
  • Task-level units already in place and working, report to the supervisor and provide an update.
  • Task-level units that arrive will report to their group supervisor face to face.
  • Group supervisors should meet units at staging and advise on necessary equipment.
  • The work/rest cycle is improved/lengthened working in a non IDLH environment
  • Hot zone entries will follow the structural firefighting passport accountability system
  • IC documents the resources assigned to the branch, while the Branch Director is responsible for tracking resources.

General Procedure/Policy/Notes

• Actions should favorably change the outcome of the incident.
• Actions should be avoided until the chemical hazards known. This information is communicated in a safety briefing prior to the hot zone.
• Fire Apparatus should not enter railroad yards without a railroad official escorting.
• Operate within the level of training.
• All personnel must be trained to the Awareness Level.
  • Awareness level personnel cannot engage in any offensive activities.
    • Operations level are only allowed to operate defensively by containing spills, setting an exclusion zone, evacuate/notify citizens and perform air monitoring.
  • HazMat Technicians are allowed in offensive operations with the Hazmat Team.
    • Technicians may address the actual leak or stop it by plugging/squeezing the gas line.
  • Texas Commission on Environmental Equality should be notified in the event of environmentally threatened incidents.
• Harris County Haz Mat will be requested in any chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or explosive incident, narcotics or drug labs, anytime a hazardous material is present and additional expertise is needed, and hazardous materials spills and release.

Return To Service

• All equipment and personnel should be decontaminated before returning to service.
• Apparatus and personnel may return to service after personnel and equipment are accounted for.

References & Related Policies

• NFPA 472, OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.120, TCFP CPSE PI ISO TFCA 04.07, EPA Standard 40 CFR 311, ISFSI Awareness Student Manual and ISFSI Operations Student Manual.