Multiple hazardous materials found while firefighters battled a house fire.Īs students in the fire service, we were taught early in our careers to stage uphill, upwind, and upstream from incidents involving possible hazardous materials. What is your size-up to these emergencies? Dangers are always present. Incidents involving hazardous substances such as flammables, toxins, explosives, or radioactive materials can occur during production, transportation, or use.

A hazardous material is one that if released, in any quantity, could cause harm to people, property, or the environment. What do you think of when you hear the term hazmat? Leaking barrels of liquid? Glowing green people? How about a vehicle accident with oil, fuel, and antifreeze on the ground? Or a husband and wife found unconscious in their yard with fertilizer bags near them? Better yet, what about an extinguished structure fire during overhaul operations? The point is, hazardous materials come in various shapes and forms, and involve unique circumstances that may not usually be considered when responding. However, while firefighters are well-versed in fireground size-ups, confidence can change when a hazardous material is thrown into the situation. For years, emergency responders and specialists have collaborated in an effort to limit these losses and the hazards associated with hazmat responses. In the world of fire and emergency services, hazardous materials incidents have some of the most devastating outcomes in regard to life, property, and environmental losses.

Initial sizeup report