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Haz-Mat Services |
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North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue is designated as the lead agency at all HAZMAT incidents which occur within our jurisdiction. In this capacity, we are charged with the overall responsibility to command the emergency response. What is HAZMAT? In simple terms, a hazardous material (commonly refereed to as HAZMAT), may be defined as any product that can cause harm to people or the environment when inadvertently released from it’s container. Hazardous materials are routinely transported and utilized by industries throughout New Jersey. Strict federal regulations govern their use, minimizing risks and permitting them to be used safely for productive purposes. Command ResponsibilitiesAs the lead agency, North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue responds to all HAZMAT incidents. Because HAZMAT incidents often require the collaborative effort of multiple government agencies, North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue will establish a Command Post to coordinate and control the activities of all contributing agencies. Under the command of North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue, the municipality’s police department, health department, emergency medical service, public works department, emergency management coordinator, Hudson Regional Health Commission, and the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection will all work together to bring the emergency to a successful conclusion. Dedicated HAZMAT teams and technical resources may be immediately summoned from neighboring communities and from the State of New Jersey. In some instances, the services of private contractors may be necessary, and they are also readily accessible due to comprehensive planning. The goal at a HAZMAT incident is simple; protect the public and mitigate the problem. North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue will direct operations that protect the public from further harm and minimize the adverse consequences to the community. Protecting the PublicAll Firefighters are trained to the "HAZMAT Operations" level, a performance standard established by Federal law. This means that firefighters are prepared to immediately initiate defensive activities to safeguard the public at a HAZMAT event. Additionally, North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue has trained a corps of firefighters to perform decontamination (DECON) duties. DECON is the process of removing dangerous contaminants from people and equipment exposed to a hazardous material. Six companies are specially equipped with portable tents, cleaning solutions, paper garments, and multiple accessories to execute this mission. These companies comprise our DECON Task Force, which will respond to the scene of a HAZMAT. DECON is a vital activity. Victims cannot be safely transported to a hospital for further treatment until they have been properly decontaminated. CommitmentNorth Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue stands ready with the resources, personnel, training and talent to implement a swift and effective response at hazardous materials incidents. We are committed to safeguarding the community from the danger of industrial hazardous material accidents or weapons of mass destruction attacks. For more information about hazardous material go to: |
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NORTH HUDSON REGIONAL FIRE & RESCUE |