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Erie County Haz-Mat Response
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Hazardous Materials are classified as any substance,
man-made or natural, that, in sufficient quantities pose an undue threat
to health or to the environment.
This could be anything from
gasoline,
motor oil, or diesel fuel,
to some really nasty chemicals with names as long as an interstate
highway. Whereas most of these substances have a practical
purpose in our daily lives, we must ensure that they are disposed of
properly. We must also
ensure that when accidental or intentional release of these substances
into the environment is made, their impact is minimal. In order to effectively respond to these releases,
the Agency has developed a Chemical Emergency Response Plan and
established a Hazardous Materials Response Team.
The plan is updated annually and is coordinated with the State of
Ohio. The Haz Mat Team is comprised 25 individuals. These individuals are appointed to the team by their respective fire chiefs and are all volunteers. The Haz Mat Team Coordinator and the EMA Director handle day-to-day activities. The team meets on a bi-monthly basis for information and training. Our agency responded to over 36 calls involving hazardous materials in 2007. Most of these concerned fuel spills, but also included mercury spills and pickups, potential meth labs, and other chemicals.
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