Research notes on the history of the Raleigh Fire Department hazardous materials response program.
Pre-History
1980, Nov 19 – New federal regulations took effect to ensure safe management of hazardous waste, including identifying/notifying authorities of all sites that contained such products.
1982, Sep 13 – Fire in Charlotte at a chemical company forced the evacuation of several neighborhoods. Subsequently, the Raleigh Fire Marshal began compiling a list of haz-mat storage areas in the city.
1982, Oct 7 – News reported that for about a month, the fire department had been compiling an inventory of haz-mats stored in Raleigh. City administration was planning to propose a comprehensive “hazardous waste policy” by the end of the year. And part of the reason was the coming completion of the “southern leg of the Beltline,” which would require rules to “keep hazardous wastes from being transported through Raleigh.” [N&O, 10/7/82]
1983 to 1988
1983, March – City manager submitted a report to council on sites in the city that stored “hazardous waste.” [N&O, 7/10/83]
1983, May – City administration revised their inventory of sites that stored “hazardous waste.” It identified 19 sites in the “city’s fire service area” that were “primary hazardous materials rises.” Plus another 38 sites that could be “hazardous under adverse conditions.” [N&O, 7/10/83]
1983, Jun 10 – News reported that a city council at a work session for the FY84 budget endorsed a budget request to train and equip a “special unit of firefighters” to respond to haz-mat emergencies. [N&O, 7/10/83]
The team was part of a city administration plan to “tighten the city’s regulation of hazardous materials.” Also in the city’s plan were changes considered to the city code that would regulate disposal of haz-mats at landfills within the city, and another that would establish a permitting processes for storing haz-mats including the periodic monitor of storage sites. [N&O, 7/10/83]
Fire Chief Thomas Kuster, who took office on February 1, 1983, and was the first “outside chief” hired in the department, had proposed the team “after evaluating the department [and concluding] that the special hazardous materials unit was needed.” [N&O, 7/10/83]
1983, summer – Captain Shelton T. Eudy assigned the action of forming the haz-mat team. [FC, 12/85]
1983, Nov – Captain Eudy and Firefighter II L. F. Bridgers attended the Hazardous Materials Tactical Considerations course at the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD. The 80-hour course was taught by Jim Covington and Dave Leak. [FC, 12/85]
The city had approved a budget of $48,453 to train personnel, buy a truck, and buy equipment. Buying equipment was time-consuming, because state law required three price quotes for each piece of equipment. But because of what Eudy and Bridgers had learned at the Academy, they didn’t have to spend a lot of time “figuring out what equipment was necessary” and fit the department and the city’s needs. [FC, 12/85]
Of the appropriated funds, $15,000 was allocated to purchase a new van for the haz-mat unit. To stretch the funds further, a used vehicle was purchased instead. The firefighters at Station 2, where the fire department maintenance garage was located, then “went to work.” They sanded the body, inside and out. They removed dents. They primed and painted the truck. They installed the emergency lights and siren. They laid carpet in the truck. [FC, 12/85]
Another firefighter designed and built the wood cabinets for the truck, which held all of the new equipment “neatly and securely.” The results was a finished product of high quality that also saved over $10,000. [FC, 12/85]
1984, Mar – Captain Eudy requested permission from the fire chief to place a railroad tank car at the training center for haz-mat training. After receiving the approval, Eudy contacted the Seaboard System Railroad office in Raleigh for help. In March 30, 1984, Eudy was contacted by Seaboard president Richard D. Sanborn, and was told that they would be “most pleased” to provide a tank car for the fire department. [FC, 12/85]
Other companies donated the services and materials to transport the railcar and install it at the training center. Firefighters built and poured the concrete slab and driveway for the railcar. [FC, 12/85]
Many other items were donated for the haz-mat team’s use, ranging from a color television set to three-ring binders. The Wake County Firemen’s Associated donated more than $500 for printing the manuals for the haz-mat team members. [FC, 12/85]
1984, Jun 29, circa – Cross-staffed by Engine 2 on Pecan Road, the unit was named Haz-Mat 1 and was placed in service around this time.
The unit carried an “onboard library” of 20 haz-mat books, city and county street maps, topographical maps, city water and sewer maps, a map of the State College campus, and preplans of all locations where haz-mats were stored. [FC, 12/85]
The personal protective equipment carried on the unit consisted of:
- 4 Acid-master pink suits
- 4 Fyrepel alumni Nomex shells
- 2 Fyrepel entry suits
- 4 Fyrepel Butyl suits
- 18 yellow Tyvek disposable suits
- 18 Nomex jumpsuits
- 24 white disposable Tyvek suits
- 6 pair Neoprene boots
- 6 pair Butyl rubber gloves
- 12 pair Neoprene gloves
- 2 pair Fyrepel Butyl goves
- 2 pair Fyrepel aluminum Nomex gloves
- 12 pair Nitrile gloves.
- 4 Scott Air Packs
- 6 chemical splash goggles
Other equipment included hand tools, shovels, foam educator and nozzle, and foam concentrate. [FC, 12/85]
1984, July 11 – First haz-mat call for the unit to Schwab Food Science Center at North Carolina State University for a fire in a second-floor laboratory. More on that one a bit later. North Carolina State University.
1985, Dec – Snapshot. The haz-mat team consisted of 30 members, all of whom volunteered for the role. Ten firefighters on each of the three shifts. On incidents, the team is deployed as five people: the incident command and four members in “acid suits.” Two suited firefighters make entry, and two firefighters stand by as safety. Other haz-mat team members help with “equipment, note taking, and decontamination.” [FC, 12/85]
For the FY86 operating budget, the team has requested money for additional encapsulating suits, additional radios, and more books for training and the haz-mat library. Also by this time, foam educators and foam nozzles had been purchased for all engine companies. [FC, 12/85]
The team was currently the only haz-mat team in Wake County, and responded mutual aid as needed anywhere in the county. It also provided training for the 23 volunteer departments in the county. [FC, 12/85]
1989 to 1990
1989, November – Training expected to be completed for all Operations personnel on haz-mat awareness e.g. “operation level” training. Source: Gattis memo.
1989
Haz-mat proposal submitted by Captain J. Gattis, expanding the current team and mission:
- Three teams of 12 members each, structured as:
- Primary Response Section – Four FFs training to Haz-Mat Specialist level.
- Secondary Response Section – Four FFs cross-trained in heavy rescue and at the Haz-Mat Technician level. Subject to “simultaneous response.”
- Haz-Mat Reinforcement Section – Trained at Technician level and available on request.
- On any given day:
- 12 personnel available to respond to haz-mat incidents
- each haz-mat response team consists of one captain, four specialists, and seven technicians.
- decon operations could be handled by company personnel trained at the haz-mat operations level.
- for extended haz-mat incidents, off-duty personnel would be recalled as needed.
- the haz-mat teams would be under the direction of the Asst. Chief of Suppression and under the supervision of the Haz-Mat Coordinator/Safety Officer.
- Proposed budget of $166,500, including:
- $275,000 – New haz-mat truck
- Haz-Mat Coordinator position.
- 5% incentive pay for 36 members
- Technical (data entry) Clerk position.
- Assorted equipment, including six encapsulated suits.
- Training and training supplies.
- Cellular phones and two FAX machines
By March 2, 1990
Haz-Mat 1 renamed Haz-Mat 2. [MJL]
March 6, 1990
Final rule of OSHA 1910.120 took effect on Hazardous waste operations and emergency response, with new requirements that impacted fire departments. They included:
- Certification of a Safety Off1cer
- Certification of the Inc1dent Commander
- Initial and Refresher Training for Emergency Responders
- Medical surveillance for Haz Mat Teams and Exposed Personnel
- Procedures for Handling Emergency Incidents
- Certain Haz-Mat Resources, Including Protective Clothing
- Sampling Equipment
- Record Keeping
[ This correct? These were new requirements, not pre-existing? ]
[ Source: Gattis memo. ]
November 12, 1990
Haz-Mat 2 moved to Station 20. [MJL]
Around November 12, 1990
Engine 13 and Truck 8 established as haz-mat companies. [MJL]
1991 to 1999
August 14-15, 1991
Haz-Mat 20 replaced with a 1991 Simon-Duplex/Emergency-One haz-mat unit. [MJL]
August 14-15, 1991 or later
Haz-Mat 21 placed in service with a 1977 Chevrolet panel van. [MJL]
Spring 1992
Engine 15 and Truck 15 established as haz-mat companies, and Haz-Mat 20, Engine 13, and Truck 8 established as haz-mat specialist companies.
Wake County contracts with the Raleigh Fire Department for haz-mat response.
Personnel begin receiving 5% additional pay. [MJL]
After Spring 1992
Personnel of Engine 13 and Engine 8 swap stations. Haz-mat companies are now Haz-Mat 20, Engine 8, Truck 8, Engine 15, Truck 15. [MJL]
2000 to 2008
August 14, 2001
Truck 15, one of the haz-mat companies, is moved to Station 22. [MJL]
January 10, 2003
Haz-Mat 15 placed in service with a 1988 GMC extended panel van, after personnel convert the former mobile air and command post unit into a haz-mat support unit. [MJL]
April 2003
Decon 1 placed in service at Station 20 with a 2002 Volvo/2002 Great Dane transfer truck. [MJL]
July 2004
Raleigh Fire Department awarded the contract for North Carolina Hazardous Materials Regional Response Team (RRT) 4. [MJL]
July 16, 2004
NC RRT 4 placed in service. Moved from Parkwood Fire Department in Durham County, the assets include a 1995 International/Hackney tractor-drawn haz-mat unit, a six-wheel decontamination fifth-wheel trailer, and a four-wheel support trailer. The primary unit is placed in service at Station 15. The decontamination trailer is housed at Station 22, and towed by a 1979 International tractor. The support trailer is housed at both Station 8 and Station 15, before being moved to Station 22. [MJL]
November 5, 2004
Personnel of Engine 2 and Engine 20 swap stations. Haz-Mat 20 and SR 20 moved to Station 2.
Truck 8, one of the haz-mat companies, moved to Station 20. Truck 20 now operates Decon 1. [MJL]
April 28, 2006
2006 Freightliner/Hackney tractor-drawn haz-mat unit delivered, to replace Haz-Mat 2.
October 5, 2006.
Apex Fire Department requests the haz-mat team at an explosion and fire at a hazardous waste storage facility near US 1 and Highway 55. Regional response teams from Raleigh and Fayetteville are subsequently summoned. Nearly 17,000 residents are requested to evacuate, and the command post is relocated three times. Some 300 firefighters are on scene at the height of the incident, including personnel from Wake, Harnett, Orange, and Durham counties. [MJL]
March 2008
Haz-Mat and USAR teams are integrated to develop a federally recommended 71-member team. [MJL]
June 2008
Haz-Mat 8 placed in service with 2008 Ford F-350 Super Duty haz-mat recon vehicle for use by members of RRT 4 and NC USAR Task Force 8. The unit will be equipped with basic entry and air monitoring equipment, chemical protective clothing, and simple decon equipment. It also has a tow hitch, for pulling the 21-foot RRT trailer from Station 22. [MJL]
Sources
- Fire Chief magazine, December 1985 – Article on RFD haz-mat team by Shelton Eudy
- J. Gattis memo, 1989
- Mike Legeros research.
- News and Observer articles, various.