Fort Blackmore Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.

S. O. G.’s

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Standard Operating Guidelines

Chapter 3: Hazardous Materials Incidents

Working Copy | Revised August, 2007

S. O. G.’s

Any vehicle accident or house fire has a potential Hazardous Materials [HAZMAT] danger. Treat all fire calls as a HAZMAT involvement. You never know what dangers lie near. Vehicle accidents are the number one threat to the environment and to health. Your number one responsibility as a firefighter is to protect your own safety. Never "wade in" to any situation without doing Size-Up. Wear all protective gear including SCBA.

Refer to current Hazardous Materials Response Guide posted on all FBVFD trucks

Refer to the NFPA publications on the handling of Hazardous Materials, when available

Refer to HAZMAT Training Manuals, when available

Seek help from Central Dispatch or ES21 in Scott County when the situation is difficult

Do not get in "over your head" in a HAZMAT situation.

If it looks hazardous, it probably is hazardous.

All types of fires are a HAZMAT situation; there may be things burning that can cripple or kill you through their toxic smoke and vapors.

Even a "whiff" of a toxic vapor can kill.

Firefighters should not undertake a HAZMAT situation without proper training; HAZMAT Awareness or HAZMAT Operations classes are available to all Virginia firefighters.

HAZMAT Incidents that FBVFD can possibly handle without help

Contained dumpster fires

Small vehicle fires

Small vehicle gasoline/oil/diesel spills

Other

Be sure to use appropriate equipment, including full PPE and SCBA.

HAZMAT Incidents that FBVFD will have difficulty dealing without help

Fuel tanker leaks

Oil tank and Fuel tank leaks on farms

Train wrecks

Aircraft wrecks

Gasoline Station Fires

Commercial Garage Fires

Other

HAZMAT INCIDENT: Arriving On-Scene/Size-Up

Refer to the Size-Up Section of this SOG. This section of the SOGs does not attempt to answer all HAZMAT questions. Seek help if the incident is over the ability of the IC or FBVFD. Once you have established that this is a HAZMAT incident, or you are reasonably sure you will need to approach this incident with HAZMAT in mind, the IC is encouraged to use these guidelines and tips:

Refer to Size-Up information in Chapter One

Refer to all HAZMAT publications for information and steps in containment, if needed, when available; use the current HAZMAT First Responder booklet found on all FBVFD fire vehicles

Call Scott County Central and tell them you have a HAZMAT situation

If further help is warranted, contact Central and ask for ES21.

GCFD or DF&R are good departments to call for backup in a HAZMAT situation. They have lots of experience and have more equipment to deal with small to moderate HAZMAT problems.

If the IC finds himself/herself "over their head" on this fire call, call for help [see above].

Contain fuel or chemical spills

Keep all civilians out of the fuel spill area; allow no smoking

Approach upwind when possible

Remember that sparking tools are hazardous in a fuel spill and may cause a fire

Wear all turn-out gear and SCBA

Advance with a charged line

Remember that the spilled fuel will have a flash-point and will burn when elements of the fire triangle or fire tetrahedron are present

Take precautions to combat a fire once it arises. Be prepared to fight fire.

Remember that all chemicals when burning produce toxic fumes that can kill

Combat fire from a distance using bank-down on roll-on procedures

Do not attempt to contain a fuel spill if your training is limited in this area

Keep the fuel in the tank if you can

Currently, FBVFD does not have a leak kit.

Make a dam using Absorb-All/Oil-Dry to contain the spill if possible

Make a dam in any small streams or ditches to keep the fuel from getting further into the environment; making a containment dam is hard work and requires plenty of firefighters

What to do with Contaminated Soil:

Small quantities of contaminated Absorb-All/Oil Dry can be taken to a dumpster

Large quantities of contaminated Absorb-All/Oil Dry should be disposed of according to what ES21 tells you

All fuel and their vapors are hazardous to your health: handle with extreme care; vapors may cause B.L.E.V.E. , severe damage to your respiratory system, or death

Wash the roadway of residual fuel, Oil-Dry, and debris. Make the roadway safe.

Other

 

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Last Updated on 08/07/2007

Contact: FBVFD, Inc., P.O. Box 69, Fort Blackmore VA 24250 | 276-995-2035

WebMaster: J. Currier [responsible for content]