With Haz Mat Specialist (F&G) Class behind us, it’s only fair to recognize those that took the time to become better at their craft.
A Haz Mat Specialist class with every rank in attendance is rare. There were Captain IIs, Captain Is, Apparatus Operators, Engineers and Firefighters from 21s, 48s and 95s. Not only does this send a strong message that it starts at the top, but it also makes the Haz Mat program that much stronger.
The 80-hour training course starts off with a mix of classroom lectures and manipulative walk throughs. The lectures from the lead JHAT instructor (Captain Bryan Dejong) and specialized operators in the Haz Mat community help prepare the students for a challenging week which is mainly based on multiple entries into multiple Haz Mat scenarios.
The scenarios that are covered are radioactive incidents, overturned tankers (gasoline & diesel), rail car incidents upright and on its side, chemical plant pipe tree leaks, multiple cylinder leaks of various products (chlorine, sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide to name a few) and several biological, nefarious drug and other clandestine lab entries. To say that the two weeks of classes were realistic is an understatement.
What was most refreshing was seeing how approximately 40 students from multiple organizations were able to work in a unified command. Members from the LAFD, ARMY’s 9th Civil Defense, LA Port PD, LAPD HMU, LACO Fire & Burbank Fire made it all possible.
The effort that everyone made to make the training a success showed us that firefighters, military personnel and police officers, with knowledge, skills and ability can not only help protect our members, our organizations, but our community as well.
As for the LAFD, as difficult and challenging hazardous materials incidents can be, the amount of knowledge shared and gained in these two courses will ensure that our Haz Mat program will remain robust.
Special thanks to Captain Bryan Dejong JHAT, LAPD Officer Howard Hsu HMU, Firefighter Bill Lugg FS95, Firefighter Mike Hyland FS48, Firefighter Mark McLean FS 48, EIT Dave Duncan, Captain Josh Lillenberg FS48, Captain Bob Dunivan JHAT and Paul Holt Union Pacific for all the knowledge shared.
Additionally, a sincere thank you to Drill Master Captain Sunny Marcione from Drill Tower 40 for allowing us to use the facility to make these two weeks happen without any interruptions to the training and development of the current recruit class.
For those that didn’t have the opportunity to be part of this class, keep an eye out for future classes. The passion displayed by all instructors makes these courses worth the wait.
In closing, remember that any skill set learned in the fire service is perishable. Haz Mat training is no different. Take the time to train and develop your people. 15-minute meter drills, impromptu training prop drills and basic operations refresher training drills are the only way to stay in the game. The things that make Haz Mats hard is that they are usually low frequency, but carry the highest risk. If you don’t take the time to train, the skillset will be lost and the challenge will increase. Training, like our lives, depend on it. It is the only way to ensure that we will rise to the occasion if that day ever comes.
Train Hard and Train Often.
Special thanks to Captain Bryan Dejong JHAT, LAPD Officer Howard Hsu HMU, Firefighter Bill Lugg FS95, Firefighter Mike Hyland FS48, Firefighter Mark McLean FS 48, EIT Dave Duncan, Captain Josh Lillenberg FS48, Captain Bob Dunivan JHAT and Paul Holt Union Pacific for all the knowledge shared.