Essentials of Fire Fighting and

Fire Department Operations,

5th Edition
Chapter 23 — Operations at Haz
Mat Incidents
Firefighter I
Chapter 23 Lesson Goal

• After completing this lesson, the

student shall be able to summarize the
basic operations at haz mat and
terrorist incidents and perform
emergency decontamination and
defensive procedures following the
policies and procedures set forth by the
authority having jurisdiction (AHJ).
Firefighter I
23–1
Specific Objectives

1. Summarize incident priorities for all

haz mat and terrorist incidents.
2. Discuss the management structure at
haz mat or terrorist incidents.
3. Describe the problem-solving stages
at haz mat and terrorist incidents.

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–2
Specific Objectives

4. Explain how the strategic goal of

isolation and scene control is
achieved.
5. Explain how the strategic goal of
notification is achieved.

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–3
Specific Objectives

6. Explain how the strategic goal of

ensuring the safety of responders and
the public is achieved.
7. Summarize general guidelines for
decontamination operations.
8. Describe the three types of
decontamination.
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–4
Specific Objectives

9. Discuss implementing
decontamination.
10. Discuss rescue at haz mat incidents.
11. Explain how the strategic goal of spill
control and confinement is achieved.

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–5
Specific Objectives

12. Discuss crime scene management and

evidence preservation.
13. Explain actions taken during the
recovery and termination phase of a
haz mat or terrorist incident.
14. Perform emergency decontamination.
(Skill Sheet 23-I-1)
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–6
Specific Objectives

15. Perform defensive control functions –

Absorption. (Skill Sheet 23-I-2)
16. Perform defensive control functions –
Diking. (Skill Sheet 23-I-3)
17. Perform defensive control functions –
Damming. (Skill Sheet 23-I-4)

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–7
Specific Objectives

18. Perform defensive control functions –

Diversion. (Skill Sheet 23-I-5)
19. Perform defensive control functions –
Retention. (Skill Sheet 23-I-6)

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–8
Specific Objectives

20. Perform defensive control functions –

Dilution. (Skill Sheet 23-I-7)
21. Perform defensive control functions –
Vapor dispersion. (Skill Sheet 23-I-8)

Firefighter I
23–9
Incident Priorities

• Life safety
• Incident stabilization
• Protection of property

Firefighter I
23–10
DISCUSSION QUESTION

How do you think haz mat and terrorist

incidents differ from other types of
emergencies to which fire departments
respond?

Firefighter I
23–11
Management Structure

• Firefighters will initiate/operate within

their standard incident command
system at haz mat incidents; may be
some differences from other incidents
• Firefighters must operate in accordance
with predetermined procedures

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–12
DISCUSSION QUESTION

Who has final jurisdiction over terrorist

incidents in the U.S.?

Firefighter I
23–13
Management Structure

• According to 29 CFR 1910.120,

Hazardous Waste Operations and
Emergency Response, all organizations
that respond to haz mat incidents are
required to have an emergency
response plan

Firefighter I
23–14
Four Elements of Problem-
Solving, Decision-Making Models

• Information gathering, input, analysis

stage
• Processing and/or planning stage
• Implementation or output stage
• Review or evaluation stage

Firefighter I
23–15
DISCUSSION QUESTION

Why is analyzing the situation vital

when dealing with incidents involving
hazardous materials or terrorism?

Firefighter I
23–16
Analyzing the Situation

Courtesy of Tom Clawson, Technical Resources Group, Inc.

• Size-up
• Incident levels
Firefighter I
23–17
DISCUSSION QUESTION

What kinds of special resources might

be needed for haz mat incidents?

Firefighter I
23–18
DISCUSSION QUESTION

How can weather conditions affect haz

mat incidents?

Firefighter I
23–19
DISCUSSION QUESTION

What are some examples of the various

levels of incidents from local, national,
or international events?

Firefighter I
23–20
Planning Appropriate Response

• Strategic goals and

tactical objectives
• Modes of operation
• Incident action
plans

Courtesy of Rich Mahaney.

Firefighter I
23–21
DISCUSSION QUESTION

When might it be appropriate to switch

modes of operation?

Firefighter I
23–22
Implementing the IAP

• After strategic goals have been selected

and IAP formulate, the IC can
implement the plan
• Strategic goals are met by achieving
tactical objectives
• Tactical objectives accomplished or
conducted by performing specific tasks

Firefighter I
23–23
Reviewing or Evaluating
Progress

• Final aspect of problem-solving process

• If IAP is effective, IC should receive
favorable progress and incident should
begin to stabilize

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–24
DISCUSSION QUESTION

Who is responsible for providing the IC

with information about progress?

Firefighter I
23–25
Reviewing or Evaluating
Progress

• If mitigation efforts failing or situation

getting worse, plan must be
reevaluated and possibly revised
• Plan must be reevaluated as new
information becomes available/
circumstances change

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–26
Reviewing or Evaluating
Progress

• If initial plan not working, must be

changed by selecting new strategies or
changing tactics used to achieve

Firefighter I
23–27
Isolation and Scene Control

• One of primary strategic goals at haz

mat incidents; one of most important
means by which responders can ensure
safety of themselves/others
• Separating people from potential source
of harm necessary to protect life safety
of all
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–28
Isolation and Scene Control

• Necessary to prevent spread of

hazardous materials through cross
contamination
• Isolation involves physically
securing/maintaining emergency scene
by establishing isolation perimeters and
denying entry to unauthorized persons

Firefighter I
23–29
Isolation Perimeter

• Boundary established to prevent

access by public and unauthorized
persons
• May be established before the type of
incident/attack is positively identified

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–30
Isolation Perimeter

• If incident is inside a building, isolation

perimeter might be set at outside
entrance, accomplished by posting
personnel to deny entry

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–31
Isolation Perimeter

• If incident is outside,
perimeter might be
set at surrounding
intersections with
response vehicles/law
enforcement officers
diverting traffic and
pedestrians (Continued)

Firefighter I
23–32
Isolation Perimeter

• Isolation perimeter can be

expanded/reduced as needed; used to
control both access and egress from
scene

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–33
Isolation Perimeter

• Law enforcement officers are often

used to establish and maintain isolation
perimeters
• Once hazard-control zones are
established, isolation perimeter is
generally considered to be boundary
between public and cold (safe) zone

Firefighter I
23–34
Hazard-Control Zones

Firefighter I
23–35
DISCUSSION QUESTION

What should responders be wearing in

the hot zone?

Firefighter I
23–36
Additional Zones

• Additional areas may be required

• Decontamination zone
• Area of safe refuge
• Staging area
• Rehabilitation area
• Triage/treatment area Courtesy of District Chief Chris E. Mickal,
NOFD Photo Unit.

Firefighter I
23–37
Notification Process

• Emergency response plans must

ensure responders understand their
role in notification processes and
predetermined procedures

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–38
Notification Process

• Notification may be as
simple as dialing
9-1-1 (in North
America) to report an
incident and get
additional help
dispatched
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–39
Notification Process

• Strategic goal of notification may also

include such items as incident-level
identification and public emergency
information/notification

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–40
Notification Process

• Better to dispatch more resources than

necessary in an initial response to
ensure appropriate weight of attack to
combat incident conditions

Firefighter I
23–41
DISCUSSION QUESTION

What are the notification processes in

your department?

Firefighter I
23–42
Other Agencies

• Notification involves contacting law

enforcement whenever a terrorist or
criminal incident is suspected
• Notify other agencies that an incident
has occurred

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–43
Other Agencies

• Procedures will differ between military

and civilian agencies as well as from
country to country
• Always follow SOPs/OIs and emergency
response plans for notification
procedures

Firefighter I
23–44
Process for Notification

• Because some haz mat incidents and

terrorist attacks have potential to
overwhelm local responders, it is
important to know how to request
additional resources

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–45
Process for Notification

• Process should be spelled out through

local, district, regional, state, national
emergency response plans

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–46
Process for Notification

• In the U.S., notification process is

spelled out in National Response Plan
(NRP); all local, state, federal
emergency response plans must
comply with these provisions

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–47
Process for Notification

• Local emergency response plan (LERP)

should be first resource a responder in
U.S. should turn to if they need to
request outside assistance

Firefighter I
23–48
Protection

• Overall goal of ensuring

safety of responders and
public
• Includes measures taken
to protect property and
environment
• Accomplished through
various tactics
Firefighter I
23–49
Protection of Responders

• First priority at any

incident
• Accountability systems
• Buddy systems
• Evacuation/escape
procedures
• Safety Officers

Firefighter I
23–50
DISCUSSION QUESTION

Why is it necessary to have two more

firefighters standing by as backup?

Firefighter I
23–51
Protection of the Public

• Includes isolating area and denying

entry, conducting rescues, performing
mass decontamination, providing
emergency medical care/first aid

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–52
Protection of the Public

• Evacuation
• Sheltering in
place
• Protecting/
defending in
place

Firefighter I
23–53
DISCUSSION QUESTION

What are some recent examples of

incidents in which the public has been
evacuated? How were these incidents
handled?

Firefighter I
23–54
Decontamination Operations

• Performed at haz mat incidents to

remove hazardous materials from
victims, PPE, tools, equipment,
anything else that has been
contaminated
• Done to reduce contamination to a
level that is no longer harmful
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–55
Decontamination Operations

• Prevent harmful
exposures and reduce or
eliminate spread of
contaminants outside hot
zone
• Provide victims with
psychological
reassurance
Firefighter I
23–56
Determining Factors for Type of
Decontamination Operation

• Size of incident
• Type of hazardous materials involved
• Weather
• Personnel available
• Variety of other factors

Firefighter I
23–57
Decontamination Rules

• Basic principles
– Get it off
– Keep it off
– Contain it
• Other decon rules

Firefighter I
23–58
Emergency Decontamination

• Removing contamination on individuals

in potentially life-threatening situation
with or without formal establishment of
decontamination corridor

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–59
Emergency Decontamination

Courtesy of Judy Halmich.

• Can consist of anything from removing

contaminated clothing to flushing a
person with water
Firefighter I
23–60
Emergency Decon —
Implementation

• Goal
• May be necessary for victims and
rescuers
• Victims may need immediate medical
treatment
• Several situations in which it may be
needed
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–61
Emergency Decon —
Implementation

• Quick fix
• Removal of all contaminants may not
occur
• Can harm environment
• Procedures may differ depending on
circumstances/hazards present

Firefighter I
23–62
Mass Decontamination

Courtesy of Rich Mahaney.

• Conducting rapid decontamination of

multiple people at one time
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–63
Mass Decontamination

• May be conducted with

or without formal decon
corridor; usually involves
removing clothing and
flushing individuals with Courtesy of Steven Baker.

large quantities of water

Firefighter I
23–64
Mass Decon — Implementation

• Mass decon is physical process of

rapidly reducing/removing contaminants
from multiple persons in potentially life-
threatening situations, with or without
formal establishment of decon corridor

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–65
Mass Decon — Implementation

• Initiated when number of victims/time

constraints do not allow establishment
of in-depth decontamination process
• Availability of ideal solutions in sufficient
quantities cannot always be insured

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–66
Mass Decon — Implementation

• Can be most readily/effectively

established with simple water shower
system
• Recommended that all victims
undergoing mass decon remove
underclothing at least down to
undergarments
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–67
Mass Decon — Implementation

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–68
Mass Decon — Implementation

• To prioritize, responders
must consider factors
related to medical
triage/decontamination
• Triage
• Ambulatory victims
• Nonambulatory victims

Firefighter I
23–69
Technical Decontamination

• Using chemical/physical methods to

thoroughly remove contaminants from
responders/their equipment

(Continued)
Courtesy of Rich Mahaney.
Firefighter I
23–70
Technical Decontamination

• May also be used on incident victims in

non-life-threatening situations
• Normally conducted within formal decon
line
• Type/scope determined by
contaminants

Firefighter I
23–71
Technical Decon —
Implementation

• Absorption
• Adsorption
• Brushing and scraping
• Chemical degradation
• Dilution
• Neutralization
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–72
Technical Decon —
Implementation

• Sanitation, disinfection, sterilization

• Solidification
• Vacuuming
• Washing
• Evaporation
• Isolation and disposal

Firefighter I
23–73
Decon Implementation
Considerations

• Appropriate site must be selected

• Number of stations/setup of corridor or
line must be decided
• Methods for collecting evidence must be
determined
• Termination procedures must be
followed

Firefighter I
23–74
Site Selection Factors

• Accessibility
• Terrain/surface material
• Lighting/electrical
supply
• Drains/waterways
• Water supply
• Weather
Firefighter I
23–75
Decon Corridor Layout

• Establish
decontamination
corridor before
performing any
work in hot zone
Courtesy of Steven Baker.

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–76
Decon Corridor Layout

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–77
Decon Corridor Layout

• First responders are often involved with

setting up and working in
decontamination corridor
• Types of decontamination corridors vary
as to numbers of sections or steps used
in decontamination process

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–78
 Decon Corridor Layout

• Responders must
understand process
and be trained in
setting up type of
decontamination
Courtesy of Joan Hepler. required by
different materials
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–79
Decon Corridor Layout

• Decontamination corridor may be

identified with barrier tape, safety
cones, other items that are visually
recognizable
• How firefighters are protected when
working in the decontamination area
depends on hazards of the material

Firefighter I
23–80
Cold Weather Decon

• Conducting wet
decon operations
in freezing weather
can be difficult to
execute safely
• Run-off water can quickly turn to ice

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–81
Cold Weather Decon

• If pre-warmed water is not available,

susceptible individuals can suffer cold
shock or hypothermia
• If temperatures are 64 degrees or
lower, consideration should be given to
protecting victims from cold

Firefighter I
23–82
Rescue at Haz Mat Incidents

• Due to potential of extreme hazards at

haz mat incidents and defensive
nature of actions at Operations Level,
rescue can be a difficult strategy to
implement for firefighters, particularly
in initial stages of a response

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–83
Rescue at Haz Mat Incidents

• Search and rescue attempts must be

made within framework of incident
action plan with appropriate PPE,
backup personnel, other safety
considerations in place

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–84
Rescue at Haz Mat Incidents

• In many emergency incidents, rescue of

victims is IC’s first priority, but it is
important to balance vulnerability of
firefighters against lives of victims

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–85
Rescue at Haz Mat Incidents

• Hesitation to rush into a situation to

assist casualties may directly conflict
with fire fighting strategic priority of
rescue first as well as with many
firefighters’ natural desire to help
victims as quickly as possible

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–86
Rescue at Haz Mat Incidents

• Because of dangers presented by

hazardous materials, responders who
rush to the rescue may quickly require
the need to be rescued themselves

Firefighter I
23–87
Factors to Consider

• IC makes decisions about rescue

based on a variety of factors at
incident
• Several factors affect the ability of
personnel to perform a rescue
• Decisions about rescue may differ
depending on country and jurisdiction
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–88
Factors to Consider

• Responders must
understand what
actions are
appropriate for
them given their
SOPs, training, Courtesy of Rich Mahaney.

available equipment and resources

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–89
Factors to Consider

• Without coming in contact with the

hazardous material, Operations Level
firefighters may perform a limited
number of tasks with appropriate PPE

Firefighter I
23–90
DISCUSSION QUESTION

How do you feel about the information

contained in “Exceptions to the Rule”?

Firefighter I
23–91
Spill Control and Confinement

• Strategic goal of spill control involves

controlling product that has already
been released from its container (Continued)
Firefighter I
23–92
Spill Control and Confinement

• Spill control minimizes amount of

contact product makes with people,
property, environment by limiting or
confining the dispersion and/or
reducing the amount of harm caused by
contact with the material

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–93
Spill Control and Confinement

• Tactics and tasks relating to spill control

are determined by material involved
and type of dispersion; generally
defensive in nature

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–94
Spill Control and Confinement

• Main priority of spill control is

confinement and prevention of further
contamination or contact with
hazardous material

Firefighter I
23–95
Spill Control and Confinement

• Firefighters trained to the Operations

Level may perform spill-control activities
as long as they do not come in contact
with the product or have appropriate
training and PPE

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–96
Spill Control and Confinement

• Spill control is a defensive operation

with most important issue being safety
of the firefighters performing these
actions

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–97
Spill Control and Confinement

• Spills may involve gases, liquids, solids,

and the product involved may be
released into the air, into water, onto a
surface such as ground or a bench top

Firefighter I
23–98
Spill Control and Confinement
Tactics

• Hazardous materials may be confined

by building dams or dikes near source,
catching material in another container,
directing flow to a remote location for
collection

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–99
Spill Control and Confinement
Tactics

• Before using equipment to confine

spilled materials, ICs need to seek
advice from technical sources to
determine if spilled materials will
adversely affect the equipment

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–100
Spill Control and Confinement
Tactics

• Confinement is not restricted to

controlling liquids; dusts, vapors, and
gases can also be confined

Firefighter I
23–101
Absorption

• Physical and/or chemical event

occurring during contact between
materials that have an attraction for
each other
• Results in one material being retained
in other

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–102
Absorption

• Some materials typically used as

absorbents are sawdust, clays, charcoal,
polyolefin-type fibers
• Absorbent is spread directly onto
hazardous material or in location where
material is expected to flow

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–103
Absorption

• After use, absorbents must be treated

and disposed of as hazardous materials
themselves because they retain the
properties of materials they absorb
Firefighter I
23–104
Blanketing/Covering

• Involves blanketing or covering

surface of spill to prevent dispersion of
materials such as powders or dusts
• Blanketing or covering of solids can be
done with tarps, plastic sheeting,
salvage covers, other materials

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–105
Blanketing/Covering

• Blanketing of liquids is essentially same

as vapor suppression
• Operations-Level responders may or
may not be allowed to perform
blanketing/
covering actions

Firefighter I
23–106
Dam, Dike, Diversion, Retention

• Ways to confine a hazardous material

• Actions are taken to control flow of
liquid hazardous materials away from
point of discharge

Courtesy of (Continued)
Rich
Mahaney.

Firefighter I
23–107
Dam, Dike, Diversion, Retention

• Firefighters can use available earthen

materials or materials carried on their
response vehicles to construct curbs
that direct or divert the flow away from
gutters, drains, storm sewers, flood-
control channels, outfalls

Firefighter I
23–108
Dilution

• Application of water to a water-soluble

material to reduce hazard
• Dilution of liquid materials rarely has
practical applications at haz mat
incidents in terms of spill control;
dilution is often used during
decontamination operations
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–109
Dilution

• Amount of water needed to reach an

effective dilution increases overall
volume and creates a runoff problem

Firefighter I
23–110
Dissolution

• Process of dissolving a gas in water

• Tactic can only be used on such
water-soluble gases as anhydrous
ammonia or chlorine; generally
conducted by applying fog stream to a
breach in container or onto spill

Firefighter I
23–111
Vapor Dispersion

• Action taken to direct or influence

course of airborne hazardous
materials
• Pressurized streams of water from
hoselines or unattended master
streams may be used to help disperse
vapors
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–112
Vapor Dispersion

• Streams create turbulence, which

increases rate of mixing with air and
reduces concentration of hazardous
material
Firefighter I
23–113
Vapor Suppression

• Action taken to reduce emission of

vapors at a haz mat spill
• Fire fighting foams are effective on
spills of flammable and combustible
liquids if foam concentrate is
compatible with material

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–114
DISCUSSION QUESTION

How can you determine what kind of

foam to use on any given hazardous
material for purposes of vapor
suppression?

Firefighter I
23–115
Vapor Suppression

• Water-miscible (capable of being mixed)

materials destroy regular fire fighting
foams; require an alcohol-resistant
foam agent

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–116
Vapor Suppression

• Required application rate for applying

foam to control an unignited liquid spill
is substantially less than that required
to extinguish a spill fire

Firefighter I
23–117
Ventilation

• Involves controlling movement of air

by natural or mechanical means
• Used to remove and/or disperse
harmful airborne particles, vapors,
gases when spills occur inside
structures

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–118
Ventilation

• Same ventilation techniques used for

smoke removal can be used for haz mat
incidents

Firefighter I
23–119
Leak Control and Containment

• A leak involves the physical breach in

a container through which product is
escaping
• Goal of leak control is to stop or limit
escape or contain release either in
original container or by transferring to
a new one
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–120
Leak Control and Containment

• Type of container involved, type of

breach, properties of material
determine tactics and tasks relating to
leak control
• Leak control and containment are
generally considered offensive actions

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–121
Leak Control and Containment

• Offensive actions not attempted by

personnel trained below the Technician
Level with two exceptions
• Leak control dictates that personnel
enter the hot zone, which puts them at
great risk
Firefighter I
23–122
Crime Scene Management and
Evidence Preservation

• Framework for a response to a

terrorist or criminal incident is
essentially same as that used for a
response to any other hazardous
materials incident

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–123
Crime Scene Management and
Evidence Preservation

• Because a crime is involved, law

enforcement organizations must be
notified and included in response
• Notifying law enforcement ensures
proper state/province and
federal/national agencies respond to the
incident

Firefighter I
23–124
DISCUSSION QUESTION

How do you feel about working with law

enforcement?

Firefighter I
23–125
Recovery and Termination Phase

• Occurs when IC determines all victims

have been accounted for and all
hazards have been controlled

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–126
Recovery and Termination Phase

• Components of recovery/termination
• Incident Termination Checklist
• Decontamination/disposal issues

Courtesy
FEMA News
Photo,
Photographer
Marvin
Nauman.
Firefighter I
23–127
On-Scene Debriefing

• Conducted in the form of a group

discussion; gathers information from
all operating personnel
• Obtain information from responders

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–128
On-Scene Debriefing

• One very important step in this process

— Provide information to personnel
concerning signs and symptoms of
overexposure to the hazardous
materials

Firefighter I
23–129
Post-Incident Analysis/Critique

• Provides responding agencies

opportunity to evaluate, review, refine
issues
• Can be used to evaluate effectiveness
of their response, identify problem
areas, correct deficiencies

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–130
Post-Incident Analysis/Critique

• Information can be used to modify and

improve operations at future similar
incidents
• IC responsible for assigning someone to
write a post-incident report and provide
it to health and safety officer and chief
of the agency
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–131
Post-Incident Analysis/Critique

• Once all the necessary interviews have

been made and documents gathered, a
post-incident analysis should be
scheduled for all agencies involved in
incident

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–132
Post-Incident Analysis/Critique

• Formal analysis of incident will be based

on information gathered for post-
incident analysis

Firefighter I
23–133
Summary

• For firefighters, hazardous materials

incidents are similar in many ways to
other emergencies to which they
respond. The same universal priorities
apply: life safety, incident stabilization,
and property conservation; and an
incident management system is
needed. (Continued)

Firefighter I
23–134
Summary

• However, there are also some major

differences compared to structure fires,
for example. In a structure fire, as long
as firefighters are located outside of the
collapse zone, they are relatively safe.

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–135
Summary

• In a hazardous materials incident,

personnel can be at risk a considerable
distance from the point of release. One
major difference between the property
conservation priority at hazardous
materials incidents is the increased
need for environmental protection.
(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–136
Summary

• There are also differences in the size-up

process compared to structure fires.
Since many hazardous materials are
highly toxic and can be spread over a
wide area, the initial identification of
the materials involved may have to be
done from a considerable distance
away. (Continued)

Firefighter I
23–137
Summary

• Finally, because of the highly toxic nature of

some hazardous materials, fire officers and
their crews may be untrained and unequipped
to mitigate a hazardous materials release. In
these cases, they must establish and maintain
a safe perimeter around the incident scene
and call for hazardous materials specialists
who are trained and equipped to handle such
incidents. (Continued)

Firefighter I
23–138
Summary

• In support of these specialists,

firefighters must provide fire protection,
and be capable of assisting with
containment efforts such as damming
and diking, and setting up and
operating decontamination stations.

Firefighter I
23–139
Review Questions

1. What are the three incident priorities

at all haz mat and terrorist incidents?
2. What information should be gathered
by first responders during the initial
assessment of an incident?
3. Describe incident levels

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–140
Review Questions

4. What are hazard-control zones?

5. What factors must be addressed in
large-scale evacuations?
6. Define the three types of
contamination.

(Continued)

Firefighter I
23–141
Review Questions

7. What actions can Operations-Level

firefighters perform during rescue
operations?
8. List defensive confinement and spill
control actions.

Firefighter I
23–142
Review Questions

9. Who must be notified and included in

the response to a terrorist or criminal
incident?
10. What information should be given to
responders at an on-scene debriefing?

Firefighter I
23–143