Hazardous Material Team 18
 

 

The St. Mary’s County Hazardous Materials Response Team was placed into service with the county on Friday, February 24, 2006 at 1900 hours.  The Haz Mat Team responds to all Haz Mat Emergencies, Haz Mat Investigations, WMD events, Haz Mat Chem/Bio Incidents, as well as any special request.  The St. Mary’s County Haz Mat Team consist of more than 50  members from all aspects of public safety that include, the Department of Public Safety, St. Mary’s County Volunteer Fire& EMS departments, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, St. Mary’s Hospital, and the Department of Public Works. 

The Haz Mat Team is managed and housed at the Department of Public Safety and currently has 5 units, a Command Bus, 2 Ford F350 Trucks that tow 2 trailers, one is for Spill Response, the other for Decontamination of victims and responders.  Any questions about the St. Mary’s County Hazardous Materials Response Team, contact Thomas A. Mattingly, Jr. at the Department of Public Safety, 301-475-4200, ext. 2121.

HazMat 18 Training Exercises

On November 12, 2005 the St. Mary’s County Hazardous Materials Response Team conducted a Training Exercise involving a tractor trailer hauling flammable paints, acetone and hydrochlorine.  Twenty One members of the team participated in the training exercise that was conducted by All American Environmental Services.  The training consisted of classroom sessions to go over the basics of HazMat, Monitoring and Sampling Equipment, and critique of the training evolution.  The exercise was conducted at the Governmental Center parking lot behind the Department of Public Safety.  The training was made possible by receiving a Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) planning and training grant. The grant is paying for two training exercises with a second being conducted on November 19, 2005. 

The St. Mary’s County HazMat Team consist of members of the St. Mary’s County Fire and EMS departments, St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office, St. Mary’s Hospital and the St. Mary’s County Department of Public Safety. 

On November 19, 2005 the St. Mary’s County Hazardous Materials Response Team conducted their second Training Exercise, this time using chlorine cylinders used in training exercises from METCOM.  Twenty Eight members of the team participated in the training exercise that was conducted by All American Environmental Services.  The training consisted of classroom sessions to go over the basics of HazMat, as well as recognition of hazards, suit selection and critique of the training evolutionThe exercise was conducted at the Governmental Center parking lot behind the Department of Public Safety.  The training was made possible by receiving a Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) planning and training grant.

Department of Public Safety Sponsors Hazardous Materials and Mass Casualty Incident Drill

On the morning of September 30, 2006, the St. Mary’s County Department of Public Safety held a Hazardous Materials and Mass Casualty Incident Drill at the Forrest Technology Center in Leonardtown.  The scenario was based on a tractor trailer carrying hazardous materials that had run into the building which was occupied.  St. Mary’s County HazMat Team personnel, members of the Leonardtown, Ridge, Seventh District and Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Departments, Mechanicsville and Hollywood Volunteer Rescue Squads, along with the Charles County HazMat Team, and St. Mary’s Hospital participated in the drill.  The drill was conducted by All American Environmental, and was evaluated by the Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services (MIEMS).  We would like to thank the volunteers who participated as victims, the administration and staff of the Tech Center, and Bell Trucking for use of their tractor trailer.

Real Incidents

Motor Vehicle Accident Brings Out HazMat Team

A motor vehicle accident causing a fuel oil delivery truck to overturn brought out the St. Mary’s County Hazardous Materials Response team on March 22, 2006.  The incident occurred in the area of 30221 Point Lookout Rd. in Helen, MD at 1456 hours.  First arriving units from the Mechanicsville Volunteer Fire Department were able to slow the leak and contain the fuel to hole that had been dug, filled with plastic and absorbent pads.  Southern Maryland Oil representatives arrived and offloaded the 1700 plus gallons of fuel that was still on the truck, while fire and HazMat units stood by.  The Maryland Department of Environment also responded and oversaw the uprighting of the truck and to mitigate any further problems.  HazMat 18 and it’s  team members cleared at 1728 hours.

Tractor Trailer Accident Brings Out HazMat Team

A motor vehicle accident involving an Estes Trucking tractor trailer brought out the St. Mary’s County Hazardous Materials Response team on October 10, 2006.  The incident occurred at 1548 hours at the intersection of Great Mills Rd. and South Essex Dr.  First arriving units from the Bay District Volunteer Fire Department found the 2 vehicle accident had caused a large diesel fuel spill from the rupturing of a saddle tank on the tractor trailer.  Over 150 gallons of fuel had spilled onto the roadway and nearby storm drains. The Maryland Department of Environment also responded to the incident and took over the scene until the arrival of a clean up contractor.  Mutual aid was received from Patuxent River Naval Air Station Fire Department HazMat Team and Hollywood Volunteer Fire Department.  HazMat 18 and it’s team members cleared at 1956 hours.