Date: August 30, 2010
Contact: Lynn Ward, Trinity County Sheriff’s Office
623-2611 lward@trinitycounty.org
While many of their neighbors were enjoying the Trinity County Fair, fifteen of the county’s firefighters gathered in Weaverville on Saturday (August 28) for hazardous materials decontamination training. Personnel from Hayfork, Post Mountain, and Weaverville Fire Departments, and CalFire attended the course taught by Chemical Safety Training from Redding.
The all-day training instructed responders in various types of decontamination for victims and responders, and culminated in a full-scale exercise with a simulated toxic agent. Responders set up a decontamination corridor, donned breathing apparatus and chemical protective clothing, and practiced removing all harmful chemicals from their colleagues, all the while protecting the environment.
Trinity County’s responders support the Redding-based regional hazmat team by providing decontamination support, and can apply the same tools and knowledge to assist exposed members of the public and emergency personnel before arrival of the full team. “Response of the team from Redding can take two hours or more to areas of Trinity County, so local skill in removing dangerous chemicals from people is an important service to our communities”, said Larry Masterman from the sheriff’s Office of Emergency Services (OES).
"I was very impressed with the class participants”, said instructor Brian Heinz. “They approached the topic with the utmost professionalism and a sincere willingness to learn."
The course was provided at no cost to local responders or their agencies through a grant by the California Emergency Management Agency, and was coordinated by OES.
Students setup the decontamination corridor to protect contaminated
victims, responders, and the environment.
Students
suit up in the proper protective gear with the assistance of their
teammates.
As they get close to being fully suited, students get a briefing from
their Entry Team Leader, a fellow student.
The entry team is briefed by their Group Supervisor, and are
"contaminated" with a simulated toxic agent to test the effectiveness
of their upcoming decontamination.
The Decontamination Team Leader looks on as the first entry team member
prepares to enter the decontamination corridor. The
"greeter" holds a sign to offer direction to the team members,
since it's difficult to hear inside the protective gear.
Decontamination under way, including a thorough scrub and rinse.
Another view of decontamination under way.
Finished! An entry team member exits after a process that would make
a car wash operator proud. The Decon Unit Leader in the foreground
is responsible to ensure that every step is completed safely and
effectively.