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IAFF 1479 / Merced City
Firefighter's Association |
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"Hazmat, Airport OPs, Investigation" EMS calls
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HazMat Closest engine company response to investigate all reported hazmat calls. Hazmat calls range from unknown liquids, solids, and powders to known spills. Some days it may be a truck or train rolling through the middle of town with a leak, and an unaware driver, other days a barrel or other container is punctured or overturned on the loading dock. Some hazmat calls are even in smaller in volume but just as dangerous, such as a mercury leak at the local clinic. All the firefighters are trained to the FRO level, with several members on the department having gone on individually to the specialist level. Though a select few have this advance training we depend on the Merced County Hazmat Squad for hazmats that cannot be mitigated with water, or ventilation. For a period of time anthrax was the leading hazmat we faced, but now the majority of our hazmat calls are drug related, either a drug lab discovered, or individuals from the drug lab must be decontaminated before admission to the local hospital. Investigation Every firefighter with local 1479 are taught the basics of fire investigation. The investigation process begins not after the fire is out, but is in process in route by the initial responding engine company, looking for any signs of a potential arson. Several members of the department have continued the education process and are state certified investigators, but are limited at this time to on scene investigation only. Once the fire scene is clear, the investigation is turned over to the local police for arrests and more in depth research. Airport Ops Crash 52 is the responding vehicle on all aircraft flight emergencies. Big, powerful, and loaded with intense aircraft firefighting capacity, this beast is well suited for almost any aircraft emergency we might encounter at the local Merced International Airport.
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