Hazardous Material Team

 

The department’s Hazardous Materials Team has 22 members assigned to one of three shifts (X, Y, and Z) housed at Station No. 4; 2121 Wakarusa Drive. The Hazardous Materials Team was founded in 1981 through an informal agreement between the City of Lawrence and Douglas County. In 1986, a formal agreement was signed between the City of Lawrence and Douglas County designating the Fire Medical Department as the lead agency for hazardous material incidents within Douglas County.

 

 

 

 

“Hazardous materials response (HAZMAT) team means an organized group of employees, designated by the employer, who is expected to perform work to handle and control actual or potential leaks or spills of hazardous substances requiring possible close approach to the substance. The team members perform responses to releases or potential releases of hazardous substances for the purpose of control or stabilization of the incident. A HAZMAT team is not a fire brigade nor is a typical fire brigade a HAZMAT team. A HAZMAT team, however, may be a separate component of a fire brigade or fire department.”

29 CFR 1910.120