Hazardous Materials

HAZMAT Training Photo            

Hastings Fire & Rescue is a Nebraska State Emergency Response Team (SERT). A SERT team is a group of individuals who are highly trained in hazardous  materials  mitigation.  Communities that do not have this specialized training are able to request a SERT team through Nebraska Emergency Management in the event of a significant hazardous material spill that threatens life safety, environment or critical infrastructure.

All full time firefighters, upon their completion of Firefighter I, are trained to the Hazmat Operations level.  From that point, members of the department go on to get their Hazmat Technician Certification.

Response to a hazardous materials incident may vary from carbon monoxide releases, vehicle collisions that result in antifreeze, oil, or battery acid spills, to the more complex incidents that may include mixed chemicals or biological hazards.  Hazmat team members are also trained in different types of decontamination of patients/victims, both in small or large numbers.

 

 HazMat Training Photo