HAZMAT Team
The South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District responds to emergency and non-emergency hazardous materials incidents. Such incidents include actual or potential spills, leaks, and exposures to substances that pose a threat to life, health, and/or property. All frontline district personnel are certified as Hazardous Materials Operations Responders and are trained to recognize a hazardous material incident, placing the safety of the public and emergency responders as the foremost priority.
In addition to HazMat First Responder personnel, the Department provides a highly trained Hazardous Materials Response Team (HazMat Team). The mission of the HazMat Team is to reduce the impact of hazardous materials incidents on life, the environment, and property. The Team is made up of 5 Illinois State Certified Hazardous Materials Technician/Specialists and is an all-risks HazMat team capable of specialized entry, chemical analysis, and hazard mitigation. The HazMat Team is based out of Station 22 at 2055 McDonald Road, where the specialized Hazardous Materials Response Unit (Haz-Mat 22) is housed. The South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District is a signatory member of the MABAS Division 2 Joint Haz-Mat Response Team. The team provides mutual aid throughout Northern Kane County and surrounding areas when called upon.
Emergency Procedures
The general rule in working with hazardous materials is to act quickly and to isolate and deny entry or exposure. Time is critical, but do not act so quickly that you endanger yourself or others at the scene. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Try to keep people away from the spill or leak and limit exposure to anyone.
What is a Hazardous Material?
A hazardous material is a substance that, in any quantity, poses a threat to life, health, the environment or property. More than four billion tons of materials classified as hazardous are shipped throughout the United States each year. Hazardous materials commonly shipped in the United States include:
The South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District responds to emergency and non-emergency hazardous materials incidents. Such incidents include actual or potential spills, leaks, and exposures to substances that pose a threat to life, health, and/or property. All frontline district personnel are certified as Hazardous Materials Operations Responders and are trained to recognize a hazardous material incident, placing the safety of the public and emergency responders as the foremost priority.
In addition to HazMat First Responder personnel, the Department provides a highly trained Hazardous Materials Response Team (HazMat Team). The mission of the HazMat Team is to reduce the impact of hazardous materials incidents on life, the environment, and property. The Team is made up of 5 Illinois State Certified Hazardous Materials Technician/Specialists and is an all-risks HazMat team capable of specialized entry, chemical analysis, and hazard mitigation. The HazMat Team is based out of Station 22 at 2055 McDonald Road, where the specialized Hazardous Materials Response Unit (Haz-Mat 22) is housed. The South Elgin and Countryside Fire Protection District is a signatory member of the MABAS Division 2 Joint Haz-Mat Response Team. The team provides mutual aid throughout Northern Kane County and surrounding areas when called upon.
Emergency Procedures
The general rule in working with hazardous materials is to act quickly and to isolate and deny entry or exposure. Time is critical, but do not act so quickly that you endanger yourself or others at the scene. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Try to keep people away from the spill or leak and limit exposure to anyone.
What is a Hazardous Material?
A hazardous material is a substance that, in any quantity, poses a threat to life, health, the environment or property. More than four billion tons of materials classified as hazardous are shipped throughout the United States each year. Hazardous materials commonly shipped in the United States include:
- Explosives (materials that combust or detonate)
- Compressed gases (pressurized flammable or nonflammable gas)
- Flammable liquids (those with a flash point of less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Combustible liquids (those with a flash point greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
- Flammable solids (non-explosive solid material that burns vigorously and can be ignited readily)
- Oxidizers (substances that give off oxygen or act like oxygen and stimulate combustion)
- Poisonous gases, corrosives, (materials that destroy skin)
- Radioactive materials
- Cryogenic liquids (have boiling points below -150°C (- 238°F)
