Creve Coeur Fire Protection District
The Creve Coeur Fire Protection District Hazardous Material Emergency Response
The District provides expert hazardous material (HazMat) emergency response services throughout St. Louis county, protecting our residents, local businesses, and communities no matter where they are within the county. As the primary headquarters for the hazardous materials team and their response vehicle, Creve Coeur Fire Protection District equips its personnel across the county with the comprehensive training and equipment needed to handle
a variety of incidents, from gas leaks to chemical spills and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threats. Many of our personnel are specially trained Hazardous Materials Technicians. These technicians play a crucial role in the St. Louis County Hazardous Materials Response Team.
What Is A Hazardous Material?
A hazardous material is any kind of substance that poses a significant risk to the health and safety of residents or the environment; it is either released, mishandled, or incorrectly stored. The Creve Coeur Fire Protection District’s HazMat team provides emergency response services for a variety of hazardous materials, including:
​​
-
Chemicals
-
Toxic gases
-
Flammable liquids
-
Explosive materials
-
Biological agents
Our HazMat teams receive training to effectively identify and contain hazardous material incidents wherever they occur. Prolonged exposure to any of the listed materials can result in serious injury or life-threatening emergencies.
How Fire Departments Handle Hazmat Emergencies
Creve Coeur Fire Protection District regularly trains its county-wide HazMat personnel to effectively and safely handle and respond to hazardous material emergencies. Regular training and cutting-edge equipment adequately prepare our personnel, protecting them, our residents, and the environment.
Each hazardous material-related emergency situation is unique, so the steps taken will vary between emergencies. Everything from identifying the nature of the hazard, determining how to contain it and mitigate the threat, every stage of the process is meticulously executed to minimize the risk to our community.
Chemical And Biological Hazard Mitigation
These types of emergency situations can include a wide range of different chemical and biological hazards, including:
-
Oil spills
-
Infectious substances
-
Gas leaks
-
Flammable fluids
The process of containing or mitigating these hazards begins with correctly identifying them by utilizing our top-of-the-line detection equipment. Once identified, containment becomes the next priority—neutralizing agents and protective gear are utilized to effectively control the hazard, prevent the risk of the hazard spreading further, and protect the health and safety of our first responders and residents.
WMD Containment And Decontamination
In the rare circumstance when there is an emergency incident involving a weapon of mass destruction—nerve agents, radioactive material, explosives, or biological weapons—the personnel at Creve Coeur Fire Protection District are prepared to respond promptly. Based on the kind of WMD, our team will use specialized containment and decontamination procedures to ensure safe disposal and that the health and safety of our residents and environment are protected.
Our team will also coordinate with local, state, and federal agencies in these types of situations, ensuring all necessary procedures and regulations for these forms of hazards are being followed.
Local Hazardous Material Response Team Committed To Your Safety
As the first-line-of-defense for our community, the Creve Coeur Fire Protection District prioritizes maintaining a team of highly trained HazMat response professionals who are prepared to handle a variety of hazardous material-related emergencies. By combining regular training and emergency simulations with top-of-the-line equipment, we can ensure that every emergency situation is efficiently and safely handled.
