Central Jackson County Fire Protection District hosted the National Fire Academy’s Advanced Science of Hazardous Materials/ Weapons of Mass Destruction Response. Dan Wouters (Response Technologies) and Ron Troutt (Hazard 3) were instructors for this course. Hazardous Materials Technicians from Central Jackson County, Lee Summit, Missouri Dept of Natural Resources, Anchorage MO, Miami FL, Southern Platte Fire District, Overland Park Fire Dept, and Cottleville Fire District attended.
This program provided responders with an in-depth look at the sciences of Risk-Based Response. Chemical hazards, classification methods, and detection technologies were explored to help responders understand the uses and limitations of technologies. Students spent 3 days researching unknown materials using classification and identification results. Based on these results and through research, students had to identify what the materials were believed to be, the hazards they presented, response considerations based on those hazards, and issues found in the classification and identification materials. This course helped students understand how to use science and research to identify hazards and develop a safer response plan through risk-based response methodology.
The instructors had a great time with the hazmat technicians during the program and enjoyed helping them become safer through training and education.