WASHOE COUNTY NEWS — Fire protection agencies in Northern Nevada will add 28 new Hazardous Materials Technicians (HMT). The new technicians will be honored in a graduation ceremony Friday, March 29, at 4 p.m. at the Regional Public Safety Training Center (RPSTC) located on Parr Boulevard in Reno.
The fire departments of Carson City, Reno, Sparks, East Fork Fire, North Lyon County, Truckee Meadows, Central Lyon and the Tahoe-Douglas Fire Protection Districts enlisted career members of their departments in a four week training academy that instructed and certified firefighters to the level of Hazardous Materials Technicians.
The training academy was sponsored by the TRIAD Regional Hazardous Materials Response Team (City of Reno, Sparks and Truckee Meadows Fire District) and the QUAD County Hazardous Materials Response Team (Storey, Lyon, Douglas and Carson City Counties). The Hazardous Materials Response Teams are two separate consortiums which combine and coordinate hazardous materials response between several fire departments.
“Today’s fire services must be prepared for all of the risks that can threaten a community,” said City of Sparks Fire Chief, Andy Flock. “Hazardous Materials Technicians receive training and certification that prepare our agencies for response and mitigation of incidents related to chemical, biological and radiological releases or emergencies.”
Truckee Meadows Fire District Chief, Charlie Moore, added “A regional approach to hazardous materials response is an efficient way to prepare and respond to these emergencies for the reason that we can share expertise, resources and costs.”
Reno Fire Chief, Michael Hernandez, added “hazardous materials incidents are a low frequency, but a high risk type of response that requires significant training and expertise. This training effort will significantly add to the depth of our region’s resources.”
