Hazmat

Harford County Hazmat Response Team consists of 31 authorized technicians on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Men and women who make up the response team are required to maintain their certification as hazardous materials technicians through a combination of regular in-house training, contract classes, exercises and drills. The team responds to approximately 300 calls per year, ranging from investigations to full-scale industrial or transportation accidents. Less than 50% of these incidents involve full-team responses.

Hazmat fleet

The Hazmat Team maintains a fleet of five primary response vehicles and four trailers with specific response capabilities. Operating off a tiered response system, our team has modified response patterns to send only the personnel and equipment needed for a specific type of response. Our tailored capability includes mass decontamination, harbor boom and off-road (ATV).
Hazmat Equipment Collage1
  1. Hazmat 1
  2. Hazmat 2
  3. Hazmat 3
  4. Hazmat 4
  5. Hazmat 5
A modified 2004 International school bus is outfitted as a command post with an extensive research library. This unit also serves as the dress-out area for Level A and B incidents. This vehicle carries Self Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), communications equipment, reference materials and basic training and metering equipment. Incident research and planning is normally carried out from this location. The enclosed climate controlled environment of the bus provides team members with a place to prepare for entry protected from outside elements such as rain, snow, heat, and cold.
Harford County Hazmat is actively involved in the Local Emergency Planning Committee and its efforts on behalf of the citizens of our county. We work cooperatively with local fire and EMS providing in-station training in entry decontamination, mass decontamination and weapons of mass destruction equipment. We also are one of the seven regional jurisdictions in the Hazmat Urban Area Work Group under the Baltimore Urban Area Security Initiative. The team manages the Maryland Department of Environment Agency, unique to any other county in Maryland.

Harford County Hazardous Materials Law Article 1, Section 146

Any release of a hazardous material into the environment or a release that has the potential to enter the environment must be reported immediately by using 911. The dispatchers at the Emergency Operations Center are trained to determine what level of response is needed. Reporting the incident will not automatically trigger a full response by the Fire Department and Hazmat Team. On small incidents, the only response may be from one of our crew chiefs who assure that proper clean-up and all required notifications are completed. On major leaks and spills, the Hazmat Team is dispatched at the same time as Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

More Information

Full Hazardous Material Law
Hazardous Materials Planning and Regulations