The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office (HCFMO) has announced that their Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Response Team will begin pre-incident planning in March 2020, in compliance with NFPA 1620: Standard for Pre-Incident Planning.
Funding from the Harris County Commissioners Court, to support additional HazMat team staffing, has allowed the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office to develop and pursue this progressive avenue of pre-incident planning of businesses and facilities in the unincorporated Harris County region.
Pre-incident planning of businesses
HCFMO's HazMat team is working with local fire departments to pre-incident plan businesses and facilities"
“HCFMO's HazMat team is working with local fire departments to pre-incident plan businesses and facilities that have hazardous materials in unincorporated Harris County,” said Laurie L. Christensen, Fire Marshal at the Harris County Fire Marshal's Office (HCFMO).
Laurie Christensen adds, “These pre-planning activities allow HCFMO to work with local first responders in an effort to bridge the gap between reports on locations with hazardous materials and current conditions.”
She further said, “Tier II reports are a valuable tool for fire departments, but they are merely a snapshot in time. Working with businesses and facilities through pre-planning activities will provide Harris County Fire Marshal's Office, law enforcement agencies, fire departments, emergency management services and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) with valuable data and information.”
HCFMO Hazmat Response Team
The Emergency Operations Division houses the Harris County Hazardous Materials Response Team, often referred to as HazMat Response Team. This team is responsible for the effective planning and response to emergencies and disasters, including natural, accidental or deliberate.
The HCFMO Hazmat Response Team has the authority and responsibility to respond in unincorporated Harris County for hazardous materials incidents and is available when called upon throughout the region.
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