Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials impact our daily lives. These materials vary in nature and chemical composition, from the seemingly simple to the extremely complex. It is important to realize that the release of hazardous materials or chemicals can be large, small, or at times, undetectable. A release may be in any of the three stages; solids, liquids or gases. Therefore, to address this specialized issue and to head off potential future catastrophic events, the fire department employs a Hazardous Materials Coordinator to enforce hazardous materials life safety requirements, respond to Hazardous Materials Incidents, and provide expertise to the public.
All firefighters have received extensive training in handling Hazardous Materials Incidents. This initial training and certification is renewed and refreshed annually to assure that skills are in compliance with the latest educational requirements and that all are in a constant state of operational readiness. This training includes preparation, emergency response, identification, and the initial mitigation of Hazardous Materials Incidents. For most Hazardous Materials Incidents, your fire department has proven its ability to mitigate without additional resources.
In addition, it should be noted that for any large scale incidents, the Farmington Hills Fire Department is an active participant with the Western Wayne County Fire Department Mutual Aid Association’s Hazardous Incident Response Team (HMRT), which is made up of members representing 21 communities in Oakland and Wayne County. The Western Wayne County HMRT was formed in 1987 by the Western Wayne Fire Department Mutual Aid Association (WWFDMAA) through the cooperation of 23 communities. The team currently has 45 members that come from various Mutual Aid Associations and Fire Departments that are located within the Detroit Metropolitan Area. The Western Wayne County HMRT, or “Haz-Mat” Team, has a response area that encompasses parts of three counties, thousands of squired miles, and protects more than 2.9 million residents.
Click here for the annual Hazardous Materials City Drop Off date and time at Oakland County Community College.
Please remember, if you suspect a natural gas leak, or a carbon monoxide release, please call 911 immediately. There is no charge to our residents to rule out an emergency.
For more information regarding Hazardous Materials, please contact the Fire Prevention Division at 248-871-2820