February 21, 2007

Special trailer ready just in case

       White River Township has a state-of-the-art decontamination trailer firefighters hope they never have to use.  The township's fire department doesn't have a hazardous materials team and would use the trailer with other emergency responders in the event of mass contamination anywhere in the county.  The trailer, one of 43 in Indiana, could be dispatched anywhere in the state if the president declares a national emergency.  Nearly half of White River's firefighters are trained to contain dangerous chemical spills but don't have the protective suits they'd need to wear during such incidents.  Both the Franklin and Greenwood fire departments have hazardous materials teams, which would call for the trailer if needed.

         The township department obtained the trailer last fall with a $107,000 federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security. The Franklin Fire Department received a hazardous materials trailer and detection equipment during the same grant cycle.  The county's emergency planning committee chose White River to house the trailer because its trained personnel could work with other departments in the event of a crisis, said chairman James Sipes, a Greenwood Fire Department captain.

         The White River Township Fire Department has not used the trailer, which would be used to treat victims exposed to dangerous chemicals.  Firefighters respond first to any hazardous materials spills. The most common is a fuel leak following a traffic accident.  A much more serious incident might occur following the derailment of a tanker car or a chlorine leak at a water treatment plant.

         County emergency director Forrest "Tug" Sutton secured the federal grant for the trailer.  "This is a benefit to taxpayers because it's available to all of them," he said. "We used terrorism money for something that could be used in a number of scenarios."  The 22-foot trailer holds detection equipment, shower rooms and special storage areas for contaminated clothing.  A fire hydrant would pump water into the trailer, which is powered by a generator.  As many as 100 people could be decontaminated before the trailer would need to be restocked with materials, such as the sterilized jumpsuits victims would put on.

         Indiana Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman Pam Bright said at least one decontamination trailer serves each of Indiana's 10 homeland security districts, which range from five to 12 counties.  Such state-of-the-art equipment makes the department better prepared, even if a terrorist attack might not be likely, White River Township Fire Department Capt. Casey Arkins said.  Firefighters train with the truck monthly. The department would like to stage a full-scale training exercise with the trailer, possibly with Center Grove High School students, he said.  (Reprinted with permission from the Daily Journal)

        
(Click on a thumbnail to enlarge photo)
 
   

---