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caption, page 1:
Putnam firefighters stand by during the regional hazmat exercise. More photos on page 4. Linda Lemmon photo.
captions, page 4, clockwise from top left:
UConn fire captain using a test strip to determine what chemical had spilled.
Decontamination
Bringing in a container for the leaking barrel. Courtesy photo.
Left: Putnam firefighters walking away from the trailer where the simulated hazmat spill is taking place.
Right: Official with the acid and base samples.
Mashantucket firefighters get into their safety suits
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
Yes it was a journey to the top of the hill at WIN Waste Innovations’ Putnam Ash Monofills site in Putnam.
But it was also a journey of discovery for perhaps 50 local, regional and state fire and emergency organizations.
In the planning stages since April, the Regional Emergency Preparedness Exercise on Sept. 25 simulated a hazmat situation at WIN’s metal extraction building. The full-scale training exercise was held by the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), the state Department of Emergency Services (division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security and state Commission on Fire Prevention and Control), the town of Putnam, the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and several eastern Connecticut local and regional hazardous materials incident response teams including DEMHS Region 4 and the Connecticut Eastern Region Response Integrated Team (CERRIT).
The training was funded by an emergency preparedness grant from the federal Department of Transportation, Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, funneled through the state Emergency Response Commission, according to Peter Zack, director of the Emergency Response and Spill Prevention Division of DEEP.
Putnam’s Deputy Fire Marshal and Emergency Management Director, Scott E. Belleville (CFEI), said on the whole, the whole-day exercise was well planned and executed. “Great job” said Putnam Mayor Barney Seney. Donald Musial, VP, Ash Monofills, said he said yes immediately when the town contacted him in June looking for a site for this regional exercise.
Belleville said the exercises were “a great eye opener for local first responders.” Local departments may not have been aware of the assets and specialized teams that are available in CT Region 4. And specialized teams that come in may not know how local first responders operate, the demographics of the area or the capabilities of departments in northeastern Connecticut.
He added, “The local fire departments did a phenomenal job staying on task and adapting to the needs of the simulated emergency.” A review will be created to highlight both the positive aspects and the deficiencies, he said.
The scenario was a transportation-related accident involving numerous drums and/or containers which are accidentally ruptured causing a mixture of products and the formation of a vapor cloud. Several workers are exposed requiring rescue and medical treatment. Spill containment and vapor control is required to mitigate the situation, according to Gerry Goudreau, chair of CT SERC.
The first responders worked their way through the steps to secure the location, assess the problem and then execute a containment plan. Communication was paramount the entire time.
Fire departments, some bringing specialized assets, included: Mystic, Mohegan, Community, Mashantucket Pequot, UConn, East Putnam, Putnam, Muddy Brook, Woodstock, West Thompson, Quinebaug, Pomfret, Attawaugan and more. Support included: CT Dept. of Emergency Services and Public Protection, the Connecticut Fire Academy, KB Ambulance, Putnam Ambulance, DEEP Emergency Response, CT National Guard civil support team, CT Region 4 Command and Communications, CT Eastern Regional Response Integrated Team (CERRIT), DEEP Radiation, and more.
Bill Seward, exercise administrator for the fire academy, said halfway up the hill, specialized groups helped in training. One group brought its radiation unit and Mystic brought its training trailer with hazmat tanks. For example, Seward said, one of the tanks on the trailer contains chlorine and fire fighters can learn how to patch a leaking tank.
Belleville said it went well. “The challenges that existed were delegated to specialized groups and remedied fairly quickly. Communications in particular posed a unique challenge as Putnam uses two different dispatch centers for its two local fire departments that use different frequencies.”
Working through all the steps carefully and safely, the first responders determined that sulfuric acid (an acid) spilled out of one barrel and sodium hydroxide (a base) spilled out of the other containers and mixed creating a vapor (dry ice was used). The spill was represented by water on the ground however the small jar at each “spill” was the real deal. First responders used test strips to determine what was in each jar. Then a plan was created to remedy the situation. A massive decontamination area was set up to wash down each participant.
That was a simulation. What about real life?
Belleville said that nearly all businesses have some quantity of hazardous materials. Businesses are required to report, each March, the chemicals they might have, to NECCOG and local officials. “Remember,” said Belleville, “it may only take a small amount of two or more chemicals for a reaction to occur, to create a much larger and dangerous or even fatal problem.”
And if there’s an actual spill? The business calls 911. Local FD is dispatched. Local FD assesses the need for rescue/recovery, type, size and inherent hazards; local FD requests DEEP; local FD may request a regional hazmat team (CERRIT) or may be directed to do so by DEEP; the on-call CERRIT duty officer determines the level of response and other agencies are involved as needed.
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