Hazardous Materials

The Mount Pleasant Fire Department Hazardous Material team provides emergency response for chemical spills, weapons of mass destruction (WMD), and other emergency calls that deal with hazardous materials. Station 2 provides the primary hazardous materials response for the Town and is located off Long Point Rd.

Training 

All personnel within the department are required to obtain hazardous materials training to the Hazardous Materials Operations level in accordance with 29 CFR 1910.120. A core group of personnel have been trained to the Hazardous Materials Technician level; a 40-hour course conducted thru the SC Fire Academy.  Several members on the team have also expanded their knowledge base by attending specialized training to increase the team’s preparedness and response capabilities. Members of the hazardous materials team are also involved with the Charleston County WMD team which can be activated in the event of a large-scale incident that may require additional personnel and more specialized equipment.  The WMD team is composed of members from several surrounding departments and assists with inter-agency training and response.

Equipment

The department cross staffs a hazardous materials apparatus, HazMat 502, with the E502 crew located at Station 2.  This apparatus is equipped with specialized equipment for mitigating hazardous materials incidents, to include varying levels of personal protective equipment, air monitoring devices, decontamination equipment, leak containment and mitigation equipment, WMD detection equipment, reference materials and spill mitigation equipment. Station 2 was selected to maintain and operate the primary HazMat response for the Town due its proximity to the Wando Welch Terminal of the State Ports Authority, this location allows for rapid response in the event of a hazardous materials incident at this location.  The department also received funding through the Port Security Grant Program to purchase a marine unit which has been outfitted with radiation detection capabilities allowing Mount Pleasant Fire Department to also provide for WMD response on the waterway.