HazMat Receives New High-Tech Tool

The Southern Iowa Response Group (also known as HazMat) has a new piece of equipment for identifying unknown hazardous materials.   The new FirstDefender equipment is a lightweight hand-held electronic device that can quickly analyze and identify over 6,500 substances like hazardous chemicals and explosives. The FirstDefender unit and the operational training were funded entirely by a U.S. Department of Homeland Security grant at a cost of $49,500.

Southern Iowa Response Group Coordinator Dave Sertterh said, “On any given hazardous materials site, we must first determine what substances we are dealing with so that we can neutralize, contain or clean up a hazardous material.  FirstDefender will definitely speed up our response at the scene and add a greater margin of safety for our people.” 

The Southern Iowa Response Group is a multi-county hazardous materials team made up of firefighters that are specially trained and equipped to deal with situations dealing with hazardous materials like chemical spills.  The eleven participating counties are: Wapello, Mahaska, Keokuk, Jefferson, Monroe, Van Buren, Davis, Ringgold, Decatur, Wayne and Clarke.  City of Ottumwa firefighters receive extensive, ongoing training in HazMat procedures and techniques.