The local team is one of only 12 entities in the state to receive a Haz/Mat Type 2 Emergency Response Vehicle, all equipment, and the training needed to sustain the team.
The vehicle will be housed at the Seaside Fire Station and will be used to back up the existing Haz/Mat Team for in-county incidents. It will also be available for emergency response anywhere in California.
"Our community and the greater Monterey County are much safer with this acquisition," Salinas Fire Chief Edmond Rodriguez said. "We are grateful to Cal OES for their partnership and their faith in our local team."
The Chief noted that large amounts of hazardous materials travel across Monterey County by rail each year. In addition, rail transport of crude oil is expected to increase once a new refinery in San Luis Obispo County is brought on line.
The designation of the Emergency Response Vehicle as Type 2 is based on a three-level typing system for emergency response resources, the need for which is explained this way by Cal OES:
Resource typing is the categorization and description of response resources that are commonly exchanged in disasters through mutual aid agreements. Resource typing definitions can give emergency responders the information they need to make sure they request and receive the appropriate resources during an emergency or disaster. Ordering resources that have been typed using these definitions makes the resource request and dispatch process more accurate and efficient.
Cal OES provides a quick guide to Haz/Mat resource types at:
