Protecting Hazmat and Anti-terrorism Responders

Most large fire departments that participated in this study expressed confi­ dence in their ability to respond to typical hazardous materials (hazmat) events, such as hazardous cargo spills from trucks involved in highway accidents. In contrast, these same departments were greatly concerned about their ability to respond to large or multiple acts of terrorism. For instance, terrorism response could require participation of rank-and-file first responders who are typically underequipped and undertrained for such activities. In addition, response to an act of terrorism is likely to unfold more quickly, in more unexpected locations, and with much more uncertainty than response to an industrial hazmat inci­ dent. Concern about protection needs for more conventional1 hazardous ma­ terials response was also raised in the discussions, although it did not emerge as an area of major concern for most of the emergency responder departments we visited.2