San Ramon Valley Fire Protection District
Hazardous Materials Team

All San Ramon Valley Fire District Personnel have been trained as Hazardous Materials First Responders. Our Hazmat team is located at Station 35 in Blackhawk. 

The Haz-Mat Team is made up of 26 State Certified Hazardous Materials Technician/Specialists and that it is an all risks Haz-Mat team capable of specialized entry, chemical analysis and hazard mitigation.

What is a hazardous material

A hazardous material is a material that, in any quantity, poses a threat to life, health or property. More than four billion tons of materials classified as hazardous are shipped throughout the United States each year.

Hazardous materials commonly shipped in the United States include:

• Explosives (materials that combust or detonate)

• Compressed gases (pressurized flammable or nonflammable gas)

• Flammable liquids (those with a flash point of less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Combustible liquids (those with a flash point greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit)

• Flammable solids (non-explosive solid material that burns vigorously and can be ignited readily)

• Oxidizers (substances that give off oxygen or act like oxygen and stimulate combustion)

• Poisonous gases, corrosives, (materials that destroy skin)
  radioactive materials

• Exposure to non-radioactive hazardous materials is much more likely than exposure to radioactive ones

• An incident involving hazardous materials is a true emergency and you should call 9-1-1 immediately

General Procedures - Emergencies

The general rule in working with hazardous materials is to act quickly and to isolate and deny entry (access). Time is critical, but do not act so quickly that you endanger yourself and others at the scene. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Secure the scene and limit exposure to anyone. Do not try any rescue efforts. Wait for the fire department to arrive on the scene before doing anything.
 

Motorists at Scene of a Hazardous Materials Incident

If a motorist is the first on the scene of an incident involving a vehicle carrying hazardous materials, 9-1-1 should be called immediately.

REMEMBER - STAY UPWIND AND ON A HIGHER TERRAIN THAN THE INCIDENT SITE, AND PREVENT OTHERS FROM ENTERING THE HAZARDOUS AREA WHEN POSSIBLE.

It is very important that motorists, their passengers and all bystanders avoid converging on the scene. Evacuation of the area is critical because of the potential occurrences of fires, explosions and exposures. In many instances, crowds gathering around the scene of an incident interfere with emergency vehicle rescue operations. Sometimes bystanders are killed in explosions or fires or later find that they were contaminated.

For more information contact San Ramon Valley Fire

Haz Mat Team leader: Sean Grayson

sgrayson@srvfire.ca.gov