RENO, Nev. (AP) - Reno-area firefighters will be better equipped
for hazardous materials emergencies, thanks to a new truck and a
grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Reno Mayor Bob Cashell and Fire Chief Chuc Lowden accepted keys
to the truck Monday from EPA Pacific Southwest regional
administrator Wayne Nastri during a ceremony at the Reno Fire
Department.
The $250,000 vehicle was purchased with a federal EPA grant. The
fire department bought $33,000 in equipment to meet its obligation
to provide matching funds.
The truck is equipped with state-of-the-art technology,
including a mobile laboratory for chemical identification,
monitoring equipment that can detect plume movement and
decontamination equipment.
It will be used in hazardous materials incidents in Reno, Sparks
and Washoe County and all along the Truckee River corridor from the
spillway at Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake, officials said.

(Copyright 2003 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)