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New Orleans is located in southeastern Louisiana along the Mississippi River, just south of Lake Pontchartrain, the second largest salt-water lake in the United States and the largest lake in Louisiana. It covers an area of 630 square miles with an average depth of 12-14 feet. The south shore forms the northern boundary of the city of New Orleans. New Orleans Fire Department is a career department with 700 uniformed personnel led by Charles Parent Superintendent of the Fire Department. New Orleans is a city of over 485,000 population (prior to Hurricane Katrina) covering an area of 181 square miles. The New Orleans hazardous materials team covers the entire Parish of Orleans and the Parishes of St.Bernard, Jefferson, and Plaqumines.
New Orleans as with most cities in the United States began with a volunteer fire department. The first volunteer fire company was formed 1829. The organization was known as the Firemen's Charitable Association, the (FCA), a title it was to keep for the next 62 years. Henri Buckman was selected as the foreman and first chartered member of the company. Buckman was also present when the New Orleans Career Fire Department went into service in 1891. Because of his 62 years of devoted, efficient service to the FCA, Henri Buckman was officially declared the father of the fire service in New Orleans. The leader of the volunteers, Chief Engineer Thomas O'Connor became the first leader of the new fire department. Over the past 112 years there have been 10 Superintendents.
The New Orleans Fire Department operates 28 engine companies, 3 Squrts, 10 truck companies, 1 Flying Squad, 1 rescue unit and two hazmat units from 33 stations throughout the city (prior to Hurricane Katrina). The city is divided into eight districts with a chief over each. EMS paramedic transport service is provided by the City of New Orleans Health Department. The fire department provides first responders or EMT's on initial responses awaiting the arrival of the paramedics. New Orleans Fire provides primary rescue service.
New Orleans officially formed their hazardous materials team and placed it in service in 1989. During the 1970's, a Hazardous Materials Officer was established for training and coordination of response personnel. The hazardous materials team responds to an average of 175 hazardous materials calls a year. Statistics for hazmat responses do not include local engine runs for hydrocarbon fuel spills and natural gas leaks.
Vehicle(s)
Hazmat vehicles include a 2004 American LaFrance custom-built Eagle hazmat squad type vehicle that was placed in service in May 2004 and a Chevrolet Suburban. They also have a spare 1989 hazmat vehicle manufactured by Pierce. The new squad vehicle contains an inside command center with satellite telephone, fax, computer, and hard copy reference books.
Staffing
The New Orleans hazmat team is a dedicated team staffed with 9 specialists (3 on duty each shift). Rescue 1 and the Flying Squad firefighters are all certified as technicians or above and provide additional personnel on hazmat calls. All firefighters on the department are certified to the operations level. All hazmat team members work a 24-hour on and 48-hour off shift. There are three levels of activity on the New Orleans Hazmat Team: trainee, technician, and specialist. To be a Hazmat Trainee a firefighter must have two years of service with the New Orleans Fire Department. The Trainee is allowed a period of one year to complete the requirements for team membership. A technician must have a minimum of one year in a full time position on the Hazardous Materials Team prior to applying for a technician position. To become a specialist a technician must have a minimum of two years on the team to apply.
Training Requirements
- Hazardous Materials for First Responders I.A.F.F.
- WMD Technical Emergency Response Training (TERT), ODP, Anniston, AL.
- WMD Hands-on Training (HOT), ODP, Anniston, AL.
- Special Topics, N.O.F.D.
- In-Service Exercises, N.O.F.D.
- Hazardous Materials Technician
- Hazardous Materials Chemistry
- Fire Instructor I, L.S.U. Academy
- CAMEO
Monitoring Instruments & Identification Equipment
Monitoring capabilities include:
- Drager Miniwarn MGD, O2/LEL/CO/H2S
- Proengin TIMS Detector, Industrial
- Drager CMS
- Drager Tubes Kit
- Photo ionization detector
- CO monitor
- TIMS detector
- JCAD detector
Terrorist Agent ID:
- APD 2000
- SAW MiniCad
- Proengin AP2Ce Detector, Nerve Agent
- Ludlum, alpha radiation
- Ludlum, beta, gamma
- Area Monitor, radiation
- Pocket dosimeters
- Bio Response Kits
- M 256A
- M-8
Personnel Protective Equipment
Level A
- Tychem (TK)
Level B
- Tychem (CK)
Respiratory Protection
- MSA 60-minute SCBA for Hazmat Unit. Firefighters have 30-minute bottles and Flying Squad has 45-minute bottles.
- PAPR's for Hazmat Team
Research Resources
Computer Software Programs
- CAMEO
- TOMES/Micromedex
- PEAC-WMD
- COBRA
- OREIS
- CAS-Community Alerting System
- TIER II
- PORTA-SENS
Hard Copy Reference Books
- Fire Protection Guide to Hazardous Materials
- Bureau of Explosives Railroad Guide
- Handbook of Toxic & Hazardous Chemicals and Carcinogens
- Gardner's Chemical Synonyms and Trade Names
- Hazardous Materials Injuries Book
- Rapid Guide to Hazardous Chemicals in the Workplace
- Handling Chemicals Safely
- Drager Tube Book
- CFR 49 parts 100-177
- CFR 49 parts 177-199
- Broderick's Handbook of Reactive Chemical Hazards
- Agricultural Chemical Label book
- Farm Chemical Handbook
- G.A.T.X. Tank Car Manual
- ERG 2004
- Coast Guard CHRIS Manual
- Jane's Security Guide
- Jane's Chem/Bio
- Emergency Response to Terrorism Book
- Condensed Chemical Dictionary
- Merck Index
- NIOSH Guide
- Handbook of Air Toxics
- ACGIH, TLV's and BEI's Guide
- Chemical Protective Clothing Handbook
Standard Operating Procedures/Guidelines
Check with New Orleans Fire Department Hazmat for specific SOP/SOG's
Hazardous Materials Exposures
Interstate 10, Mississippi River, CSX Rail Yards, Norfolk Southern Rail Yards, Port of New Orleans, NASA External Fuel Tank Assembly, Air Products-Hydrogen, 10 colleges and universities with lab chemicals, radioactive materials and compressed gases, New Orleans Cold Storage-Anhydrous Ammonia, Selig Chemical Industries-solvents and acids, Lockheed Martin-gases, solvents, and acids, Bollinger Gulf Repair Gases, solvents, fuels, acids, Lone Star Industries Fuels, Ammonium Nitrate.
Terrorism Response
Part of the Terrorist Early Warning System (TEW) with City of New Orleans. Developing response plans, resources, and intelligence.
Contact Information
For additional information or questions, contact Chief Steve Glynn at (504) 858-0534 or Captain Don Birou at (504) 858-7005.
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