Specialized team responds to Wyoming ammonia leak

The GRFD's hazmat team is comprised of 36 firefighters.

CLEAR TONIGHT --AFTER A MORNING AMMONIA LEAKTRIGGERED A TEMORARYSHELTER-IN-PLACE.IT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE 11A-M... ATTHE "STATE HEAT TRETAINGCOMPANY."THE SITUATION SO SEVERE ASPECIALIZED GRAND RAPIDS FIREDEPARTMENT UNIT.... WAS BROUGHTIN TO HELP..FOX17'S MARISA OBERLE GOT AFIRST-HAND LOOK.... AT THEEQUIPMENTTHEY USED IN THEIR RESPONSE --SHE JOINS US LIVE IN THENEWSROOMTO EXPLAIN THE TEAM'S IMPORTANCE-- MARISA?JANICE / AARON -WYOMIGN FIRE IS QUALIFIED FORHAZMAT SITUATIONS AND PLAYED AVITALROLE IN THIS MORNING'S INCIDENT,BUT BECAUSE IT'S A SMALLERDEPARTMENT WITH LESS RESOURCES -THEY NEEDED THE HELP OFG-R-F-D'SHAZARDOUS MATERIALS TEAM - ITSMEMBERS EQUIPPED WITHHIGHER TRAINING AND TOOLS.nats FITTED IN BRIGHT ORANGESUITS -IT'S HARD TO MISS THE GRANDRAPIDSFIRE DEPARTMENT'S HAZARDOUSMATERIALS TEAM.

MEMBERSASSISTNGI FIRST RESPONDERS INWYOMING TUESDAYTO AN ANHYDROUS AMMONIA LEAK.15:25:20 "Our job is toobvoiusly manage any hazardousincidents in the city of GrandRapids.

Fluid leaks, gas leaks,sometimessolids." LIEUTENANT MATTDUMOND IS ONE OF36 FIREFIGHTERS IN THAT UNIT.

HESAYS -- UP TO 12 TIMES A YEAR --MEMBERS RESPOND TO INCIDENTS INAND AROUND WEST MICHIGANINVOLVING DANGEROUS CHEMICALS.15:25:43 "We have hazardousmaterialsgoing through our conuty,through ourcity everyday iva vehicles, viarail, sohazardous materials can come inallshapes, sizes, forms. They canbe liquids,they can be gases." WITHTHOUSADNS OF POTENTIALTOXINS, THE TEAM NEEDSSPECIALIZEDEQUIPMENT - 15:36:40 "This isgoing to be huge on you" -me getting ins uit THE MOSTIMPORTANT -PERSONAL PROTECTIVE GEAR.

THOSEBRIGHT ORANGE SUITS OFFERING THEHIGHEST LEVEL OFSECURITY FROM GASES AND SPLASHES-BUT ITS RUBBERY MAKEUP MAKING ITSTUFFY - 15:37:43 "Oh my gosh.I'm like dripping insweat." - me getting out of suitFIREFIGHTERS DADING OXYGENTANKS TO THE OUTFIT TOO - ANESTIMATED 60 POUNDS.

15:31:59"Very, very taxing for them.Very,very hot.

We monitor theirvitals before theygo in and wme onitor and coolthem whenthey come out." IN THE TRUCK -SAMPLING KITS ANDMONITORS WHICH CAN PROVIDEINSATNT ANALYZATION OFTHE HAZARDOUS MATERIALS - LIKETHIS DETECTOR USED TOPICK UP TUESDAY'S GAS AND TRACKTHE AIR TO ENSURE FIREFIGHTER'SSAFETY.

15:47:57 "So, we use acombination of old,tried and true, but we try toincorporatetechnology as well." DUMONDSAYINGH TE TEAM'S WORKCAN'T BE EMPHASIZED ENOUGH.15:33:06 "We want to be able tosolve whatever problem comes up.From thevercy ommon problems to thestuffthat's more unique and morerare."NINE OF G-R-F-D'S HAZARDOUSMATERIALS TEAM RESPONDED TOTODAY'S INCIDENT.

WHILE A TOTALOF 10 PERSONNELFROM WYOMING'S DEPARTMENT WERETHERE TOO.IN THE NEWSROOM MO FOX17NEWSDEVELOPING TONIGHT IN NEWAYGOCOUNTY --