Hazardous Materials Team

Purpose

The Merced County Hazardous Materials Team main purpose is to identify, contain or control, and decontamination of all Hazardous Chemical Spills within Merced County or State of California with skilled and dedicated personnel who are immediately available for response.

Equipment / Personnel

Hazmat Response Team which established its OES Fire Scope Type 1 Certification in 2010 can respond to any known/unknown industrial chemical or chemicals, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) WMD threats. The team is comprised of members from Merced County Fire Department, Merced City Fire Department, Atwater City Fire Department, and Los Banos Fire Department.  Each member is initially enrolled in a 270-hour training course to meet the specialist level and must maintain 40 hours of additional training yearly.  Merced County Hazmat 61 Unit is staffed at the McSwain / Beachwood Station 61 with trained Hazmat team personnel.

County Wide Response

Through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that provides a county-wide, multi-agency Hazardous Materials Team that includes Local Government Agencies Atwater City Fire Department, Los Banos City Fire Department, and Merced City Fire Department. This collaboration improves interoperability and provides each agency with equipment, training, and personnel.