Johnson County - IA Region IX HazMat Team

Team training last August with the Iowa CST and ISU Rad Shop.

Training is a key component to any successful mission.

Last week, our team participated in an important and challenging training last week that was instructed by our partners with the Iowa National Guard CST, Iowa State University Rad Shop and University of Iowa State Hygienic Lab.

Our team focused on sampling and entry/detection of unknown substances.

Your JC HAZMAT team had a busy day Friday with back to back call outs including the multi-vehicle pile up on I-80. Our thoughts are with all those affected by this accident.

Multi-vehicle crash on I-80 near Exit 277 causes delays, detour Friday As of 4:20 p.m., there is a 19-minute delay on westbound I-80 between exit 277 and US 6, according to the Iowa DOT.

Great job today by LC HazMat and all the responders on a scene.

And we have you covered whenever you need us!

📣📣 Okay folks....you spoke and we listened. With COVID restrictions no longer in place, we have made the last minute decision to open up an ADDITIONAL 50 SEATS for the return of in-person instruction after a two year COVID absence.

No plans tonight...how about learning about severe weather during Severe Weather Week 2022 and becoming a Certified Storm Spotter?!?! ✔️

Please register for your ticket here 👇

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/storm-spotter-training-tickets-241321337617

Rest Easy, Don.

The whole team wishes Paul Millice all the best. Paul’s retirement marks over 30 years of service to the HAZMAT team. What a milestone!!! Thank you, Paul!!!

Happy Thanksgiving from our HAZMAT family, to your family! 🦃

And for the record, some of us also love cranberry sauce, hazardous or not. 🤣

Congrats to HAZMAT Team member Jiras!

Deputy Presented With Life Saving Award

On April 16, 2021 at 5:29 A.M. Deputy Austin Jiras responded to 1824 Racine Ave NE, Solon for a report of three individuals who were overcome by carbon monoxide poisoning. When Deputy Jiras arrived and attempted to enter the home he was met with a powerful odor of natural gas. Recognizing the dangerous environment inside the home, he returned to his squad car and donned an air pack. Deputy Jiras, who is also a member of the Williamsburg Volunteer Fire Department, is trained to wear an air pack and keeps a spare pack in his patrol car.

Deputy Jiras entered the home where he first assisted the male caller outside. He then returned inside where he located an incoherent female in the living room and assisted her outside. By this time Solon Fire Department had arrived and Deputy Jiras and Solon Fire Fighters reentered the home and removed an unconscious female from the third floor.

All three of the victims were transported to the hospital and have fully recovered. There is no doubt that Deputy Jiras’ readiness, quick actions and remarkable courage were instrumental in saving the lives of these citizens.

L-R, Captain Hendricks, Sheriff Kunkel, Deputy Jiras, Major Lamm

🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸 🇺🇸

Please join us in welcoming newest HAZMAT Team member, Spencer Culver! Spencer is a Lieutenant and Training Officer for City of Coralville Fire Department and will make a great addition to our HAZMAT roster.

Hazmat Release – Morris, IL

Current Situation: At 3:00 p.m. ET on June 29, an industrial fire was reported at an old paper mill factory in Morris, IL (pop. 15k) (USNG: 16T CL 81966 79967). Fire officials reports that 180k to 200k lbs. of lithium batteries are burning, and due to the nature, are going to let it burn out on its own. Water or foam cannot be used to suppress so the process is expected to be to fully extinguish
today. The batteries involved in the fire range from cell phone batteries to commercial size car batteries. Police evacuated the immediate area.
Lifeline Impacts:

Safety & Security:
▪ Evacuations: 1,000 homes
▪ 1 shelter / 7 occupants (ARC Midnight Shelter Count as of 7:00 a.m. ET, June 30)

Hazardous Material:
▪ 180k-200k lbs of lithium batteries burning; HAZMAT teams on scene
o May cause release of hydrogen fluoride
o Concentrations of this gas could lead to respiratory symptoms and/or heart/lung disease
o In a potential worst-case scenario, there could be hazardous concentrations within several
hundred meters of the facility
State / Local Response:
▪ IL EOC at Full Activation (COVID-19)
▪ Governor has deployed the IL NG to Morris, IL (RV Incident Report as of 7:15 p.m. ET)
▪ State of IL requested and IMAAC activation through FEMA Region V
FEMA/Federal Response:
▪ Region V RWC is in contact with the IL FEMA FIT and IL EOC
▪ IMAAC activated; DTRA is providing plume modeling
▪ NWC and Region V RWC will continue to monitor

Another successful training this morning. Today’s training was identifying an unknown substance.

Iowa City Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 610

Another great training today provided by Federal Resources and sponsored by the Iowa HAZMAT Task Force.

Iowa City Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 610

This morning at 10:22 AM, HAZMAT was paged out to assist investigate an unknown white substance that was dumped off of I-80 in Cedar County (a portion of Cedar County is covered by our team). The substance tested as a food based product and poses no harm to the public. Thanks to Wilton Fire Department Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and Joint Emergency Communications Center for the response assist today.

Iowa City Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 610
Johnson County Emergency Management Agency

It's National Poison Prevention Week!

You can help by doing your part at home. Lock up and/or safely secure your cleaners at home. This will help protect others, especially little ones, by preventing an accidental poisoning.

Thank you to Dr. Jon Humston with Mount Mercy University for providing a Chemistry Basics Overview course to our team members today.

This morning JCHMRT was paged out for a call at 0559. Upon arrival of a single vehicle accident, team members confirmed three different chemicals that were leaking. All chemicals were contained and/or neutralized and there is NO contamination threat to the public due to quick responses by Tiffin Fire Department, Iowa and HAZMAT 1.

A FedEx contracted clean up crew will be on scene for the removal and restoration of the soil and debris.

Thanks to our great partners!

Iowa City Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 610 Iowa State Patrol Iowa Department of Transportation Solon Fire Department Joint Emergency Communications Center

(((The driver suffered no injuries - however we did have a secondary crash occur - please remember to )))

We mask up for our safety. You can do the same just by putting on a simple cloth mask. Please join us in masking up to protect those around you. 😷

HAZMAT 1 is based out of ICFD station 2 and this beautiful piece of apparatus below will be its new bay neighbor. This is ICFD’s new Engine 2 which introduces a brand new color scheme/design for their fleet. We love it...how about you???

🔥 Fire Prevention Week 🔥

Along with ICFD and HSEMD - HAZMAT Task Force, we are hosting a Propane IQ class that still has seats available.

https://www.homelandsecurity.iowa.gov/training/CalDetails.aspx?EventID=1086&CourseID=334

CalDetails