For more information, contact Bill Nash, 785-238-8550, ext. 6812, nashw@bartonccc.edu.

March 16, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Story by Michael Dawes
dawesm@bartonccc.edu

Barton Community College partnered with Geary County Emergency Management to host the highest level of hazardous materials training at Barton’s Hazardous Materials and Emergency Services Training Institute, Grandview Plaza, March 1-12. The specialized training was conducted by the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office and approximately 20 fire fighters representing Junction City, Manhattan, Abilene, Fort Riley, Coffeyville and Colby participated in the 80-hour Hazardous Materials Technician certification training. Fire fighters completed the course by passing the IFSAC accredited written examination, administered by the University of Kansas Fire and Rescue Training Institute on March 12.

The College’s Haz-Mat Institute was an ideal location for this training, said Barton’s Dean of Technical Education Bill Nash.

“We have the facility built for exactly this type of training,” he explained. “The State Fire Marshal’s Office agreed to do it here because of the facilities and the room we had in close proximity to everything. They have the ability to do breakout sessions and do small group training to where they could have one instructor for a few students to make sure they learn the material and can work hands-on. That’s hard to do in most areas, because you don’t have the ability to break all the way out and set the different equipment up and run multiple scenarios at the same time.”

The technician course was designed to train those responders who are called upon to mitigate incidents involving hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction. Emphasis was placed upon use of equipment and the protective clothing required for working within the hot zone.

“Every situation is different,” explained Ewing “Big Dog” Evans, a retired fire fighter who was contracted by the Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office to help with training. “Not every suit works in every chemical. It’s as simple as that. People think we just put on a suit and go in. That suit may not be compatible with that particular product you are dealing with. That’s one major area we train guys on. We can’t protect the public if we can’t protect ourselves. Haz-Mat training teaches us how to protect ourselves as well as the public.”

Instructors conducted three hands-on training scenarios on March 11. Firefighters had to rescue victims from a trailer that housed a leaking one-ton chlorine container. An illicit drug lab discovery sent firefighters into a space to take samples and secure the lab. And the third scenario had firefighters securing an uncovered hazardous waste dump and ridding the area of dangerous chemicals.

It was the first time the State Fire Marshal’s Office has utilized Barton’s Haz-Mat Training Institute. Evans said the organization has 13 teams established throughout the state; each provides training within a 100-mile radius of its home location.

“It was a good match because we do similar training,” said Nash, about partnering to offer the specialized course. “Not only did we have the facility and space to offer training, a lot of instructors were local, so that helped curb costs for everyone. It’s nice to be able to host something like this, where it benefits the College and the community.”

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Man Down – During a simulation exercise, two firefighters pull an injured firefighter from a trailer that houses a leaking one-ton chlorine container. The trailer is a mobile training response unit, operated by the Topeka-based Kansas State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Scrubbing Action – A firefighter has his hazardous materials suit scrubbed down by his team members while going through the decontamination station.