In dealing with HazMat incidents, the incident commander must rely heavily on information from published sources and available experts. Many resources are available to assist command officers in making these tough decisions. Included are manuals, such as NFPA 49 Hazardous Chemicals Data, the United States Coast Guard's Chemical Hazard Response Information System Manual (CHRIS) Volume II and Sax's Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials, industry "hot lines" such as CHEMTREC, and computerized hazmat information systems such as CAMEO. Frequently, "experts" from nearby industry also will be available to assist. In some instances, however, the various sources will provide incomplete data or conflicting instructions, and the information provided may not fit exactly with the situation at hand.
Nevertheless, the command officer must sift through the available information, suggested procedures, expert advice, and past experience and develop a strategy to minimize the effects of both the fire and hazardous materials aspects of the incident. To further complicate matters, as the incident develops the initial strategies may have to be altered rapidly to react to changing conditions.
Chief Sullivan and the Springfield Hazardous Materials Response Team had literature available to them, including NFPA 49, Sax, CHRIS, and the Material Safety Data Sheet for TCT.
Additional guidance was obtained from the Chlorine Institute (prior to the fire), CHEM-NET, CHEMTREC, and even a phone call from a chemist who 'learned of the incident on cable television. In addition, the local Monsanto plant, a key participant in Springfield's HazMat response planning, had a representative on the scene to advise.
Based on all the information and advice reviewed, the following choices were available:
- Let the reaction run its course.
- Fight the fire using large volumes of water.
In the first choice, evacuation of the area would be carried out and attempts made to control the fire with soda ash, as had been done in the first fire incident. One advisor had suggested that the reaction might last two to three days if left alone.
In the second choice, the scope of the evacuation might to be quickly increased in the event that the fire streams released additional chlorine. Once the fire was out, the chlorine would be controlled chemically.
Many factors relating to the actual incident conditions need to be considered when selecting an option or seeking others in a situation such as this. These factors include:
- presence or absence of fire
- size and growth rate of the fire
- location of the fire
- need to minimize injury to public
- need to minimize fire loss
- fire control resources available
- present amount of chlorine being produced
- effect of fire fighting on chlorine
- wind direction and speed
- status of evacuation
- hazardous material control resources
Taking the above into consideration, Chief Sullivan first treated the incident as a minor fire in which soda ash was applied. The area was evacuated. During Friday night, the chlorine conditions varied. By early Saturday, conditions were clear, and the evacuation order was rescinded. By early Saturday evening, however, the Chief was faced with a significant fire. In addition, not only was more chlorine being generated, but the plume of hot gases from the fire could aid in the spread of the gases throughout the community. At this time, aggressive fire fighting with large amounts of water was initiated.
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