VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – Volusia County Fire Rescue responded to a HazMat call at the West Volusia Transfer Station for Volusia County Solid Waste due to an individual illegally dumping various household and pool chemicals at the location. The containers with chemical and biological hazards received significate damage, spilled, and mixed to create a toxic gas and chemical release. Volusia County Fire Rescue and mutual aid crews worked through disposed furniture and garbage to find all of the products, separate them, and neutralize the products. Units on scene were SQDE35, BAT20, HazMat 1, HazMat Engine 15, RE22, and BAT30.

To prepare for HazMat incidents, VCFR conducts regular training to become aware of dangerous materials, learn best practices for operational guidelines, and review tactics. To become a technician, all firefighters were required to complete 100 hours of online training preparing them for the 60 hours of hands-on training.