Rolling out the hazmat/command vehicles

The latest additions to the Fire Service fleet provide New Zealand with an innovative, world class capability to manage large incidents.

Seventeen dual-role hazardous materials/command vehicles - are now being rolled out to the regions at a rate of about one a month. They provide the latest in command and control technology. Each vehicle is also equipped to deal with hazardous chemical, biological, and radiological threats.

Each hazmat/command vehicle will be strategically positioned so it can respond within 20 minutes in major cities (typically those with associated ports or airports) and within 60 minutes to the rest of the country, 90 per cent of the time.

The project was initiated by the New Zealand Fire Service National Commander Mike Hall, who saw the importance of being able to respond rapidly and effectively to a wide range of situations requiring contemporary command and control capabilities and hazardous material response options.

He says roll out is the culmination of five years of planning and design and all regions should have their hazmat capability fully operational by the Rugby World Cup in 2011. Mr Hall says the NZFS hazmat/command capability is now among the best in the world and provides New Zealand civil and emergency response agencies with a national, strategic asset.

The communications and data technology on board each vehicle include a large touch screen monitor, software to support emergency command and control decision making, capability for up to six workstations, satellite communication and a camera mounted on a 10.5 metre telescopic mast to allow those inside the command vehicle to get a bird’s eye view of the incident ground.

“These vehicles and everything they contain, including new disposable splash suits and hazardous materials detection, identification and monitoring equipment, reflect the latest in international best practice. Much of the design has been done by the Fire Service and the vehicles and their crews will be able handle any chemical, biological, and radiological hazards likely to be faced by our personnel, the public or other emergency service.”

Mike Hall says each vehicle will carry a decontamination corridor which has two lanes to allow emergency service personnel or members of the public to be processed very quickly, with full privacy and using warm soapy water. The warm water wash is a huge step forward as it is much more effective, and safer, than cold water for many types of contamination.

“Our decontamination corridors are a scaled down version of the mass decontamination processes that were developed after the 9-11 terrorist attacks. We are the first country in the world to use these mass decontamination principles for a business-as-usual emergency response.” he said.

ENDS

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