JETCC

Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee (JETCC)

 

After several months of planning, firefighters and emergency responders converged in 3 Maine locations during the month of August to participate in a Fuel Tank Truck Rollover training classes. The classes were organized at the request of the Maine Emergency Management Agency (MEMA) using funds from the Maine State Emergency Response Commission (SERC). Hazardous materials specialists from Maine department of Environmental Protection provided instruction, while the local Fire Departments and the County Emergency Response Commissions provided key local assistance.

Working closely with the Fire Departments from Kezar Falls and Farmington and also with the Waldo County Emergency Response Commission, the Maine Joint Environmental Training Coordinating Committee organized three training sessions and handled local logistics. The target audience for this training included first responders, fire department personnel, HAZMAT teams, shippers and transporters of hazardous materials, and personnel responsible for enforcement and inspection of commercial vehicles.

Representing three regional Maine Department of Environmental Protection offices, Tom Varney and Nathan Thompson of Bangor, Carl Allen of Presque Isle and Peter Blanchard of Augusta taught the sessions. These four Oil and Hazardous Materials Specialists have a combined experience of more than 60 years in responding to hazardous situations including oil and chemical spills from damaged transport vehicles.

With response to thousands of hazardous incidents behind them, the DEP presenters reviewed tank construction, spec plates, placards, labels, chemical definitions, reporting responsibilities and recovery protocols. They also emphasized the importance of assessing the problem, spill containment, establishing safety zones, grounding and bonding the vehicles, drilling & off-loading, and finally protocol for responder decontamination.


While the majority of training took place in the classroom, participants also benefited from the contribution of a number of vehicles donated for hands-on demonstration.

For display and “up–close” observation, fuel and propane transport vehicles were contributed by Webber Energy, C.N. Brown of Cornish, Thompson Oil Company of Waldo, and Twitchell Fuel Company of Farmington. Monson Companies, Clean Harbors Environmental Services and General Alum & Chemical Company donated chemical transport vehicles. All of these vehicles allowed participants the opportunity for hands on review of valves, piping, structure, spec plates and safety features, while Webber energy also supplied the shell of a home delivery truck for drilling exercises.

Many participants enjoyed the “hands-on” portion of the class, and found it particularly beneficial to closely examine the vehicle construction and safety devices, as well as to learn about grounding and bonding, vehicle drilling and real life experiences from the variety of instructors. Many said they would share the knowledge gained with other firefighters.

All participants were given an incident checklist, placard and label charts, a printed copy of the classroom presentation material and related emergency response books.

According to Leeann Hanson, JETCC’s Training Coordinator, “This training would not have been possible without a collaborative effort between the state agencies, the intensive support from the fuel and chemical transport companies, and the local assistance of the Fire Department and Emergency Response Commission.

MEMA & SERC provided the funding, Maine DEP offered the instruction, private companies contributed the vehicles and JETCC handled the registration and behind the scenes details assuring that all arrived at the appointed location as planned.


 

Site Map

JETCC * PO Box 487 * Scarborough, ME 04070-0487
Phone: 207/253-8020 Fax: 207/771-9028 * Email: jetcc@jetcc.org