TALLAHASSEE, FL (WTXL) – The fire department is hoping to get a mobile hazardous material semi-tractor and trailer equipped with an integrated command center and storage space for hazardous materials monitoring, containment and mitigation equipment.
The department is asking the city of Tallahassee to approve a grant so that they are able to get the new vehicle.
“The vehicle would allow for a prompt response to hazardous material incidents in North Florida, and provide immediate incident command post capability, that does not currently exist,” states the agenda item that is set to be approved Wednesday.
The fire department says that having access to this type of vehicle with a detachable trailer would “allow the tractor to return to TFD facilities to haul additional assets back to the incident site, such as a mobile decontamination trailer, a water trailer, and a flatbed-equipment trailer.”
The total amount of the FY 2016, Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) grant would completely cover the project, said the fire department.
In 2002, TFD established a Regional Hazardous Materials Team, at that time the serviced only 8 counties. Now they service 13 counties.
The department says that, “With the hazmat rescue equipment we have available today, the provision for a command center is inadequate.”
Though the grant would cover the cost of the vehicle at $470,000.00, TFD says that on-going maintenance cost of this vehicle will be borne by TFD’s operating budget.
