LEVEL 1

A HazMat incident which is of little danger to life, property or the environment and can be handled by regular firefighting personnel using equipment normally carried on first response apparatus.

Dispatch Protocol:
i. Normal Fire Department response

Examples of Level 1 response:
a. Smell of fumes in residences.
b. Minor to medium spills or smells of fumes in commercial or industrial facilities.
c. Vehicles leaking fuel in garages or other confined areas.
d. Leaks of fuel from underground storage tanks where the Department of Environment has been notified.
e. Minor spills or leaks in the transportation industry.

LEVEL 2

A HazMat incident which involves or could involve danger to life, property or the environment and requires the HazMat Response Team to respond. Evacuation of the premises or the local area may be required.

Dispatch Protocol:
i. Announce: “Level 2 HazMat Response”
ii. Central Pumper plus Pumper from district. (If in Central district, dispatch closest Pumper with iii. Central Pumper)
iv. One (1) Rescue
v. Command HazMat Vehicle

Immediately Notify:

i. HazMat Officer
ii. Deputy Fire Chief
iii. HSC, if there are injuries (advise that HazMat protocol is in effect and responding ambulances are to report to staging)
iv. RNC (advise that HazMat protocol is in effect and request Duty Officer to respond and report to IC)
v. OHS (if industrial accident)

Examples of Level 2 response:

Unknown spill or leak in residence where occupants have become ill, and may require hospitalization. Unknown leak or spill in commercial or industrial facilities where employees have become ill or are injured. Leak or spill of dangerous goods in the transportation industry (other than Level 1). Request from industry or government officials for HazMat Team response. Request of the Incident Commander at the scene of a Level 1 incident. Any unknown spill or leak not covered in any of the above.

LEVEL 3

A HazMat incident within the boundaries of the SJRFD involving a significant threat to life, property or the environment, where total evacuation of the population or local area is required and the Emergency Response Plan (if applicable) for the affected municipality has been invoked either in part or in full.

Dispatch Protocol: Announce “Level 3 HazMat Response” Central pumper plus pumper from district. (If in Central district, dispatch closest Pumper with Central Pumper) One (1) Rescue Command HazMat Vehicle HazMat Officer

Immediately Notify: Director (Fire Chief) Deputy Chief HSC (advise HazMat protocol is in effect and direct responding ambulances to Level 2 staging) RNC (advise HazMat protocol is in effect and request Duty Officer to respond and report to IC) OHS (if industrial accident)

Examples of Level 3

Aircraft crash or large scale accident where dangerous goods are released. Industrial accidents which presents a major life and health hazard to the population. Major release of dangerous goods requiring the assistance of outside agencies. Major HazMat incident during a state of emergency.

NOTE: This Operational Guideline shall only be altered under the direction of the HazMat Officer or the Deputy Chief.