Local FD augments HAZMAT training

PHOTO BY BILL McDONALD Lampasas Fire Marshal Reece Oestreich, standing, watches as other Fire Department personnel work through hazardous materials training. Oestreich is a nationally certified HAZMAT technician.

With the recent conclusion of inhouse training, the Lampasas Fire Department now has seven trained, state-certified hazardous material technicians and one nationally certified technician.

City of Lampasas Fire Marshal Reece Oestreich completed a 260- hour training session in Temple that enabled him to become certified at the national level.

The fire marshal then brought his instruction home and provided an additional 40-hour program to beef up local personnel certification.

What does that mean for Lampasas and the surrounding communities?

Technicians are certified to respond to an uncontrolled release of hazardous substances where there is a potential safety or health hazard -- such as chemical spills or ex- posure, fires and other events -- and then test the substance for possible identification.

HAZMAT techs are trained to handle and control actual or potential leaks or spills.

Oestreich said the certification allows local officials to increase the level of identification of potentially hazardous substances or materials through testing.

A small sample of the material in question is put through a series of tests to identify its chemical ingredients and, in some cases, the substance's name.

The training course was funded by Homeland Security through the Central Texas Council of Governments, and a number of area fire departments were requested to send representatives to participate in the class.