The White Falcon - 28.10.1988, Side 2

Hazardous Material Unit
Fire-fighers named first response unit
by J02 Jodelle Blankenship
The Naval Fire Department has taken on a new
challenge, a new dimension of fire. They have
become the first response to hazardous material
situations.
“There was not a response unit for hazardous
materials or spills available locally,' Haraldur
Stefansson, Naval Station Keflavik fire chief, said.
“We were recently challenged by this and searched
out all the necessary equipment needed to have a
response unit available.'
The fire chief gathered new and used equipment
that is now being used to stop or contain any
spillage of hazardous material.
He found an old ambulance abandoned in a yard at
Naval Base, Norfolk, Vir. He talked to the head of
transportation in Norfolk and had it sent here.
Local fire-fighters, headed by Naval Statioi^^^
Keflavik's Assistant Fire Chief Stefan Eiriksson^^B
made a unified effort and stripped and rebuilt th^^^
old ambulance into a Hazardous Material (HA2MAT)
response vehicle.
Naval Station Keflavik fire-fighters have all the
equipment needed to stop or contain any hazardous
waste spills and are prepared to roll 24
hours-a-day.
For any hazardous situation, NATO Base
residents should call the Fire Phone at 17 and the
unit will respond. They are trained and ready to
plug the hole, contain the spill and call the
Hazardous Material Clean-up and Removal team to
dispose of all the hazardous waste.
The Navy has had an ongoing drive to eliminate
spillage of hazardous materials and Naval Station
Keflavik Fire Department can now effectively
protect NATO residents and the environment they
live in.
Naval Station fire-fighters are qualified to
stop or contain hazardous waste material.
(Photos by J02 Jodelle Blankenship)
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COMICEDEFOR............Rear Admiral Eric A. McVadon
Public Affairs Officer.....Lt.Cmdr. Scott E. Wilson
Assistant PAO....................Fridthor ICr Eydal
Editorial Staff
Advisor.................
Editor..................
Reporter................
Reporter................
Sports Reporter.........
Draftsman/Layout........
Administrative Assistant.
.......JOC Dave Evans
.J02 Jodelle Blankenship
....J02 Scott Johnson
....J02 Andrew Karalls
.......J03 John Mohler
........DM2 Cindy Ford
.......VNSN Matt Davis
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The White Falcon