Hazmat Co. 1 and Hazmat Duty Officer

The origins of Hazmat Company 1 can be traced back to a group of officers who first formed a Hazardous Device Team, known then as a “Bomb Squad," in the mid 1970’s. The first truck was a step van that was kept at the Fire Training Academy. Around 1980 the group expanded to include the growing problem of fires and emergencies involving hazardous materials. The unit was then staffed by an officer from the Fire Prevention Bureau and a pickup truck with special equipment was put in service. That unit quickly became overloaded with gear and an upgrade was made to a former Hose Reel truck that had a large utility body installed. The company was also transferred to the Operations Branch and housed at Fire Station 6. The company added a new command type vehicle in 1991 when a former Emergency Care Unit was converted for use by the Hazmat officer. This vehicle (HM1) was quartered at Fire Station 2, while the equipment truck (HM2) remained at Station 6, cross-staffed Engine 6’s crew.

Upgrades to both pieces of the company occurred and the assigned locations of the apparatus also was changed when HM1 was moved to its current location at Fire Station 20. HM2 was moved to the Fire Training Academy where it was cross-staffed by the academy training officers. The current configuration of Hazmat 1 includes a new combination command and equipment vehicle that is cross-staffed by the crews of Engine 20 and Ladder 4 from Station 20. The extra equipment that was carried on HM2 to support a prolonged operation is now carried in various specialized trailers.

Car 220 is the Hazmat Shift Officer and responds first on all hazmat calls in Lexington. If the situation requires additional resources, then Hazmat 1 will respond.