City of Midwest City

The Midwest City Fire Department’s Hazardous Materials Team is set to participate in the Del City Hazardous Material drill on April 7th. The drill will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will include other units from Del City, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State Department of Health, Office of Oklahoma State Homeland Security and the Oklahoma County Sherriff’s department.

The purpose of the drill is to simulate real-life possible hazardous material situations. According to Midwest City Fire Chief Randy Olsen the teams will simulate a hit and run accident involving a two-ton liquid transport vehicle. This scenario also includes that the driver of the two-ton transport is still on the scene and there is a product seen leaking from the vehicle. The liquid product has migrated into the storm drain and nearby creek. In addition, there is also a leak in the saddle tank of the vehicle. Upon further investigation, a possible “white powder” is found in the driver compartment.

The continuing scenario is that the Del City team is the first responder and requests additional resources. The Midwest City team, along with the team from Oklahoma City, will arrive on the scene and may be requested to identify or characterize the products that are leaking; sample for further testing and attempt to mitigate any hazards from the accident.

According to Olsen it is very important for the Department to participate in these types of drills. “By participating, it keeps our skills sharp for when an event actually occurs that would involve our hazardous materials team,” Olsen stated.

Olsen continued that Midwest City is unique in that every Fire Suppression person is a Hazmat Technician. But, during the time planned for this specific drill, Station 1 will be dispatched. The members of the Station 1 team include: Reese Morrison, Rhett Murphy, Casey McSparin, Matt Mockabee, Doug Beabout, and John Steele.