MAT-SU Firefighters Gain Hazmat Certification

MAT-SU – Sunday concludes a 6-day Hazardous Materials Technician training course which will for the first time enable MAT-SU Firefighters to respond to calls for help concerning chemical spills. Previously they required the assistance of Anchorage Firefighters.

“It’s been a year-long process getting the $19,000 grant from the Federal Department of Homeland Security, then arranging for Emergency Management Incorporated to come to the MAT-SU from Anchorage to certify the 23 firefighters from all over the State and two, 95^th Chemical Company solders from Ft. Richardson. This is the first time this type of class has been conducted in the state by an Alaskan company,” said Ken Barkley, Assistant Chief for Central MAT-SU Fire Department.

The training, held at Fire Station 6-1, the Central MAT-SU Public Safety Building at 101 W. Swanson Ave in Wasilla, teaches how to work a contaminated area in a fully encapsulated Level A suit and how to decontaminate the area, any affected residents, and the firefighters.

The training will be held Friday (6:00pm-10:00pm), and Saturday, and Sunday from 9 am – 5pm. For more information contact Ken Barkley at 376-9277.

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