Grand Junction Fire Department

Hazardous Materials

A hazardous material (Haz-Mat) is a material that, in any quantity, poses a threat to life, health or property. More than four billion tons of materials classified as hazardous are shipped throughout the United States each year.

Hazardous materials commonly shipped in the United States include:

explosives (materials that combust or detonate)
compressed gases (pressurized flammable or nonflammable gas)
flammable liquids (those with a flash point of less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
combustible liquids (those with a flash point greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit)
flammable solids (nonexplosive solid material that burns vigorously and can be ignited readily)
oxidizers (substances that give off oxygen or act like oxygen and stimulate combustion)
poisonous gases, corrosives, (materials that destroy skin)
radioactive materials

Resources for Handling Hazardous Materials

Call 9-1-1 immediately, let them know what type of Hazardous Material you might have. The Grand Junction Fire Dept. has a Haz-Mat Response Team trained to implement control proceedures using highly trained personnel and specialized equipment. See our Specialty Teams page for more information.

Other resources available are:

CHEMTREC (Chemical Transportation Emergency Center) is a public service based in Washington, D.C., as a division of the Chemical Manufacturer's Association. You can reach officials at CHEMTREC 24 hours a day, seven days a week by dialing 1-800-424-9300. Officials there can answer any questions and advise you on how to handle emergencies involving hazardous materials.

One good reference is a guidebook published by the Department of Transportation called Hazardous Materials: Emergency Response Guidebook. The book lists more than 1,000 hazardous materials with their identification numbers; it is cross-referenced so that you can quickly locate complete instructions for emergency procedures. Many hazardous materials are listed both by identification number and in alphabetical order.

General Procedures for Dealing with Haz-Mat Emergencies:

The general rule in working with hazardous materials is to act quickly and to isolate
and deny entry (access). Time is critical, but do not act so quickly that you endanger
yourself and others at the scene. Call 9-1-1 immediately. Secure the scene and limit exposure to anyone. Do not try any rescue efforts. Wait for the fire department to arrive on the scene before doing anything.

If a motorist is the first on the scene of an incident involving a vehicle carrying hazardous materials, 9-1-1 should be called immediately. REMEMBER - STAY UPWIND AND ON A HIGHER TERRAIN THAN THE INCIDENT SITE, AND PREVENT OTHERS FROM ENTERING THE HAZARDOUS AREA WHEN POSSIBLE.

It is very important that motorists, their passengers and all bystanders avoid converging on the scene. Evacuation of the area is critical because of the potential occurrences of fires, explosions and exposures. In many instances, crowds gathering around the scene of an incident interfere with emergency vehicle rescue operations. Sometimes bystanders are killed in explosions or fires or later find that they were contaminated.

Fire Safety Information Homepage