Kevin Gaines (B25)

Battalion Chief - Hazardous Materials Unit

(951) 922-1437

Riverside County Fire Department has an ICS Type 1 Hazardous Materials Team that is divided into three locations.  This arrangement provides the county with a quick recon and full response for hazardous materials incidents within Riverside County.  The first unit, Hazardous Materials 20 (HM20) , is located in Beaumont.  The second unit, Hazardous Materials Support 34 (HMS34) , is located in Winchester.  The third unit, Hazardous Materials Support 81 (HMS81) , is located in Bermuda Dunes.  Hazmat Support 34 operates a 2003 Ford Crew Cab 4x4 support unit and a decontamination trailer. Hazmat 20 operates a 2003 Freightliner/Hackney tractor-trailer unit.  Hazmat Support 81 operates a 2003 Ford Crew Cab 4x4 support unit and a decontamination trailer. The Hazardous Materials Team is daily staffed with seven Hazardous Materials Technician/Specialists consisting of three Fire Captains, one Fire Apparatus Engineer, and three Firefighters.

All members receive extensive Hazardous Materials Training including: Hazardous Materials Incident Commander, Railcar Specialist, Cargo Tank Specialist, Weapons of Mass Destruction, COBRA, Assistant Safety Officer, Clandestine Drug Lab, Clandestine Drug Lab Cylinder Safety, Clandestine Drug Lab Waste, Unknown Chemical Identification, Reference Material Identification, Confined Space Rescue along with continual specialty monthly training.

Hazardous Materials Team Members have a cooperative working relationship with the Riverside County Health Agency / Department of Environmental Health.  One Riverside County Health Agency Emergency Response Hazardous Materials Management Specialist will respond with team members to all Hazardous Materials Incidents.  The Health Agency Member arranges for clean up of the chemical emergency incident and assist with proper notifications.  Health Agency personnel also enhance the Hazardous Materials Teams with expanded knowledge regarding technical referencing.

The Riverside County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team members are capable of mitigating Level A incidents, monitoring unknown atmospheres, identifying unknown chemicals, plugging and patching and intervention in large chemical leaks, Mass Decontamination, and confined space entry rescue operations.The Riverside County Fire Department Hazardous Materials Team members continuously assist the local stations with medical emergencies, structural fires and mass casualty incidents.