Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials Response Team 800

Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials Response Team 800 Team 800 is the primary Emergency Hazmat Response for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The station is located at 108 Vaneer Avenue, in the City of Greensburg.

The Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials Response Team 800 was organized in 1980, as a specialized team, to assist the County’s fire departments in response to Hazardous Material incidents. Formed as a volunteer group, the original Team consisted of 15 members from local fire departments and the paid sector within the County. The Team is under the jurisdiction of the Westmoreland County Departm

ent of Public Safety. The Team currently consists of 70 volunteer members from the fields of Fire, EMS, and law enforcement all over Westmoreland County. Our station was dedicated on December 28, 1995, to the memory of Assistant Chief John R. “Jack” Fisher, who died in the line of duty on September 28, 1995, while serving with Greensburg Fire Department. Our Team is the sole provider of emergency response to HAZMAT incidents within Westmoreland County. Starting with only one combustible gas meter, the Team has grown significantly over the past 25 plus years. Thanks to the efforts of the team members themselves, through local fundraising, and the Westmoreland County Commissioners, as well as, the Region 13 Counter Terrorism Task Force, Sara Facilities served by the team, private donations and the tax payers of the Westmoreland County, we have grown to a state-of-the-art HAZMAT Team utilizing more than a million dollars worth of equipment to serve and protect our citizens. Team 800 also responds as a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) offering specialized support to the many fire departments within the County, in the battle of structure fires. Members of Team 800 are continually and progressively involved in specialized training, which helps to maintain the abilities and capabilities of the team. This on-going education allows the Team to respond to any HAZMAT or RIT calls that may arise. Team 800 has four membership categories: Probationary, Regular, Specialty and Life. To apply for membership with Team 800, you must be resident of Westmoreland County, have a valid PA driver’s license, a high school diploma or equivalent, HAZMAT Awareness Level training, and ICS-700 training. Additionally, applicants must meet one of the following: PA Certified FF1, PA EMT or Paramedic, or work as an officer for a Pennsylvania law enforcement agency. Applicants who meet those requirements and are accepted to the Team will serve a probationary period of one year. During that year, a probationary member must attend 30% of all training, calls and meetings, complete ICS-100 training, and complete training at the HAZMAT Operations Level. Specialty members offer support to the Team in a specific field or specialty (radiation, communication, chemist, etc.). Life members are those members on the Team who have served for 25 years, or who have served 10 years and are over 65 years of age.

Thank you for your support Representative Cooper
07/22/2026

Thank you for your support Representative Cooper

Team 800 was called to Interstate 70 to support Station 19 first alarm companies for a truck pulling doubles that was fl...
07/21/2026

Team 800 was called to Interstate 70 to support Station 19 first alarm companies for a truck pulling doubles that was flagged down by a passing motorist that was smoking. Upon arrival the driver disconnected the rear trailer and upon investigation it was determined a mixed load carrying multiple commodities which included 3 pallets of e cigarette batteries and a 2,000 lb automobile EV battery. The first arriving units opened the trailer in multiple areas and the roof had burned through the trailer. Water streams were applied in the openings to suppress the fire. The team performed air monitoring and suppression runoff including TIC and IR drone assessment. The contents were removed and triage of all the various lithium ion battery goods were conducted. Entry teams of FF’s and hazmat technicians accessed the large EV battery and the towing company pulled the battery from the cargo and cooling operations continued of the smoldering battery were conducted by the fire units. A clean up company was requested to the scene to properly pack and contain the battery.

Team 800 assisted Station 69 in responding to a hydraulic oil spill at Braeburn Alloy Steel with Hazard 800 Support 800 ...
07/18/2026

Team 800 assisted Station 69 in responding to a hydraulic oil spill at Braeburn Alloy Steel with Hazard 800 Support 800 and Marine 800. Incident command had notified downstream facilities and other agencies respond with boat assets to check the river for the extent into the river and Team 800 supported with additional spill supplies. A local cleanup company and PA DEP responded to implement recovering and coordination of the spill with the responsible party.

Marine 800 conducted water operations today with Boat 48 today on the Monongahela River exercising our procedures and ca...
06/27/2026

Marine 800 conducted water operations today with Boat 48 today on the Monongahela River exercising our procedures and capabilities of the different watercraft working together.

06/25/2026
Lithium batteries are a topic of everyday fire service conversation. Here's an update on the numbers...In 2026 the sales...
06/23/2026

Lithium batteries are a topic of everyday fire service conversation. Here's an update on the numbers...

In 2026 the sales of new lithium battery forklifts will exceed lead acid battery forklifts.
Approaching five million electric vehicles (EV's) are currently on American roads.
One million + e-bikes are sold in the US each year.
Tens of thousands of e-scooters are sold in the US each month.
Countless numbers of laptops, power tools, cell phones in use at almost every workplace, home, and school.
5,000 fires a year, in the US alone, caused by lithium batteries entering into thermal runaway.
You probably have one in your pocket right now.

REMEMBER during a Li-Ion battery fire, FLAMMABLE/TOXIC gases can be released. Wear your SCBA.
Hydrogen Fluoride
Hydrogen Sulfide
Hydrogen Chloride
Hydrogen Cyanide
Carbon Monoxide
Hydrogen
Ethylene
Ethane
Methane
Propylene
Sulfur Dioxide
Most of these are not detectable with your 4-gas meter.
Finally, check out the 2024 ERG BLUE PAGES 120-121 (Lithium iON - Lithium metal batteries) ORANGE GUIDE PAGES 138 & 147 AND PAGE 356 for the latest information.

Team 800 conducted certificate training for hazmat incident command for propane flaring operations this evening. Basic s...
06/05/2026

Team 800 conducted certificate training for hazmat incident command for propane flaring operations this evening. Basic scene safety setup and equipment familiarization was reviewed. Thanks to Instructor Leer for the hands on and tactics considerations for this training. Also special thanks to Ron Huffman for making this equipment a part of our response capabilities.

🇺🇸 🦅 Team 800 remembers the fallen and their sacrifice for freedom. 🇺🇸🦅
05/25/2026

🇺🇸 🦅 Team 800 remembers the fallen and their sacrifice for freedom. 🇺🇸🦅

05/21/2026

Three people died and 18 first responders were hospitalized after exposure to an unidentified substance in Mountainair, NM. Investigators suspect drug involvement and are conducting an investigation.

It's a beautiful day for the 2026 Team 800 Golf outing
05/15/2026

It's a beautiful day for the 2026 Team 800 Golf outing

Address

108 Vannear Ave
Greensburg, PA
15601

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