North Metro Fire has a 25-member Hazardous Materials (HazMat) Team whose mission is to protect life, property, and the environment by isolating, containing, and mitigating hazardous materials incidents. The HazMat Team has advanced training and specialization in hazmat detection, identification and monitoring.
In 2022, North Metro’s HazMat Team participated in numerous trainings, including workshops on tactical chemistry, highway emergency response, air monitoring, oil and gas response, lithium battery emergencies, radiation training and hazmat foam trailer operations.
During the year, the HazMat Team was deployed or consulted on several hazmat incidents in coordination with the larger regional Adams/Jeffco HazMat Response Authority (includes Broomfield County) and the North Metro Drug Task Force. Incidents included assisting the Adams County Bomb Squad on a suspected pipe bomb, carbon dioxide leaks at area businesses, a fire involving an equipment trailer at an oil and gas site in Adams County, an anthrax scare in Broomfield, two airplane crashes off airport property, oil and gas odor investigations, and a variety of other calls involving chemical spills, leaks, identification and disposal.