MATT ROBINSON
Deming Headlight

Deming firefighters now have the backing of hazardous materials training in the event that there is a catastrophic event in Southwestern New Mexico. The team is planned to be part of a multi-county response team currently in the works.

Lieutenants Delbert Rivera and Robert Reagan have joined Richard Golie, all of the Deming Fire Department, for the hazmat training. Training covers how to respond to various crises, such as chemical spills, based on a standardized procedure.

"Our plan is to work with other agencies in other counties to try to create, hopefully, a better response team," Chief Edgar Davalos explained. "Given that Deming does have I-10, the railroad of course, and pipelines that come through our community, things like that, there are a lot of hazards out there."

At this point, the crew does not have all of the equipment necessary to handle an incident on its own. They are certified as haz-mat technicians, meaning they can lend invaluable support to agencies that respond to a critical incident involving hazardous materials.

"The next step would be to create our standard operating procedures regarding what they are capable of doing and getting MOU's (memorandums of understanding) with other departments that have the equipment," he said. "If we ever had an incident, they could also respond to our area and our technicians would work with them, in concert and vice versa."

For the crew ready to get their haz-mat suit-protected hands dirty, the extra work load is a good break from the status quo.

"Up until now, nothing like this was around here, and there was not haz-mat protection in Luna County," Lt. Reagan said.

"We'd have to rely on Silver City, Las Cruces or whichever people are available," Lt. Rivera added.

Work is happening behind-the-scenes to help further concentrate resources of departments in Do-a Ana, Sierra, Grant and Hidalgo counties to ensure every department is able to respond to a catastrophe when needed. The five-county collaboration is extensive, but as Lt. Reagan explained, Luna County can have its own obstacles to hurdle.

"We have close to 200 miles of highway that we cover," he said, also noting the heavy rail traffic through the city.

"It makes me more comfortable to know we have guys trained at that level that can step in and say, 'You need to call so and so to get calls in here,'" Chief Davalos said. "These guys will have a better knowledge of our area; what's actually stored in our area, things like that."

Lt. Rivera noted, in particular, the abundance of agricultural chemicals located in Luna County as points driving readiness.

The team is staffed by volunteers from the department. Chief Davalos says he's "proud of them."

Copyright 2010 Deming Headlight, a MediaNews Group Newspaper
All Rights Reserved
August 18, 2010