Haz-Mat 1

For several years, Paducah and McCracken County has been blessed with the only Hazardous Materials Response team in the region. This group has expanded and evolved into "HazMat-1".

Headed by West McCracken Co. Fire Chief Donald Elrod, the team members from Fire Departments, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and other public and private safety agencies have dedicated their time to train and respond to incidents involving Hazardous Materials and Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Technician Level Members are trained to don special encapsulated suits that are chemical resistant, along with breathing apparatus to make a "Level A" entry to stop leaking rail cars, semi trucks, and machinery at chemical releases

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After stopping the leak, they "decon" by passing through stages where any contamination can be removed. They're also trained to use instruments to "sniff" the air for hazardous chemicals.
With the Homeland Security role, chemical and biological weapons response will become part of their mission.

HazMat-1 includes members from Ballard, Marshall, Calloway, Graves, Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman counties comprising a REGIONAL HAZARDOUS MATERIALS RESPONSE TEAM AND WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION TEAM .