St. Mary's County Department of Emergency Services’ Hazardous Materials Response Team Chief, TJ Faunce, brought Hazmat 18 to Ridge VFD to show our members the equipment and capabilities they have to mitigate a hazardous materials incident. Chief Faunce provided information and a demonstration of their new Decon Equipment. Ridge VFD members, and guests from the Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad, were able to get hands-on experience setting up and using the new tools. In addition, everyone had the opportunity to go around the unit and explore the different compartments and equipment carried on HAZMAT 18.

The St. Mary's County HAZMAT Unit is stationed in Leonardtown, MD and responds to all hazardous materials incidents in St. Mary's County. St. Mary's also has a mutual aid agreement with NDWFD and their HAZMAT unit which responds from Patuxent River Naval Air Station to assist as well.

We would like to thank HAZMAT Chief Faunce for bringing the unit to Ridge!