Hazmat at BWI

[lebrunmn]

Has anyone been listening to the hazmat call at BWI for the past 30mins or so?

MDT Police on their normal freq: 453.9000 (123.0) have established a perimeter, and have called MD Dept of the Environment... Some kind of redish substance in a jug.

Sitrep passed over BWI TAC2 (TG 656)

Does this happen often? Don't normally monitor these guys.

Regards,

 

[troymail]

I was listening ... initial of odor of gas in the building (terminal). Something was found creating the odor which then led to a minor HazMat investigation... all came up negative. Not sure exactly what is was or where it came from but the FD packed it in a HazMat drum and turned everything over to MDE.

Deciding to move from a simple incident or escalating to a full blown HazMat can be a tough decision.

These days you just can't make assumptions... you just never know.

BTW: I noticed that BWI units have started getting what appear to be new radios (or at least they've been repgrogrammed). TRUNKER has always had these radios in the 43xxx range but several units have started appearing with ids in the 52xxx range... I'm guessing this has something to do with the new MAA TRS (http://radioreference.com/modules.php?name=RR&sid=4790)...

 

[lebrunmn]

I guess you're right--these days, we can never be too careful...

Thanks for the tip on the new Trunker IDs--I hadn't noticed--but then again, I don't run it all that often.

I just recently added the new MAA system, and will have to check it out. From what I've seen there isn't much activity on it yet.

Regards,

 

[troymail]

I just recently added the new MAA system, and will have to check it out. From what I've seen there isn't much activity on it yet.

there isn't much activity - mostly security, field control, building control, and the operations talkgroup (TG 46 - which many times is at least partially encrypted). It was pretty busy during the snow and ie storms - plows and such. However, I did hear AA Fire "cross system" testing a few weeks back... I can't seem to find an other info on the plans or when/if they are going to cut-over more existing users (like Fire).

 

[troymail]

http://www.wbaltv.com/news/12073468/detail.html

 

[MDEguy]

I feel compelled to reply/add my 2 cents here.
It has been a busy couple of weeks. Lets start with the Haz Mat at BWI:

1) BWI did a great job at not blowing this way out of wack

2) The first incident ended up being an auto that had a minor gasoline leak near the international arrivals area.

3) While on scene MDTA PD discovered a one gallon container (milk jug) of an unknown red material.

4) Incident command requested MDE to the site and began doing basic field analysis of the container and material. Field analysis found that there was no presence of hazardous material or hydrocarbon.

5) MDE (me) arrived and and removed material based on FD findings.

6) MDE took material to MDE HQ ( the bat cave) and did further testing on material.

7) Material tested positive for "FRUIT PUNCH" (technical industry term) and material was handled accordingly (FYI no I did not dip my cookies in it and have a snack).

8) MY thought on this was that someone had the container when entering the terminal and forgot about the new no liquid rule. Said to hell with this and left it outside. Just a thought.

Job well done by FD and PD on this one. BWI truely has gotten thier stuff together in regards to Haz Mat response. Very nice of them to have this little party in the covered area of the terminal during the heavy rains. Wetter then a ducks ass outside when this happened.

Side note.. Using the same testing methods a few weeks ago we were able to assist the PD from BWI and identified several small containers of meth for them. Machine did this in about 10 minutes. Not admissable in court as we are not a certified lab but gives them an idea of whether they should take it to the lab and let the certified lab people use the same machine and then use it as evidence. Cool stuff

Lastly, was somewhat surprised that the acid spill in Baltimore County last weekend did not make a show in the breaking news thread. Large scale, Franklin Square Hospital ER closed. Several units on the job, lots of radio traffic.

I was on this one as well. Like I said been a busy couple weeks, unless Nate is at the office!

Take care, stay safe, and remember State Worker Rule #1, Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now!