June 2002
On May 22, 2002, a tanker truck loaded with 8,500 gallons of gasoline crashed into a gas station in the Esplen section of the City of Pittsburgh. The resulting explosion and smoke column could be seen for miles. This 3 alarm fire was placed under control with the assistance of Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire's specialized foam unit.
Remember, Rapid Intervention Teams must be utilized at hazardous material incidents as well as structure fires. If this was your view from the RIT standby area, what should you be looking for? Do you see any immediate hazards that should be addressed by the RIT? Is your team capable of entering this "hot zone" immediately with the proper specialized clothing and equipment? Do the members of your team have the specialized hazmat training required to handle a mayday situation within this type of environment?
Photo by Mark Heslet (Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire Engine 37)
