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Fire Department report flags hazmat staffing gaps, longer response times and requests budget consideration
Summary
Fire Department officials told the Public Safety Committee that flex‑staffing of hazardous‑materials units has increased response times, several apparatus are decades old and grant funding covers many gear purchases; the committee noted the report and instructed inclusion in future budget planning.
The Los Angeles Fire Department presented a report on May 7 detailing hazardous‑materials (hazmat) response capacity across the city, warning that flex‑staffing practices and aging apparatus are lengthening response times and that additional personnel and equipment will be needed in future budgets.
Captain (or program manager) Scott Muffel and fire department presenters described the department’s hazmat footprint, recent incidents and staffing model. They said the city has one fully staffed HazMat Task Force (Unit 21) with other apparatus deployed as “flex‑staffed” units that do not carry full hazmat complements at all times. The department said Cal/OSHA guidance and department standards call for an initial hazmat response team size that can range up to eight personnel…
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