(A) The basis used for determining the level of a hazardous material incident are:
(1) Level of technical expertise required to abate the incident;
(2) Extent of municipal, county, and state government involvement;
(3) Extent of evacuation of civilians; and
(4) Extent of injuries or death.
(5) Extent and involvement of decontamination procedures.
(B) There are three levels of hazardous materials incident classifications:
(1) Level I Incidents.
(a) Spills, leaks, ruptures, or fires involving hazardous materials that can be contained, extinguished, or abated utilizing equipment, supplies, and resources immediately available to the city Fire Department; or
(b) Hazardous material incidents that do not require evacuation of civilians.
(2) Level II Incidents. (The officer in charge of a Level I incident may upgrade the incident to a Level II Incident.)
(a) Hazardous materials incidents that can only be identified, tested, sampled, contained, extinguished, or abated utilizing the resources of the city Fire Department's special response unit; a hazardous materials incidents that require the use of chemical-protective gear and specialized equipment;
(b) Hazardous materials incidents that require evacuation of civilians within the area of the city Fire Department; or
(c) Fires involving hazardous materials that are permitted to burn for a controlled period of time or allowed to consume themselves.
(3) Level III Incidents. (The Officer in charge of a Level II Incident may upgrade the incident to a Level III incident.)
(a) Spills, leaks, or ruptures that can be contained or abated utilizing the highly specialized equipment and supplies available to environmental or industrial response personnel;
(b) Fires involving hazardous materials that are allowed to burn due to the ineffectiveness or dangers of the use of extinguishing agents or the unavailability of water; and/or there is a real threat of larger container failure; and/or an explosion, detonation, BLEVE, or container failure has occurred;
(c) Hazardous material incidents that require evacuation of civilians extending across jurisdictional boundaries, and/or there are serious civilian injuries or deaths as a result of the hazardous material incident;
(d) Hazardous material incidents requiring decontamination of civilians or personnel; or
(e) Hazardous material incidents that have become one of multi-agency involvement of large proportions.
(Ord. 78, passed 6-2-94)