(A) Identification.
(1) The first Fire Department officer to arrive on the scene will attempt to identify:
(a) The type of material involved;
(b) The quantity of material involved;
(c) The possibility of contamination; and
(d) The immediate exposure problem.
(2) This information shall be transmitted to dispatch immediately.
(B) Level I. If the Fire Department officer determines that the incident is Level I, he will proceed to mitigate the problem.
(C) Level II or III.
(1) If the Fire Department officer determines that the incident is a Level II or III, he shall take whatever action is necessary to control the incident within the capability of his men, resources, and equipment.
(2) The Fire Department officer first on the scene will inform incoming companies of his evaluation and the actions he is taking and shall direct responding units on which access routes they should use when approaching the incident.
(3) The first arriving officer shall initiate steps to identify and establish the warm zone.
(D) Command post. The first arriving company officer shall establish a command post in the most strategically desirable and safe location. A chief officer shall assume command upon his arrival.
(E) Base. A base shall be established as necessary outside the anticipated hazard area in a removed and safe location. This area and its resources will be coordinated by assigned personnel. The base location is to be transmitted to RPSCC as soon as possible, and all responding units dispatched to this incident shall be directed to report to base.
(F) Communications. At the direction of the Incident Commander, all units on the scene shall be directed to switch to fire F-2 radio channel. The IC shall continue to monitor F-1.
(G) Incident stabilization. It shall be the responsibility of the IC to identify the problem, to determine the possible course of action that could happen as a result of this incident, and to record this information. The IC shall evaluate this information, and will determine the best course of action to take to mitigate the hazard. The IC may request that the incident be upgraded to Level III.
(H) Evacuation. If evacuation is necessary the IC shall notify the appropriate law enforcement agencies. The law enforcement agency having jurisdiction, assisted by other appropriate agencies, shall plan and conduct an orderly evacuation within a specified geographical area. Utilization of the news media to assist in notifying the public of an evacuation will be the responsibility of the IC.
(I) Clean-up and disposal.
(1) The primary responsibility for the assumption of all costs for the clean-up and disposal of a chemical shall be:
(a) The person or persons whose negligent or willful act caused such spill, release, or potential spill or release of a hazardous material.
(b) The person or persons who own or had custody of the chemical or hazardous material or waste at the time of the spill or release.
(c) The person or persons who owned or had custody or control of container or transport vehicle that held such chemical or hazardous material or waste.
(2) The Incident Commander shall identify the responsible party. When, in the opinion of the IC, the substance must be cleaned up according to OSHA, EPA, or other governmental organization, the responsible party or its representative shall call a reputable and licensed hazardous waste hauler for clean-up disposal.
(3) The city Fire Department is authorized to clean-up or abate any chemical, hazardous material, or waste released or deposited upon or into any property within the city. In the event the responsible party cannot be located or identified, or refuses to cooperate.
(4) The persons described in division (I)(1) above shall be liable to the city for all costs incurred as a result of response, investigation, mitigation, and clean-up of hazardous materials releases or potential releases thereof. Payment for the above services must be received by the city within 30 days. Payments made after 30 days shall incur a penalty of 5% per month.
(5) It shall not be the responsibility of the city to remove any hazardous material. The Incident Commander shall remain on scene until arrival of the appropriate and approved agency. The IC shall oversee the clean-up operation in an advisory capacity to insure that removal of product and containers are done so correctly and safely.
(Ord. 78, passed 6-2-94)