South Australia’s fire crews are stepping up their specialist emergency response capability, with 19 firefighters graduating from a new intensive HAZMAT training course designed to help protect the community from increasingly complex hazardous material incidents.
The South Australian Metropolitan Fire Service has launched the new two-week HAZMAT Technicians Course at its Angle Park Training Centre, giving firefighters advanced skills in detection, analysis, decontamination and incident management.
It comes as HAZMAT incidents have increased by more than 20 per cent in recent years, placing greater demand on specialist emergency services crews across the state.
The newly graduated technicians are now certified to operate on the MFS’s specialist HAZMAT appliances and respond to serious incidents including industrial chemical spills, transport emergencies and unknown substance events.
Minister for Emergency Services Rhiannon Pearce said, “With the number of incidents involving hazardous materials increasing, it makes sense we have more staff specially trained to deal with the increased threat.”
“Locally designed and delivered, this new course ensures our firefighters are properly trained to meet the needs of the South Australian community.”
With defined legislated responsibility for HAZMAT incidents in South Australia, the MFS leads the operational response within its fire districts, providing incident control, technical expertise and public safety oversight.
MFS Chief Officer Jeff Swann said, “The MFS is focused on ensuring we are prepared to respond to hazardous material events safely and that our crews can bring these incidents to a swift and effective end.”
“I am proud to see firefighters committed to ongoing learning that strengthens capability and delivers lasting benefits for the community.”
The course forms part of the MFS’s ongoing focus on maintaining a highly skilled specialist response workforce, with firefighters completing both theoretical and practical assessments across the two-week program.
MFS Commander of Special Operations Joe Hansen said, “Participants undertook both theoretical and practical assessments designed to enhance their ability to assess, interpret, and respond to hazardous situations safely and effectively and better protect the community of South Australia.”
“The development and delivery of this new course is a great testament to the professionalism and dedication of our highly trained Special Operations team at the MFS.”
The 19 new HAZMAT technicians will now help support the MFS response to incidents where hazardous substances pose a risk to people, property or the environment, adding further depth to South Australia’s frontline emergency capability.
