Hwy. 98 W closed

[wilebill]

Looks like Hwy. 98 W from starting I don't know where to Black Creek Road has been closed, both lanes, because of an acid spill from a wreck.

I heard it on the radio and didn't catch where the closure starts.

[Bahlk]

I hope they get it cleared soon, can just only imagine the headeache

[58ford]

Does anyone have further info on this?

[citygirl]

Sorry can't give you any info on the whereabouts but that would explain all the sirens that passed by my office about 30 minutes or so ago.

[Kitty]

wilebill told us first (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060712/NEWS01/60712001)

[wilebill]

I thought they said Rawls Road on the radio but I'd never heard of it so I didn't want to repeat that.

[Kitty]

I thought they said Rawls Road on the radio but I'd never heard of it so I didn't want to repeat that.

Still, you alerted the public via MH before the HA had the update on its website.

:smt038

The power of MH!

[58ford]

I wish they would tell us what the concentration is.
It could be anything from strong enough toxic vapor killing everything in the area to a solution siutable for cleaning you hubcaps.

Anyway, I'd like to see 'e put down the soda ash, I'm thinking of a giant replica of the vinegar & baking soda volcano we all made in third grade.

[SMOKEandEMBERS]

It puzzles me why you wouldn't call out one of the best HAZMAT response team in the nation! When their just a few miles down the road. If it is a matter of pride, Please put it aside when there could be a life on the line. Hattiesburg Fire/Rescue is ready, willing and able.

[noway]

Lamar County Emerg Management HazMat Team and trailer were on scene with Reggie Ridgeway what else could be needed.. :smt102

Trucking company is sending a HazMat team also for clean up

[SMOKEandEMBERS]

Maybe qualifications. training and experience, which 2 of the 3 you listed are lacking

[daisy]

I saw it on the 6 oclock WdAM and didn't get the details other than sensitive spill and HASMAT--who are very qualified and closing that area off for seceral hours. I missed the 10 oclock news.

I went to WDAM web site at http://www.wdam.com/ and found that it was 300-500 gallons of hydrochloric acid tha spilled around Bellevue and 2 lanes of traffic were closed for a mile or so. They said it wasn't dangerous unless you got close to it. they hope to have it cleaned up by morning. The driver noticed a cloud of haze coming out of the truck.

What a busy place to have an accident to block lanes. HaSMAT is involved.

[justme]

I was on my wy home from Jackson and passed the trucks carrying the emergency response chems. about 530 this afternoon i wondered what happened when i was on my way home

[nooskye]

It seems I was a little mistaken. The team was put on standby. Seems like you'd want to call out the big dogs for big problems.


What about the HazMat team from Camp Shelby?? The E.O.D. Unit out there receives military training for this type of stuff ... granted if there are pipe bombs in the street ... that's what they'll focus on, but I haven't heard of any explosives in or around the Hattiesburg area ... ????

[R1ZOOM]

It puzzles me why you wouldn't call out one of the best HAZMAT response team in the nation! When their just a few miles down the road. If it is a matter of pride, Please put it aside when there could be a life on the line. Hattiesburg Fire/Rescue is ready, willing and able.

There are HAZMAT techs in Lamar County with tthe proper equipment to get the job done. It has nothing to do with pride.

[Code 3]

It puzzles me why you wouldn't call out one of the best HAZMAT response team in the nation! When their just a few miles down the road. If it is a matter of pride, Please put it aside when there could be a life on the line. Hattiesburg Fire/Rescue is ready, willing and able.

Yes we have a well equipped and trained team, but there are professionals such as U.S Environmental who are in bussiness to clean up the spill. All we are authorized to do is to mitigate the spill until a private company is dispatched by DEQ. Also if you remember, our reginal response team is a state based team for homeland security. That means if I am not mistaken has to have a mission designation before we can move. When the HIRT team was the haz mat team for the area I remember we had mutual aid agreements with the counties and ordinances to recoup costs. I agree we could have probably made a difference assisting Lamar County, but don't try degrading them to try an chest beat our own ego! We have the best fire department in the state (IMO), but lest show it with actions, not agressive egotistical statements.

[58ford]

What do you get when you pour soda ash on Hydro-chloric acid?
Somekind of salt right?
Will the results be hazardous?
Are they gonna clean all that S**t up?

[R1ZOOM]

Yes we have a well equipped and trained team, but there are professionals such as U.S Environmental who are in bussiness to clean up the spill. All we are authorized to do is to mitigate the spill until a private company is dispatched by DEQ. Also if you remember, our reginal response team is a state based team for homeland security. That means if I am not mistaken has to have a mission designation before we can move. When the HIRT team was the haz mat team for the area I remember we had mutual aid agreements with the counties and ordinances to recoup costs. I agree we could have probably made a difference assisting Lamar County, but don't try degrading them to try an chest beat our own ego! We have the best fire department in the state (IMO), but lest show it with actions, not agressive egotistical statements.

I agree completely. I think HFD does a great job, and probably have some more advanced equiptment as part of their regional response status. I am not part of Lamar County's team, so I have no personal dog in the hunt, however, I did detect a bit of inferiority implication by SMOKEANDEMBERS in his post and simply wanted to set the record straight. Help from outside sources/agencies is always a good thing when needed, but a lot of the time other agencies can do just fine by themselves, as in this case. That's the whole reason that the HIRT was established I believe...to handle things smaller agencies aren't able to handle...not to respond to every incident that happens simple because it is labeled as a HAZMAT incident.

[SMOKEandEMBERS]

CODE 3 and R1ZOOM
I see what you are talking about. I am truely sorry for stepping on toes.

[SMOKEandEMBERS]

We just had some of our guys respond to Petal for a LPG leak not more than a week ago.

[R1ZOOM]

CODE 3 and R1ZOOM
I see what you are talking about. I am truely sorry for stepping on toes.

No problem, I'm glad you guys are there when you are needed, thanks for taking the time for the extra training and extra risk you assume associated with your specialty. :smt038

[beggingforrelief]

I was looking at the pictures on the HA photo gallery and saw Fire Chief Reggie Ridgeway spraying water on a responder at the Haz Mat leak. Now I have had some training on decontamination with Hazardous Materials (in the private sector) and I thought that you were required to have protective equipment when working a haz mat scene (like a respirator and protective coveralls)?

I appreciate the work that the volunteers do, but please protect yourselves and your image by using the proper gear.

[R1ZOOM]

I was looking at the pictures on the HA photo gallery and saw Fire Chief Reggie Ridgeway spraying water on a responder at the Haz Mat leak. Now I have had some training on decontamination with Hazardous Materials (in the private sector) and I thought that you were required to have protective equipment when working a haz mat scene (like a respirator and protective coveralls)?

I appreciate the work that the volunteers do, but please protect yourselves and your image by using the proper gear.

He was decontaminating that suit, and I believe he is following the proper procedure. I have limited HAZMAT training, but from my experience it looks like this guy is in a washdown station. I believe that there are different leveles of HAZMAT suit decon depending on the substance the suit'sbeen exposed to, and less harmful substances require a scrubdown and/or washing with fresh water as part of the suit decon. I think Ridgeway is doing exactly as he should here, provided he is outside the immediate exposure area. Maybe someone that knows more about HAZMAT than I do can add more insight.

[Code 3]

Zoom,

You are right in your thoughts, but whenever you decon someone you need to be in the level that the responder is or one level below and that includes respiratory protection (OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120) In all due reguard Reggie was there to help and the hazard was low, but there is still the potential for cross contamination. Remember the decon line is in the warm zone which is classified as an offensive action not defensive.

Again this is not to degrade his actions, as a matter of fact I applaud his dedication, but I have to agree with Beggingforrelief, he needed to have on some level of protection for himself.

[R1ZOOM]

Thanks for the clarification CODE 3. I've only had very limited exposure to HAZMAT training, so my depth of knowledge isn't very deep in it. I prefer to carry a gun over a HAZMAT suit. I'll stick to directing traffic at these type incidents and let you guys handle the mess. :police: