The Oregon Office of State Fire Marshal, in coordination with its Oregon fire service partners, is hosting a Regional Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team (RHMERT) Media Field Day in Eugene on May 28.
Regional Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team HM02 Eugene
Eugene/Springfield Fire
1705 W 2nd Ave., Eugene, Oregon 97402
9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
A second event will follow on June 4, in Medford:
Regional Hazardous Materials Emergency Response Team HM08 Southern Oregon
Medford Fire-Rescue - Station #4
2208 Table Rock Road, Medford, Oregon 97501
9 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
All local media are invited to attend the events. Each event will begin at the set time above with a short presentation to provide media outlets, agency public information officers, and elected officials an overview of Oregon’s statewide RHMERT program, an understanding of HazMat response terminology, and information about the local HazMat Team response services.
Tours and photo opportunities will be available of the HazMat response vehicle and equipment following each presentation.
Regional teams respond to hazardous materials emergency incidents that exceed the resources of local jurisdictions. There are 13 teams across Oregon. They are a technical resource for local incident commanders.
Team members receive 160 hours of specialized training to the technician level and are equipped to provide different levels of response. Teams are prepared for response to petrochemical highway incidents, as well as supporting response partners at biological, radiological, and explosive incidents. The teams provide outreach training to local responders and industry to ensure communities are prepared to respond to a hazardous materials incident and create safer communities.
For more information on the RHMERT program, go to: https://www.oregon.gov/osp/programs/sfm/Pages/Regional-Response-Teams.aspx. See the attached fact sheet for additional information.
Please join us as the RHMERT program celebrates 30 years of service to Oregon, protecting life and the environment by responding to chemical emergencies and minimizing the dangers associated with them.
Register here to RSVP: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/media-field-day-and-open-house-tickets-59741241662.
For media inquiries, please contact: Rudy Owens, Public Affairs Specialist; Rudy.Owens@osp.oregon.gov; tel: 503.934.8217; cell: 971.332.0052.