The IAFF will be able to train nearly 1,700 additional fire fighters in hazardous material response thanks to new federal grant funding.
In an announcement on Monday, the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHSMA) awarded the IAFF a nearly $2 million grant to boost its HazMat training programs.
“Fire fighters are often first on the scene of hazardous material emergencies across the country,” General President Edward Kelly said. “Proper training allows our fire fighters to better protect their communities by learning how to safely minimize and eliminate HazMat exposures.”
The funding increase is part of a wide-ranging DOT and PHMSA initiative to reduce hazardous material exposures in the United States. More than $40 million in new grants are being awarded to states, tribes, non-profits, and unions to improve hazardous materials safety programs and better support first responders.
Proper training allows our fire fighters to better protect their communities by learning how to safely minimize and eliminate HazMat exposures.
IAFF General President Edward A. Kelly
The IAFF provides hands-on HazMat response training through its participation in the DOT’s Supplemental Public Sector Training grant program, which allowed the department to train about 350 fire fighters in 2023. However, limited funding has made keeping up with member demand difficult.
The funding increase announced this week will significantly expand the IAFF’s existing HazMat training programs, allowing more than 2,000 fire fighters to receive hands-on HazMat response training from the IAFF.
“Securing this funding is a monumental step forward in our mission to ensure that every firefighter in the United States is fully equipped to handle the complex and dangerous situations they may encounter, especially when it comes to hazardous materials incidents,” said Dr. Joshua Smith, the IAFF’s Assistant to the General President of Training, Education, and Grants. “This funding will allow us to reach thousands of firefighters, providing them with cutting-edge training that directly enhances their ability to protect their communities.”
The funding will also help standardize HazMat response protocols across city, county, and state lines. This is especially important during large-scale accidents where multiple departments respond to the same incident.
This funding will allow us to reach thousands of firefighters, providing them with cutting-edge training that directly enhances their ability to protect their communities.
Dr. Joshua Smith, Assistant to the General President for Training, Education, And Grants
DOT believes the new funding will help achieve its goal of increasing the number of HazMat-trained fire fighters in the U.S. by nearly 200%.
“The IAFF appreciates the DOT’s commitment to increasing the number of HazMat-trained fire fighters, and the administration’s continued investment in training that saves lives,” said Kelly.
Currently, the IAFF’s HazMat training program offers 10 different courses intended to educate and prepare fire fighters, who are often called to respond to emergencies involving hazardous materials. All training courses are taught by highly trained instructors who bring valuable on-the-job experience to the classroom.
To learn more about IAFF Hazmat training programs, click here.
