The Medford Fire Department recently led regional training to strengthen preparedness for hazardous material incidents. According to the City of Medford release, the department’s Regional HazMat 08 Team hosted specialized exercises last week to improve local emergency crews’ response skills.
The training took place at Station 14, where firefighters from Medford Fire Department, Fire District 3, Fire District 5, Ashland Fire & Rescue, and Jacksonville Fire Department practiced how to identify and manage hazardous materials safely. Participants took part in a “skills rodeo,” applying their training in realistic scenarios such as victim rescues from hazmat spills and decontamination procedures for civilians and emergency personnel, as per the same release.
The Regional HazMat 08 Team is one of 12 Regional Hazardous Material Emergency Response Teams overseen by the Oregon State Fire Marshal. Based in Medford, the team serves Josephine, Jackson, Klamath, and parts of Lake County. In addition to responding to emergencies, it provides outreach and training to support local responders and industries.
The City of Medford emphasized that this ongoing training is essential to ensure first responders and communities are well-prepared for potential hazardous material incidents.
