The Chandler Fire Department's Special Operations Teams, based at Fire Station 3, includes Hazardous Materials and a Technical Rescue units. Even though the CFD Special Operations Teams respond to approximately only one percent of our department's total call volume, these call types bring a high degree of risk and publicity. The City of Chandler Fire Department protects numerous businesses and industries that use, store or transport hazardous materials in their everyday processes. Many of these same industries have confined spaces on their campuses.

For more information on Chandler Special Operations Teams, call 480.782.2120 or e-mail.

Chandler's Hazardous Materials Team (HMT) is staffed with five HMT personnel, but can be constant staffed to a minimum of three HMT personnel each day. For approximately 90 percent of the time, there are four HMT personnel staffed. These firefighters also staff an ALS engine company, E-283. A hazardous materials support truck, HM-283, carries all the required equipment including level A-C personal protective equipment PPE, decontamination equipment, spill and leak kits, foams, research materials and numerous instruments for detection. For a hazardous materials response, the engine and support truck respond together. CFD is part of a regional automatic aid system that trains together weekly and responds together. Our goal is to have all L-283 personnel trained as HMT technicians giving us more coverage and manpower if needed.

Our Technical Rescue Team (TRT) is also staffed with five TRT personnel, but can be constant staffed to a minimum of three TRT personnel each day. For approximately 90 percent of the time, there are four HMT personnel staffed. These personnel also staff an ALS ladder truck, L-283. A technical rescue support truck, S-283 carries all the required equipment to support rope rescue (steep, high and low angle), trench rescue, confined space rescue, swift water rescue, tree rescue and structural shoring. For a technical rescue response, the support truck can respond with all crewmembers on board or the crew can split and respond with the ladder truck as well. We are part of a regional automatic aid system that trains together weekly and responds together. Our goal is to have all E-283 personnel trained as TRT technicians giving us more coverage and manpower if needed.

Our Special Operations Team can also respond in a Grant funded apparatus called Squad 283 (SQ-283) to give aid to a statewide response plan call a Rapid Response Team. Six of our HMT/TRT personnel would respond with SQ-283 anywhere in the state if needed to provide technical expertise to the community in need.