Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Response Team

06/18/2026

This week, personnel from the Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Response Team (DCHMRT) are attending the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) Hazardous Materials Response Teams Conference in Baltimore, Maryland.

This premier conference brings together instructors, responders, and public safety professionals from across the United States and around the world to share knowledge, best practices, and emerging trends impacting hazardous materials and emergency response operations.

This year, DCHMRT was honored to receive a scholarship from US HEAT, allowing two of our members to attend the conference with all expenses paid. We are extremely proud to have been selected as recipients of this opportunity, which provides valuable education and networking with some of the most experienced professionals in the field. DCHMRT is the first recipients of this valuable scholarship.

Investing in training and professional development ensures our team remains prepared to protect the communities we serve.

Interested in learning more about the US HEAT Scholarship Program? Visit www.us-heat.org/home.

06/15/2026

💛 DCHMRT Earns Gold Helmet Recognition 💛

The Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Response Team is proud to be recognized as a Gold Helmet Department for having many of our responders enrolled in the National Firefighter Registry (NFR) for Cancer.

The National Firefighter Registry is the largest effort ever undertaken to better understand and reduce cancer among U.S. firefighters and emergency responders. By participating in this important initiative, our members are helping researchers identify occupational cancer risks and improve the health and safety of current and future generations of responders.

Cancer remains one of the leading health risks facing the fire service and emergency response community. We are proud of the commitment our team members have made to support this groundbreaking research and contribute to a safer future for all.

If you are a current or retired firefighter, we encourage you to enroll in the National Firefighter Registry and be part of this important effort to better understand and reduce cancer risks within the fire service.

Thank you to our responders for their dedication both on and off the incident scene.



NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
CDC
Dauphin County, PA
Dauphin County Department of Public Safety

06/11/2026

🚒🇺🇸 DCHMRT Supports Tunnel to Towers 🇺🇸🚒

The members of the Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Response Team are proud to support the upcoming Tunnel to Towers 5K Run & Walk hosted by Hummelstown Borough on Saturday, August 22, 2026.

As first responders, we understand the sacrifices made by those who serve their communities and our nation. This event provides an opportunity to honor the memory of FDNY Firefighter Stephen Siller, remember the heroes of September 11, 2001, and support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation’s ongoing mission to assist Gold Star families, fallen first responder families, injured veterans, and injured first responders.

We encourage our team members, partner agencies, families, and supporters to consider participating in this meaningful event as a runner, walker, volunteer, or donor.

Together, we can honor the fallen, support the living, and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten.

Learn more and register at:
https://runwalkhummelstown.t2t.org/

06/10/2026

06/09/2026

🤖 From Hazardous Response to Robotics Education 🚀

Today, The Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Response Team (DCHMRT) donated our retired Andros F6-FX Hazardous-Duty Robot to the Dauphin County Technical School Robotics Club.

After nearly 30 of having it in our possession and being taken out of service in 2018, this faithful “droid” has begun a new mission. Much like a certain famous galaxy far, far away, this robot has seen its share of adventures and helped support hazardous materials, law enforcement and emergency services responses throughout the region. ⭐🤖

The instructors picked up the robot today at Station 77, where it will now serve as a hands-on learning platform for future engineers and robotics enthusiasts. The team will have the opportunity to study older robotic technologies, explore its design, and learn from a piece of emergency response history.

Prior to the donation, all proprietary components were removed to ensure the robot could be safely repurposed for educational use.

We are proud to support the Dauphin County Technical School Robotics Program and are thrilled that this longtime member of our team has found a new home rather than being scrapped. We look forward to seeing the next generation of innovators from the region learn from this historic piece of equipment.

May the force be with you, future robotics engineers! 🌟🔧🤖

Dauphin County, PA
Dauphin County Department of Public Safety
Dauphin County Technical School
Central Dauphin School District
Derry Township School District
Halifax Area School District
Lower Dauphin School District
Middletown Area School Dist
Millersburg Area School District
Steelton-Highspire School District
Susquehanna Township School District
Upper Dauphin School District

06/06/2026

06/05/2026

Alternative Vehicle Response Equipment Added to DCHMRT

As the number of lithium-ion battery incidents continues to increase, the Dauphin County Hazardous Materials Response Team (DCHMRT) is committed to providing our first responder agencies with the tools, training, and resources needed to safely manage these unique emergencies.

Thanks to funding provided through the PACE-O-Matic Grant Program, DCHMRT has invested in specialized battery emergency response equipment designed to assist our partner agencies during lithium-ion battery incidents. These resources will enhance responder safety and improve our ability to mitigate hazards associated with alternative fuel and battery-powered vehicles.

For more than a year, DCHMRT has been working to develop effective response tactics, guidance, and training opportunities for the first responder community as lithium-ion battery technology becomes more common throughout our region.

Not pictured, DCHMRT also has CellBlock battery response kits on order as we utilized one kit, days after receiving it on a response. These kits will allow DCHMRT members to safely overpack damaged batteries for transportation and recycling, providing another important tool in managing battery-related emergencies.

DCHMRT remains committed to supporting our emergency response partners through innovation, preparedness, and specialized hazardous materials response capabilities.


-o-matic
Pennsylvania Skill

06/04/2026

Multiple Hazardous Materials Responses Highlight Regional Teamwork

Over the last two days, DO77 assisted multiple departments with incidents along Interstate 81 and Route 230.

These incidents brought together numerous emergency response organizations to manage and mitigate releases involving fuel, fertilizer, and concrete curing solutions on area roadways. Through close coordination, notifications were made to DEP, PennDOT, and law enforcement agencies to ensure a safe and effective response.

These incidents demonstrate the importance of teamwork, communication, and strong partnerships between local, county, state, and private-sector response organizations. Working together, responders were able to quickly assess hazards, protect the public, and minimize impacts to the environment and transportation infrastructure.

Thank you to all agencies involved for their professionalism and commitment to public safety.

Susquehanna Township
Progress Fire 32
Lower Swatara Fire Department

05/30/2026

🚨 Joint Hazard Assessment Team (JHAT) Training Strengthens Regional Preparedness 🚨

Over the past two days, Hazardous Materials Response Teams, Law Enforcement Agencies, and Fire-EMS personnel from across South Central Pennsylvania participated in a Joint Hazard Assessment Team (JHAT) course presented by Safeware and Hazard3.

The Joint Hazard Assessment Team (JHAT) concept is designed to provide a coordinated approach for identifying, assessing, and managing potential hazardous materials threats and suspicious incidents, particularly during large-scale events and complex emergencies.

Day one focused on classroom instruction, where participants reviewed real-world hazardous materials incidents from around the globe, examined lessons learned, and discussed best practices for hazard assessment and responder safety.

On day two, participants moved to the field at FNB Field on City Island, home of the Harrisburg Senators. Teams conducted hands-on scene assessments, reviewed specialized equipment, and worked through realistic scenarios designed to strengthen coordination and decision-making during special events and emergency incidents.

This valuable training was supported and funded through the South Central Task Force and the FEMA Homeland Security Grant Program.

A special thank you to the Harrisburg Senators organization for providing an outstanding venue and exceptional hospitality throughout the training.

We also extend our sincere appreciation to the instructors from Safeware and Hazard3 for sharing their expertise and making this training a success. Their knowledge and real-world experience provided participants with valuable tools and insights that will enhance regional preparedness and public safety.

Dauphin County Department of Public Safety
Dauphin County, PA
Lebanon County Special Operations Station 50
Cumberland County, PA
County Of York Hazmat Team
Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Fire
Harrisburg Senators
Washington Nationals
Derry Township
Lower Paxton Police Station
Hazard3
Safeware
Harrisburg City Police Department

05/29/2026

DCHMRT Members Attend LPG Emergency Response Training in Lebanon County DPS.

On Thursday Evening, traveled to Lebanon County to participate in specialized LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) training hosted by Energy Transfer and Hilco Transport.

The training provided an in-depth overview of propane and butane products, terminal operations, tank car and cargo tank design, regulatory compliance, and emergency response considerations involving LPG incidents.

The participants also had the opportunity to learn directly from industry experts and gain valuable insight into transportation and terminal operations.

This continuous training is critical to maintaining readiness for hazardous materials incidents throughout Dauphin County and the surrounding region. The information shared during this program was extremely beneficial, and our team members gained valuable knowledge that will enhance our response capabilities and improve safety for both responders and the communities we serve.

Thank you to Lebanon County Special Operations Station 50, Energy Transfer, Hilco Transport, and the instructors for providing an outstanding training opportunity and for their continued commitment to responder education and preparedness.

Dauphin County Department of Public Safety
Dauphin County, PA