Some planned training will make moms and grandmas of firefighters and EMTs happy.

 

Some of the training is a result of learning and examining the response to the East Palestine train disaster.

 

When First Responders from 68 departments from Ohio and Pennsylvania rushed to the toxic train derailment in East Palestine many departments didn't have the needed training or equipment.

 

Dr Candace McDonald Deputy CEO of the National Volunteer Fire Council says the derailment exposed questions about rail safety and a need for additional specialized training.

 

"Hazmat training is a need for the volunteer fire service, so we received a grant from the Department of Transportation FEMSA to offer a Hazmat trainer course for volunteer fire departments all across the country," said McDonald.

 

That grant will allow the Mahoning's EMA director Chief Andy Frost, III to bring the training courses to departments in Mahoning County and our region in October. 

 

"Again that's a free tool that we are providing for the fire service so they will be able to come get the training, take that back to their departments, and train their own people," McDonald added.

 

Chief of the Western Reserve Joint Fire District David Comstock testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee about the need to know the identity of the hazardous chemicals as soon as possible.

 

"We respond to chemical incidents or any incident, we need to have as much as we can. In East Palestine that was really an issue. They did not know what type of chemicals they were dealing with" David Comstock, Chief of Western Reserve Joint Fire District said.

 

 

Comstock told the Senate committee firefighters and the rail industry need to have a seat at the table to determine what training is needed. He also advocated for equipment needed by volunteer departments. 

 

"A second set of turn-out gear, and enough SCBA, the air packs that permit us to breathe in hazardous conditions. We also need to make sure we have radios that can communicate with each other. That was a problem we ran into at the derailment in East Palestine," Comstock emphasized.

 

On May 2, 2023, the Senate passed the Fire Grants and Safety Act to fund federal programs that would help departments buy safety equipment, address staffing needs and develop fire training programs. 

 

House members have yet to pass it.

 

The J-D Vance - Sherrod Brown Bipartisan rail safety act that increases safety requirements for rail lines will go to the full Senate for a vote next.

 

There are almost 70,000 Volunteer Firefighter EMTs in Ohio, that save their communities close to 70 billion dollars a year.

 

"Any fire chief can go to the National Volunteer Fire Council and NVFC.org and get information about Hazmat, get information on all kinds of different training, and recruitment because we know that's an issue, said Dr. McDonald.