DeKalb Fire Department to conduct hazmat drill Friday

DeKALB – The DeKalb Fire Department will conduct a hazardous materials response drill Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The training is in conjunction with the Mutual Aid Box Alarm System Division 6 and will take place at the DeKalb Water Treatment Facility and Water Tower on West Dresser Road across the street from Station 3, 950 W. Dresser Road, according to a news release from the fire department.

MABAS provides emergency rapid response and sustained operations when a region is affected by an event caused by man-made, technological or environmental threats.

“[The training scenario] is going to be surrounding a leaking chlorine tank,” said Fire Chief Eric Hicks, who added the training is part of a regularly scheduled quarterly drill involving the Division 6 team, which is composed of DeKalb firefighters and those from surrounding municipalities.

Hicks said the fire department wants to make the community aware of the training beforehand, in order to curb any concern when firefighters are spotted in full Level A set-up, meaning they will be wearing fully encapsulated hazmat suits.

“We don’t want people to be freaked out, this is just a training drill,” Hicks said.

About 25 people are expected to be on the scene, including the Division 6 team and other fire department personnel.