BY AARON DEAN
Located deep in the barren desert of Utah is a special place for emergency first responders, particularly hazardous materials technicians/specialists: the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground, the site of one of the best chemical and biological agent response training courses available. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funds the Special Programs Division, which offers the five-day Advanced Chemical/Biological Integrated Response Course (ACBIRC). The course expands emergency first responders’ knowledge of chemical and biological agents.
Designed and operated with firefighters in mind, the ACBIRC reinforces the knowledge learned in the classroom with realistic training scenarios that help to develop hands-on skills, which is the bulk of the training. They teach, we learn, and then we do.
OVERVIEW
The ACBIRC provides hazmat emergency first responders with advanced-level hands-on training on chemical and biological agents in classroom and field settings. A significant amount of training focuses on agent identification, recognition, production, detection, monitoring, and sampling and evidence collection. Live-agent training environments include chemical labs, biological labs, and meth labs; converted trailers; outdoor locations; and a full-scale simulated town (Mustang Village), complete with a hotel, a post office, a diner, a warehouse, and office buildings. Students must apply chemical and biological response techniques learned in the classroom and labs during these practical scenario exercises.
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| (1) A team performs air monitoring using a photoionization detector. before making entry into a structure. (Photos courtesy of Dugway Proving Ground, by Mario Sandoval, Optical Data.) |
Since the course is designed for technician or higher level hazardous materials emergency first responders, students are assumed to have preexisting hazmat training and skills to ensure comprehension. They must be proficient in hazmat scene team operations and qualified to make a Level-A entry. Training focuses on advanced-level instruction in the chemical and biological disciplines, with which most firefighters may not be familiar.
To attend, the participant must be certified at the hazardous materials technician level or higher. However, it is also recommended that the student first complete the U.S. Department of Homeland Security course PER-222, Public Safety WMD/Response—Sampling Techniques and Guidelines. This is a 24-hour course taught through local delivery and meets Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 29 CFR 1910.120(q) guidelines for hazmat first responders at a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) incident in a manner consistent with Federal Bureau of Investigation-recommended procedures for response and sampling.
The five full days of training cover classroom, laboratory, and field exercise sessions, offering many opportunities to use equipment that may not be available at the participants’ home departments. The course is free; FEMA funds all major costs, including airfare, lodging, and most meals. At the end of the course, students receive a modest reimbursement for incidental expenses. The cost for each student is estimated to be approximately $6,000. It is difficult to determine the exact cost because of airfare and other variable costs. This is a well-operated, fun place to learn.
On completion, the student should be able to do the following:
- perform the latest techniques of surveying, forensic sampling, and packaging in a chemically or biologically contaminated environment;
- confidently apply state-of-the-art detection and collection procedures in contaminated environments based on experience with live-agent strategies and solutions practiced in the labs; and
- respond to a variety of incident scenarios in various hot, warm, and cold zones based on integrated environment field-training exercises.
Knowing and recognizing the differences among a chemical, biological, and methamphetamine laboratory could prove useful on your next alarm.
COURSE CONTENT
WMDs are now commonplace in our vocabulary. Toxicology, microbiology, chemistry, and biology are all sciences with which today’s first responder should have some experience and understanding. The physics of fire has now been supplemented with other sciences for the discerning firefighter/hazmat emergency first responder. World events have further expanded our duties as firefighters.
ACBIRC is not a hazmat chemistry course, nor is it a hazmat conference. If you would like to develop your hazmat chemistry skills, apply to the National Fire Academy’s two-week resident course R-233, Chemistry for Emergency Response, or R-247, Advanced Life Support for Hazardous Materials Response. ACBIRC deals with chemical agents such as VX, mustard, and lewisite and biological agents such as Bacillus anthracis, Yersinia pestis, and ricin.
One of the strengths of ACBIRC is that it teaches using the tools we would use in our own departments, yet it also covers tools we may not see in the field. Other detection technologies thoroughly discussed include surface acoustic wave (SAW) detectors, infrared spectroscopy (IR), and multigas detectors. Do you know the strengths, weaknesses, and limitations of ion mobility spectrometry and flame spectrophotometry? At the conclusion of ACBIRC, you should.
Safety is paramount at Dugway. Although the humor is light and the learning environment is enjoyable, the high standard for safe practices and procedures is never lowered. Grooming standards are similar to those of fire departments because respiratory protection is used. Each student must complete and pass a fit test for mask seal and receives safety glasses and gloves in addition to specific lab personal protective equipment (PPE). For instance, at the completion of one specific laboratory exercise, students are required to doff the scrubs used in the class and shower before donning civilian clothing.
It is immediately apparent from Day One that the instructors at Dugway are top notch. They are knowledgeable, professional, thorough, safe, and fun. The 3:1 student/teacher ratio and limited class size ensure an excellent learning atmosphere.
SCHEDULE
Students arrive on a Sunday in Salt Lake City, Utah, where they stay at a hotel about 20 minutes from the airport. On the first day (Monday), students take an eight-hour class at the hotel that includes a survey and a pretest to determine their baseline knowledge. The class takes place in a large hotel meeting room. This is the most time you will be in a typical classroom setting. It is necessary and informative, covering objectives, safety, and useful learning materials. After class, students are assigned to teams designated by color and receive color-coordinated T-shirts for quick team member identification. Students then board a bus and travel about two hours to the U.S. Army’s Dugway Proving Ground.
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| (2) During a Level A entry into a possible methamphetmine lab, a team member uses a device to detect potential nerve or blister agents. |
Tuesday and Wednesday are comprised of round-robin training, with each team attending each module. Participants board commuter vans that take them to various training locations at Dugway. Training covers detectors, chemical synthesis demonstration/recognition/production, biological safety Level-2 lab, a biological aerosol stimulant environmental chamber exercise, a methamphetamine lab response safety and mitigation, and much more.
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| (3) A student cultures Bacillus anthracis (anthrax). |
On Thursday, students demonstrate their knowledge at Mustang Village by applying the techniques learned in a series of real-life scenarios. At the end of the day, participants return to Salt Lake City. If you would like to enjoy a night in Salt Lake City, this is the night for it. A cab ride will cost about $20 to downtown.
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| (4) A student collects a liquid sample while in Level B personal protective equipment. |
The weeklong training concludes on Friday with a half-day classroom session with breakfast and the course review test, which demonstrates what students have learned during the week. In addition, participants complete a critique, and there is an informal graduation. Students are bused back to the Salt Lake City airport for departure around noon.
PRACTICAL POINTERS
You will arrive in Salt Lake City on a Sunday and take a shuttle to the hotel, which is about 20 minutes from the airport. Dinner the first night is limited to one of two restaurants within walking distance, for which you will pay out of pocket. At the end of the course, you will receive a small reimbursement check for these and other incidentals at the end of class prior to departure.
Since you will receive several T-shirts to wear for the course, you should not overpack. This is mostly a hands-on course, and FEMA provides all the necessary PPE. Standard off-duty firefighter travel clothing is acceptable (blue jeans, comfortable closed-toe shoes, and so forth). Remember, you are in the desert. It gets cold at night, and it may be very hot during the day, depending on the time of year.
Additionally, since Dugway is a part of the military and a government-funded facility, security is tight and taken very seriously. Applicants must pass a background check prior to acceptance into the ACBIRC. Students must keep their security documents in their possession at all times.
Cell phone service is extremely limited. This is no joke. After going through the security checkpoint at the Dugway main entrance, service stops, except for AT&T. If your carrier offers roaming, service still is nonexistent, except for AT&T. However, landlines are available in rooms.
The lodge at Dugway does have Internet service should you decide to bring your laptop computer. There are a limited number of connection cables. Bring a short piece of Category 5 (cat 5) cable with you to connect from your laptop to the outlet. A washing machine and dryer are also available. Bring your own soap and quarters.
Dugway has a large gymnasium that includes an excellent workout facility with free weights, cardio, and other exercise equipment. Also in this small community of military and civilian people, there is a bowling alley, a sandwich shop, a grocery store, a convenience store, and a pub.
As stated previously, you are expected to enjoy yourself while at Dugway. It makes for a good learning environment. Remember, you are representing your department, yourself, and the fire service, so act appropriately. This means even when driving the issued commuter vans for transportation between scenario locations; the base law enforcement officers will ticket you, so don’t speed. A student did get a speeding ticket while driving a Dugway van when I attended. There are reports of other stupid things we firefighters have done over the years. Don’t add to it when you attend. This is excellent training. Let’s keep it going.
It is difficult to fully provide you with all the subject matter covered in this five-day course. There is much to see, learn, and do. Just as in all fire training, we will meet brothers/sisters within the fire service from around the nation. The national networking while at Dugway is an added bonus. We all have similar challenges back home. Answers to some of those challenges may come home with you from your experience at Dugway.
Visit the ACBIRC Web site at www.acbirc.net, e-mail at info@acbirc.net, or call (435) 849-5878. Let personnel know if you are contacting them because you read this article; they keep statistics.
This course provides state-of-the-art equipment and the most up-to-date training available in the chemical and biological arena. The ACBIRC team is taking the lead on detection and sampling. This is a must-take course for the serious hazmat emergency first responder.
AARON DEAN is a firefighter/paramedic and hazmat specialist for the Sacramento City (CA) Fire Department. He joined the department in 2001 and began his career as a volunteer firefighter in 1990. He has a master of science degree in emergency services administration from California State University-Long Beach and received his paramedic training from the Stanford Prehospital Care Program in 1994.
