Firefighters at West, Tex., fertilizer explosion were not trained to fight it; no states mandate it

Firefighters at the West, Tex., fertilizer explosion were not prepared for the hazards they were facing, according to testimony at a congressional hearing by Rafael Moure-Eraso, chairman of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board, Russ Quinn reports for DTN The Progressive Farmer. "Records have shown that West Fertilizer did apprise local emergency officials that dangerous chemicals and fertilizers were stored at the site, but no training or preparation of firefighters took place." (Photo by Longleaf Alliance, School of Forestry and Wildlife Services, Auburn University)

Kimberly Quiros, director of communications for the National Volunteer Fire Council, said there is no nationwide, mandatory training for volunteer firefighters to fight fertilizer-based fires, Quinn reports. She said some states may offer optional training, but she was not aware of any state mandated fertilizer fire training. Quiros said, "It is up to the states for specialized training like fighting fertilizer fires. And not only does training vary from state to state, but also community to community within a state depending on what is in their areas." 

Galen Barrett, a fire service training coordinator for Iowa Western Community College in Council Bluffs, said Iowa is one of many Midwest states that do not require volunteer firefighters to take any specialized training to fight fertilizer fires. Bob Spratt, manager of Le Roy Fertilizer in Le Roy, Ill., said Illinois rural firefighters are trained for awareness of fertilizer fires, but advanced training is optional. (Read more)