The City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Hazmat Team

Based on FIRESCOPE specifications, the City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department’s Hazardous Materials (Hazmat) Team is a Type 1, WMD-capable team consisting of 28 full-time members, ranging in rank from Firefighter to Battalion Chief. The team operates out of one or more centrally located fire stations within the City of San Diego. They operate two heavy apparatus funded by the City of San Diego and a third heavy apparatus provided by Cal OES. The frontline hazmat apparatus is cross-staffed, while the OES apparatus is staffed on an overtime basis for statewide deployments. The 28-member team is divided into three divisions (A, B, and C), ensuring 24/7 coverage.

To support operational flexibility, the SDFD maintains a 76-member relief pool encompassing all ranks. Combined, the permanent and relief team members bring the total Hazmat Team to 104 personnel.

This number may surge beyond 104 based on budgetary allocations and operational needs.

The City of San Diego Fire-Rescue Department Hazmat Program Manager

The Hazmat Program Manager position is an administrative Battalion Chief who reports to the Deputy Chief of Special Operations and coordinates with the three Operations Hazmat Battalion Chiefs.

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ)

The San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) Hazardous Materials Division is composed of Ten (10) CSTI-certified Hazardous Materials Specialists.

The Hazardous Incident Response Team (HIRT)

The Hazardous Incident Response Team (HIRT) is a collaboration between the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) and the Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ). Together, they respond to, investigate, identify, contain, and mitigate chemical emergencies across the 18 cities and unincorporated areas of San Diego County. SDFD hazmat personnel have primary responsibility for mitigation and control efforts, while DEHQ hazmat personnel focus on health and safety. However, both entities operate as a seamless, integrated resource, cross-trained to provide comprehensive coverage in all areas of response service.

History

Since 1981, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department (SDFD) and the Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ) hazmat teams have been jointly providing emergency response to hazardous materials incidents as the San Diego Hazardous Materials Incident Response Team (HIRT) to all 18 cities and unincorporated areas of the San Diego County . These services are delivered to the San Diego Unified Disaster Council’s (UDC) Member Agencies under a Joint Powers Agreement (JPA) through a binding contract.

Mission

The mission of the Hazardous Incident Response Team (HIRT) is to safeguard the health and safety of all communities in San Diego County through exemplary emergency hazardous materials response and environmental protection. At the core of our operations are dedicated personnel, highly trained and committed to excellence, who engage closely with our community to foster trust and ensure responsiveness in times of need.

Driven by vision and innovation, we continually evolve to deliver the highest quality service. Collaborating seamlessly with our strong partner, the County of San Diego Department of Environmental Health and Quality (DEHQ), we uphold rigorous standards to mitigate risks and safeguard our environment. Central to our mission is the well-being of our personnel. We prioritize their health and safety as they execute vital duties, embodying reliability and leadership in hazardous materials response across San Diego County.

Together, we uphold our commitment to protecting our communities and environment with diligence and dedication.