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Behind the scenes with MFD's hazmat team
A Milwaukee County Jail inmate sent a suspicious substance to the district attorney, sparking a hazmat scare. FOX6 went behind the scenes with the team.
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee County Jail inmate sent a suspicious white substance – since determined to be sugar – to the district attorney, sparking a hazmat scare on Monday. FOX6 News went behind the scenes with the team that investigates such scares and keeps you safe.
Hazmat response
On Monday, members of the Milwaukee Fire Department's Hazardous Materials Team donned head-to-toe protection and air tanks as they entered the Milwaukee County Safety Building.
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FOX6's Jason Calvi: "It could be a poison. It could be something that could kill you."
Lt. Chad Shepardson: "That’s true, that’s very accurate, but that’s why we gather information. That’s why we eliminate what it’s not and then help mitigate as best we can. That’s why what we refer to as recon is very important, because we’re trying to gather as much information before we actually dispatch to the scene, so then we’re more well-prepared and can give viable information to on-scene crews as far as how to proceed, or isolate, protect and ensure public safety."
The MFD hazmat team used a meter on Monday that analyzed the substance against a bank of tens of thousands of known substances to see if the product or material is dangerous. It tests for biological or radiological dangers, as well as poison, fentanyl and more.
Lt. Chad Shepardson
"It’s a much more methodical, slower-paced operation, because we’re not only ensuring public safety, but we have to ensure our own safety, making sure we’re taking the proper steps to ensure everyone’s safety," said Shepardson.
"The big thing is you don’t know until you know. And the tests specifically eliminate known things. So even if it’s something after testing that we’re not sure of, we at least can eliminate any imminent danger, any imminent threats.
The hazmat team also responds to things like fuel leaks and chemical spills.
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Hazmat training
The MFD hazmat team is stationed at Firehouse 33 on the city's west side.
Shepardson has served with MFD's hazmat unit for two years. Five members are stationed each day. Eighty members are part of the team and will be called in for big responses.
To be certified as a hazmat tech, firefighters need to complete an 80-hour course that includes hands-on training. The whole team also trains together once a month, and they do daily checks of equipment.
MFD hazmat team responds to Milwaukee County Safety Building
Recent hazmat scares
In four recent scares, MFD's hazmat team has tested the items in question and determined they were not dangerous:
- Nov. 1: Powder in a letter at the U.S. Post Office on St. Paul Avenue.
- Nov. 8: Liquid in an envelope sent to the Milwaukee Election Commission.
- Nov. 19: Household acids found at Maitland Park.
- Dec. 23: Powder sent to the district attorney's office.