The first Haz-Mat Emergency Response Workshop was held in
Sacramento back in 1989. Organizers say the September
11th terror attacks broadened the focus from just
hazardous materials.
"That has kind of bled into WMD, weapons of mass destruction
training as well."
Jan Dunbar with the Sacramento Fire Department says one new
computer program attendees will be learning about this year makes
it easier to calculate airborne plumes after a chemical
spill."
"So that emergency workers can calculate downwind how large an
area might have to be evacuated."
Nearly a hundred vendors will also be at the conference
displaying their products…like electronic devices that can detect
virtually any kind of hazardous material and the latest in
protective clothing.
"It is just incredible how the garment industry has caught up
and provided the fire and haz-mat people now with chem-suits that
almost are impervious to anything."
The four-day conference continues at the Raddison Hotel
through Friday.