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National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center announces focus groups & regional incident survey team recruitment

The National Hazardous Materials Fusion Center, a partnership between the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the Department of Transportation’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), is conducting focus groups between now and the end of November.
In keeping with the motto “Responders Helping Responders,” the Hazmat Fusion Center is enlisting the valuable expertise of those with hazmat experience to participate in focus groups:

  • Oct. 23 in Atlanta
  • Oct. 28 in Chicago
  • Nov. 13 in Newark
  • Nov. 19 in Seattle

The purpose of these focus groups is to elicit lessons learned, advice and feedback, which will help the Fusion Center develop a secure, web-based portal to serve as a data and information network for hazmat teams; first responders; federal, state and local agencies; and the private sector.
The portal will provide a communication and information network for these groups and will help enhance hazmat responder safety and improve decision-making for preventing and mitigating hazmat incidents.
Those interested in participating in one of the focus groups should contact Lauren Hill at lhill@iafc.org or 703-896-4823.
RIST Recruitment
Another key component of the project is the Regional Incident Survey Teams (RIST). The RIST mission is to gather information, which will be analyzed to help develop and disseminate best practices; lessons learned and improved curricula and training materials for the hazmat response community.
Teams have already been established in PHMSA’s southwest and western regions. Teams are being assembled now in the central, eastern and southern regions. RISTs are composed of five to seven members representing expertise in various response disciplines. Once assembled and trained, the teams will be available upon request to respond to significant hazmat incidents and begin the information and data-collection phase of the project.
Those who want to have a hand in improving of safety and response in the hazardous materials community can sign up at www.iafc.org/hazmatfusion > About RISTs. Applications are currently being accepted for teams in PHMSA’s central, eastern and southern regions.

  • Applications for RIST leader positions are due by Nov. 7, 2008.
  • Applications for RIST member positions are due by Dec. 5, 2008.
  • Position descriptions and applications for both are available online at www.iafc.org/hazmatfusion > About RISTs.

For additional information about this groundbreaking project or to participate with the Fusion Center’s RIST or data subcommittees, visit www.iafc.org/hazmatfusion. Contact Fusion Center staff with any questions or to become involved in making the center a success: