Senior Airman Nicholas Bouselli, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management journeyman, approaches a metal drum containing the clothes of those directly exposed to a chlorine gas leak Aug. 12, 2015, at Pacific Steel and Recycling in Spokane, Wash. More than 25 people felt the effects of the chemical leak and have since been treated by medical responders. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Sean Campbell)
Story by Airman 1st Class Taylor BourgeousFAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. - Twenty-six Fairchild Airmen assisted Spokane County agencies in responding to a toxic gas leak Aug. 12 in Spokane, Washington, that resulted in the hospitalization of at least four people, two of whom were in critical condition, and at least 17 others who were downwind of the plume.
Thirteen Fairchild fire department personnel were initially called to provide decontamination for people exposed to the gas prior to their transport to the hospital. They were later joined at the incident scene by another dozen FAFB Airmen from the 92nd Medical Group’s bioenvironmental team as well as emergency management personnel from the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron.
The incident began when Pacific Steel and Recycling employees placed an unmarked 55-gallon drum, thought to be roughly 25 years old, into the recycling center’s crushing machine, resulting in the release of what was described as yellowish-green gas that immediately began causing respiratory distress for those present.
Kimo Kuheana, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief, speaks with civilian counterparts Aug. 12, 2015, at Pacific Steel and Recycling in Spokane, Wash. The cause of the chemical leak was an unmarked 55-gallon drum picked up for recycling and put into the recycling center’s crushing machine, releasing a yellow-green gas that caused respiratory distress and hospitalization for those present. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Sean Campbell)
The response to this chemical leak required the coordination, training, experience and manpower of numerous emergency response agencies in the region, including Team Fairchild. Kimo Kuheana, the 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron fire chief, said there was no way one department could handle it all.
“What I like about this is we train nearly every day and, despite any manning issues we or any of the other agencies may have, we’re able to come together as one unified hazardous material team,” Kuheana said. “Incorporating all the different agencies together is huge for our community.”
The Fairchild HAZMAT team trains with the City of Spokane and local Kootenai County HAZMAT teams as the only three of their kind in the region, explained Kuheana. This incident, while unfortunate, provided a real-world situation that brought all their training to realization.
Senior Airman Nicholas Bouselli, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron emergency management journeyman, opens the lid of a metal drum containing the clothes of those directly exposed by the chemicals Aug. 12, 2015, at Pacific Steel and Recycling in Spokane, Wash. Fairchild emergency management Airmen employed a variety of their skills to handle the decontamination operations during a leak of chlorine gas that resulted in the hospitalization of at least four people, two of whom were in critical condition, and at least 17 others who were downwind of the plume. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman Sean Campbell)
Staff Sgt. Bryan Foley, a 92nd CES emergency management member, said it was a shock to get the call because that morning he was teaching an Ability to Survive and Operate course on base to 156 students, then that afternoon he put his skills to the test helping to identify what was then an unknown hazard. It was later determined to be chlorine gas.
“Every agency out here is bringing something different to the fight,” said Foley. “We have Airmen with only a few years of experience to some of the local firefighters who have more than 35 years of experience.”
Lieutenant D.J. Hill, the Fire Station 1 hazardous material coordinator, said the partnership developed over the past nearly two years with Fairchild during monthly training and alert response is critical to both agencies.
“I can’t tell you how much we appreciate Fairchild’s willingness to help us out,” said Hill.
