Central NH HazMat Team

The Central NH Hazmat Team was established in 1995 by the Capital Area Mutual Aid Fire Compact, originally operating as the Capital Area Hazmat Team. For its first nine years, the team provided hazardous materials response services throughout the Capital Region.

In 2006, the Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid Association entered into a joint venture with the Capital Area Mutual Aid Fire Compact to expand hazardous materials response capabilities across both mutual aid organizations. As part of this partnership, the team was renamed the Central NH Hazmat Team, a name it continues to proudly carry today.

 

The Central NH Hazmat Team provides hazardous materials response coverage to 57 communities across approximately 2,500 square miles in central New Hampshire. Stretching from the State Capital of Concord to the heavily visited Lakes Region, the team's service area encompasses a diverse mix of urban centers, rural communities, commercial districts, and major tourist destinations. This wide-ranging response area presents a variety of hazardous materials risks and emergency response challenges.

Several major interstate highways—including I-393, I-93, and I-89—traverse the region, carrying significant volumes of hazardous materials as part of interstate commerce. In addition, an extensive network of state and local highways supports the daily transportation of hazardous materials to businesses, industries, and municipalities throughout the coverage area, requiring the team to maintain a high level of preparedness for incidents involving a broad range of hazardous substances.

All team members who are Technician Level meet the requirements of NFPA 472/1072 Hazardous Materials Technician training, completing an intensive certification program followed by continuing education and hands-on training annually. This ongoing commitment ensures team members maintain the knowledge and skills necessary to respond to an ever-changing hazardous materials environment. Many members have served on the team for years, bringing valuable experience and leadership to every response.

The Central NH Hazmat Team responds at the request of the local Incident Commander to assist with hazardous materials emergencies of any size or complexity. Support may range from providing technical guidance and telephone consultation to deploying a full team response for high-risk incidents requiring Level A chemical protective suits and specialized mitigation operations.

To provide the highest level of service, the team works closely with numerous local, state, and federal partners, including the New Hampshire State Police Bomb Squad, the New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, the New Hampshire Fire Marshal's Office, the New Hampshire National Guard 12th Civil Support Team, and other public safety and emergency management agencies. These partnerships enhance regional preparedness and ensure access to additional expertise and resources during complex incidents.

The team maintains a comprehensive cache of specialized equipment, including advanced air monitoring instruments, chemical identification systems, radiation detection equipment, personal protective equipment, decontamination systems, and technical response tools. These capabilities enable the team to safely identify, monitor, and mitigate incidents involving virtually any hazardous material, including chemical releases, toxic industrial materials, and radiological emergencies.