Hazmat Fire Hazardous Team Spill Firefighters People Dangerous

"Hazardous materials" (HAZMAT) are any substances that can harm people and the environment. They can be "chemical" (made from dangerous chemicals), "biological" (dangerous bacteria or viruses), "corrosive" (very acidic, damaging skin and surfaces), highly "flammable" (burning easily), or even "radioactive" (sending out dangerous radiation). HAZMAT requires special "handling" (the way something is transported and treated) by trained HAZMAT teams.

There are legal "restrictions" (limitations) on who can create, transport, sell, and buy hazardous materials, but "nevertheless" (even thought that is true) accidents happen. In the United States, when there is a HAZMAT "spill" (when something accidentally falls out of its container), a HAZMAT team is "called to the scene" (asked to come to the place where something has happened). Most U.S. fire departments have at least one HAZMAT team.

The HAZMAT team members arrive in special "HAZMAT suits" (protective clothing and other coverings to prevent contact with the hazardous materials), often covered "from head to toe" (over one's entire body) in brightly colored plastic. The HAZMAT team first focuses on "containing the spill" (not letting the spill continue or spread). Then, they try to clean up the spill, removing the hazardous materials and "disposing of them" (throwing them away) properly. If the spill "presents" (has; shows) a "threat" (risk of danger or death) to human health, the media is "alerted" (told about the problem) and people in the local area may be asked to "evacuate" (leave an area).

The person or business responsible for the HAZMAT spill is often responsible for paying for the clean-up efforts.