Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT)
The North Aurora Fire Protection District (NAFD) provides a variety of services to the citizens of North Aurora and surrounding communities. It is the department’s goal to provide rapid response and highly trained personnel to the scene of all incidents.
Hazardous Materials Mitigation is a specialized service we provide to ensure the citizens of North Aurora and surrounding communities are protected from any hazardous materials leaks or spills.
All NAFD personnel are trained as First Responders, at the Awareness Level. Thirty (30) members are trained to an Operations Level and twenty-two (22) members are trained to the Technician Level.
Training
The North Aurora Fire Protection District provides a wide variety of training sessions for its members:- Weekly exercises are provided for company drills
- Hazardous materials training is available on a bi-monthly basis to all members.
- Quarterly drills are provided by MABAS 13 Hazardous Materials Response Committee. Drills could range from opening a book and identifying a placard to dressing in full protective clothing and stopping a simulated leak.
HazMat Definitions
First Responder at the Awareness Level are Individuals who are likely to witness or 
discover a hazardous substance release, and who have been trained to initiate an emergency response notification.
The primary focus is to secure the incident site, recognize and identify the materials involved, and to make appropriate notifications. Awareness Level Training consists of an 8-hour training course and 8 hours of continuing education per year.
First Responders at the Operations Level are Individuals who respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous substances as part of the initial response, for the purpose of protecting nearby persons, property, or the environment, from the fashion without actually trying to stop the release.
Their primary function is to contain the release from a safe distance, keep it from spreading, and to protect exposures. Operations level training consists of an initial 40-hour class and 8 hours of continuing education per year.
Hazardous Materials Technicians are individuals who respond to releases or potential releases for the purpose of stopping the release. They generally approach the point of release in order to plug, patch, or otherwise stop the release of hazardous substances. Technician level training consists of two 40-hour classes and 24 hours of continuing education per year.
HazMat Emergency Vehicle #543
The North Aurora Fire Protection District purchased a 2001 GMC straight truck for the purpose of transporting hazardous materials equipment and personnel. Truck 543 is equipped with a wide variety of hazardous materials equipment as well as with emergency medical equipment to treat up to 50 mass casualty victims. Pictures and descriptions of equipment are available on our apparatus page.
Response
The North Aurora Fire Protection District Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) responds to any incident in North Aurora or surrounding communities which requires additional assistance. Additional resources can be requested through the Illinois Mutual Aide Box Alarm System (MABAS). North Aurora, in conjunction with Aurora, Batavia, Elburn, Geneva, Montgomery, St. Charles, and Sugar Grove Fire Departments comprise the MABAS 13 HMRT.
