Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials Response Team 800

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Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials Response Team 800

Team 800 is the primary Emergency Hazmat Response for Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. The station is located at 108 Vaneer Avenue, in the City of Greensburg.

The Westmoreland County Hazardous Materials Response Team 800 was organized in 1980, as a specialized team, to assist the County’s fire departments in response to Hazardous Material incidents. Formed as a volunteer group, the original Team consisted of 15 members from local fire departments and the paid sector within the County. The Team is under the jurisdiction of the Westmoreland County Departm

ent of Public Safety. The Team currently consists of 70 volunteer members from the fields of Fire, EMS, and law enforcement all over Westmoreland County. Our station was dedicated on December 28, 1995, to the memory of Assistant Chief John R. “Jack” Fisher, who died in the line of duty on September 28, 1995, while serving with Greensburg Fire Department. Our Team is the sole provider of emergency response to HAZMAT incidents within Westmoreland County. Starting with only one combustible gas meter, the Team has grown significantly over the past 25 plus years. Thanks to the efforts of the team members themselves, through local fundraising, and the Westmoreland County Commissioners, as well as, the Region 13 Counter Terrorism Task Force, Sara Facilities served by the team, private donations and the tax payers of the Westmoreland County, we have grown to a state-of-the-art HAZMAT Team utilizing more than a million dollars worth of equipment to serve and protect our citizens. Team 800 also responds as a Rapid Intervention Team (RIT) offering specialized support to the many fire departments within the County, in the battle of structure fires. Members of Team 800 are continually and progressively involved in specialized training, which helps to maintain the abilities and capabilities of the team. This on-going education allows the Team to respond to any HAZMAT or RIT calls that may arise. Team 800 has four membership categories: Probationary, Regular, Specialty and Life. To apply for membership with Team 800, you must be resident of Westmoreland County, have a valid PA driver’s license, a high school diploma or equivalent, HAZMAT Awareness Level training, and ICS-700 training. Additionally, applicants must meet one of the following: PA Certified FF1, PA EMT or Paramedic, or work as an officer for a Pennsylvania law enforcement agency. Applicants who meet those requirements and are accepted to the Team will serve a probationary period of one year. During that year, a probationary member must attend 30% of all training, calls and meetings, complete ICS-100 training, and complete training at the HAZMAT Operations Level. Specialty members offer support to the Team in a specific field or specialty (radiation, communication, chemist, etc.). Life members are those members on the Team who have served for 25 years, or who have served 10 years and are over 65 years of age.

03/19/2026

Team 800 established in c1980. Saluting the vision of those who dedicated their time to protect lives, property, and the environment. Thanks to Asst. Chief Johnson for providing this from his archives.

03/12/2026

Testing our Level A fully encapsulated CPC PPE for those special occasions that we go out on the town to party with the really bad characters that like to reach out and cause bodily harm. Hazmat response is serious business and we try our best to be ready for those situations. 😉☣️☢️

03/01/2026

For most of my career, gas detection was a hazmat team problem. If your department had a four-gas meter, it lived in a Pelican case on the hazmat rig, and […]

02/19/2026

Team 800 recognizes the life and service of Westmoreland County DPS Communications Specialist Marc Taylor who always helped and kept one of our most important tools, radio communications always ready. He will be greatly missed. Thank you Marc and rest easy.

Marc C. Taylor, 71, of Greensburg, died Wednesday, February 18, 2026. He was born May 18, 1954, in Connellsville, a son of the late Martin and Merry Bridegam Taylor. Marc worked for Westmoreland County 911 for twenty years. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Charlie Taylor. Marc is survived by his wife, Anita Hoffman; two sons: Craig Taylor, of Hannastown, and Christopher Taylor, of Greensburg; a step-daughter, Shanna (Zac) Clausner, of Greensburg; two step-grandchildren: Isabella Leeman and Brody Leeman; three sisters: Dawn, Lindy, and Claudia; and several nieces and nephews. As per Marc’s wishes, there will be no public visitation or service.

https://www.barnhartfuneralhome.com/memorials/marc-taylor/5688212/

02/10/2026

Team 800 responded early this morning to a multi vehicle commercial vs. passenger MVA on Interstate 70 that closed the highway for several hours due to a fully engulfed produce truck and concrete barrier that was catapulted across traffic with a heavy field of debris. The Team assessed the environment impact and mitigated fuel and fluids from several vehicles including half burned fuel tanks from the tractor trailer re**er unit.

02/06/2026

Team 800 completed our second certificate training already for 2026 on Air Monitoring of the latest in FTIR and 4 gas meter cellular technology. We can conduct air samples and categorize them in seconds and also deploy out six 4 gas detectors on any scene and watch the results on an on board aparatus big screen and cellular handheld devices. This gives us the ability to help incident commanders get real time readings for scene awareness while maintaining open radio communications for safety and coordination. Thanks to our instructor detailed review and hands on demonstrations.

01/29/2026

Team 800 was requested to assist station 58 2nd alarm fire at a precision tube manufacturing facility last night. The team conducted air monitoring, suppression runoff status, secured pressure cylinders and welding room utility control in a fire that was reported through the roof and involving chemicals. Team members have toured this facility several times and familiar with the layout. The first due company made an excellent knockdown and the was able to quickly determine the IDLH concerns with our Region 13 Task Force FTIR v***r identification device.

01/09/2026

Team 800 kicked off our 2026 certificate training with PPE Review and SOG updates with a concentration on response research considerations for Titanium Tetrachloride & Hydrogen Sulfide, and discussions on the critacality of boiling point and v***r pressure when selecting the proper level of chemical protective ensembles. And also we had reviewed what a bulk shipment accident and spill involving a pressurized transport of UN 3336 would mean. We also are starting off the new year with 2 new probationary members and officer promotions to be announced soon.

12/25/2025

The Officers and Members of Team 800 would like to wish you and your families a Safe and Merry Christmas

12/21/2025

2025 Westmoreland Hazmat Christmas Party

12/15/2025

Team 800 wishes you a fully charged Christmas and would like to share this important safety information on Lithium Ion batteries. Please share and post.

Learn about Lithium-Ion batteries safety with FSRI to avoid LIB fire risks/ misuse of batteries. Take charge of your Li-ion battery powered e-mobility devices.

Address

108 Vannear Avenue
Greensburg, PA
15601

Website

http://www.wchmrt800.org/

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