SANTA ANA – A specially trained Santa Ana Fire Department team recently became the first in Orange County to be certified by California Emergency Management Agency to respond to countywide disasters involving terrorist, manmade and natural threats.

The Type I Hazmat Team is trained and equipped to provide emergency services to Santa Ana and other communities in the county to deal with fires, hazardous materials, train wrecks, swift water rescue, floods, earthquakes and terrorism.

Interim Fire Chief Dave Thomas said the certification took about six months to complete and involved training at least seven firefighters and acquiring advanced technology equipment that can detect chemical, biological and nuclear threats.

“The Type 1 rating means we can provide enhanced emergency services to the City of Santa Ana and assist other communities and agencies in the state in dealing with a wide range of threats to public safety including detecting weapons of mass destruction,” Thomas explained.

The California Emergency Management Agency in January 2009 merged the duties, powers, purposes, and responsibilities of the governor’s Office of Emergency Services with those of the s Office of Homeland Security. Cal EMA is responsible for coordinating the state’s response to major disasters.

The Santa Ana Fire Department has protected businesses and residents in the city since 1883. Today the department continues that legacy by providing critical public safety and emergency services through its 10 stations manned by 280 trained personnel, including 204 sworn employees.

About the California Emergency Management Agency

The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) was established as part of the Governor’s Office on January 1, 2009 – created by Assembly Bill 38 (Nava), which merged the duties, powers, purposes, and responsibilities of the former Governor’s Office of Emergency Services with those of the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security.

Cal EMA is responsible for the coordination of overall state agency response to major disasters in support of local government. The Agency is responsible for assuring the state’s readiness to respond to and recover from all hazards – natural, manmade, war-caused emergencies and disasters – and for assisting local governments in their emergency preparedness, response, recovery, and hazard mitigation efforts.

You can find more info at : www.oes.ca.gov