Harford County Host Regional Hazmat Training Course

From Harford County government:

(Forest Hill, MD) – – The Harford County Division of Emergency Operations (EOC) was host to a three-day regional hazardous materials training course regarding clandestine drug labs. The course was co-sponsored by Harford and Cecil Counties and was held at the Level Volunteer Fire Company near Havre de Grace.

Instructors for the class included E. Mick Mollica a 30 year law enforcement veteran in California; Ronald V. Mullins a senior instructor specialist with the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia, New Mexico and Robert Gallardo, a retired 28-year law enforcement veteran of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control and the California Department of Justice, Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement. The instructors were from Bridge Consulting Corporation and LEARN Associates Inc.

A total of 22 hazardous materials technicians and specialists from Baltimore County, Cecil County, Harford County, the Aberdeen Proving Ground Fire Department and the Maryland Department of the Environment participated in the training. Thirteen of the 27 member Harford County Hazmat Team attended the training.

The focus of the 20 hour course was to training hazmat personnel on the hazardous of clandestine drug labs, especially methamphetamine labs, how to enter these environments to help law enforcement officials disassemble labs and collect evidence for later prosecution.

The final day of the class included “hands-on” training with two drug lab scenarios including a motor vehicle and entry into a fixed structure.

The three-day training was paid for with federal grant funds acquired by both Harford and Cecil County governments.

“The hazards emergency response personnel face when dealing with clandestine drug labs are unique and require specialized training and equipment to properly mitigate such situations. This training opportunity provided an excellent opportunity for our hazardous materials team to develop skills necessary to assist the law enforcement community in effectively and safely dealing with such labs,” stated County Executive David R. Craig.