Here at Bayou Cane Fire Protection District, we are making plans to establish a Special Operations Division that will be responsible for responses to situations other than “ordinary” fire and medical related emergencies. This division will encompass hazardous materials spill response in conjunction with the OHSEP and the Louisiana State Police Hazardous Materials Team if needed, high angle rope rescue, confined space rescue, swift water rescue, and natural and manmade disaster response. Our personnel will receive very specialized training from approved agencies using the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) response guidelines as a template for our responses. It will most likely take a few years to get a majority of our personnel fully trained to the technician levels in each of these disciplines, but we are making progress to achieve this. We already are equipped, trained and provide “emergency response” to Bee related emergencies. 

Hazardous Materials Response Team

Hazardous Materials are found in every jurisdiction, community, workplace, and household. In addition to their necessary beneficial uses, many of these materials pose considerable risks to the public and to the environment when spilled or used improperly.

Our Haz Mat response personnel will be prepared to respond to incidents involving a release or spills of hazardous materials in areas such as treatment plants, and chemical distribution centers, as well as tanker trucks that transport chemicals through our community on a daily basis, and any other hazardous materials emergency. Emergency response plans are being developed for these situations. We currently have over 20 Emergency Response Plans (guidelines) in place for Hazardous Materials Incident Response.

Our Hazardous Materials Response equipment will be centrally located in the district and will compose of a wide variety of response equipment including chemical protective clothing(levels “A”, “B”, “C”) and decontamination supplies. Our team will be well trained in the use of instruments with advanced software and multi-sensor technology, which are capable of identifying many common flammable and combustible gases, unknown toxic industrial chemicals as well as chemical warfare agents. We currently have chlorine “A” and “B” kits and are putting together our spill and leak response kits. We have made several training props for handling chlorine gas leaks as well as drum and barrel fluid leaks. We have standard Incident handling guidelines already in place in case the worst happens. We are initiating a target hazard response pre-plan and will train at those facilities so we are familiar with them in case of an incident. Our plan is to have a majority of the personnel trained to the level of technician or specialist. Currently they are trained to the awareness and operations levels. All of these tools and training are an important part of our responsibility to address situations involving hazardous materials safely and effectively. With all the hazards we have in this area, these individuals are an absolute necessity. In the past year we have already experienced a chlorine leak, multiple natural gas and fuel leaks.  

Technical Rescue Team

When the TRT is well established, Bayou Cane’s technical Rope Rescue Team will respond in situations involving Water Towers, Wells, Tanks, and below ground Lift Stations, to name a few. These are highly technical skills that require very specialized equipment, and we will be committed to maintaining the integrity of these response capabilities.

We are also aware that “no community” is immune from the destructive forces of nature. Severe storms, tornadoes, and of course, hurricanes and tropical storms have the potential to cause devastating damage in our community.

We plan to have our technical rescue personnel equipped and trained to respond to these types of events using heavy rescue equipment such as generators, pumps, power saws, hydraulic tools, pneumatic shoring devices, air bags, electric winches, cribbing, and search cameras, to name a few. These tools, along with many techniques used by FEMA's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force Teams will allow us to effectively conduct advanced operations in areas where full or partial collapse of structures may have occurred. Our personnel will be trained to these advanced levels “prior” to conducting such techniques. When you operate at this level, continuing annual training and recertification will be necessary.

Water Rescue Team

With the many waterways and Bayous in the Bayou Cane area, the potential for waterborne emergencies is great. Recently we had extensive flooding in this area and many roadways were covered with deep water as well as swollen Creeks and Bayous. People can end up in the water at any time, at any place and we need to be prepared to respond at a moment’s notice.

Our water response team uses the latest technology in public safety water rescue equipment, and we currently have some members certified as Swift Water Rescue Technicians. Water rescue team members train regularly to keep refreshed on new techniques and to keep their skills sharp. This team has already been utilized and performed flawlessly.

In the future, we may acquire some type of surface water rescue vessel to complement our advanced rescue skill set. Currently, T.P.S.O. has the vessel used for surface water rescue. These are our plans for the future to better serve and protect you. Thank you for your interest, and we hope this information helps you to better understand our commitment to serve the community in which we live.