Most hazardous materials incidents are minor, such as fuel or chemical leaks and spills from vehicles, and are managed by the local fire agency and/or the Yolo County Environmental Health HazMat Unit. When an incident exceeds local response capabilities, the Yolo County Multi-Agency HazMat Response Team is activated. This team combines the resources of the Yolo County Environmental Health Division, the Woodland, Davis, West Sacramento, and UC Davis Fire Departments to provide a coordinated countywide response.

The multi-agency approach allows participating jurisdictions to share the significant costs of training and equipping a specialized hazardous materials response team while maintaining a high level of emergency preparedness. Each team member has defined responsibilities and receives specialized training for their role.

During an incident, Environmental Health HazMat Unit staff serve as technical specialists, providing information on the hazards of the materials involved, appropriate protective equipment, decontamination procedures, environmental monitoring, and the identification of unknown substances. Staff also oversee environmental investigations and cleanup activities when additional remediation is required.

Once the immediate threat to public health and safety has been controlled, fire agency personnel return to their regular duties while Environmental Health staff remain on scene to oversee the environmental investigation, monitor cleanup, and initiate enforcement actions when necessary. The responsible party is required to complete the investigation and cleanup under Environmental Health oversight. When cleanup has been completed to applicable standards, Environmental Health staff determine that the site is safe.

Yolo County Environmental Health HazMat Unit staff complete more than 200 hours of specialized training in hazardous materials emergency response, chemical identification, and the Incident Command System. They receive instruction in decontamination, air monitoring, technical reference support, explosives, railcar and tanker truck safety, radiation, and weapons of mass destruction. All HazMat staff are certified by the California Specialized Training Institute (CSTI)as Hazardous Materials Technicians, and many earn additional certifications as Hazardous Materials Specialists or Assistant Safety Officers.

To maintain their skills and readiness, staff participate in ongoing training and regular emergency response exercises with the Yolo County Multi-Agency HazMat Response Team. These exercises include operating in Level A protective suits, the highest level of chemical-resistant personal protective equipment.

The Yolo County Environmental Health Emergency Response vehicle is equipped with specialized instruments used to detect, identify, and monitor hazardous materials. Equipment includes radiation detectors, air monitoring instruments, combustible gas indicators, chemical agent detectors, and a HazCat® kit, a portable field laboratory used to identify unknown solids and liquids.

The vehicle also carries personal protective equipment (PPE), including chemical-resistant suits, gloves, and boots; self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA); spill containment materials such as absorbents, plugs, and dikes; and a variety of printed and electronic technical reference materials to support emergency response operations.