The Central Fire District is equipped to respond to both emergency and non-emergency hazardous materials incidents. These incidents can include actual or potential spills, leaks, and exposures to substances that pose a threat to life, health, and property. Our District personnel are certified as Hazardous Materials First Responders and are trained to recognize the potential of a hazardous material incident, with the safety of the public and emergency responders as our top priority.
In addition to our Hazmat First Responder personnel, the District also provides trained members to support the Santa Cruz County Hazardous Materials Team. This countywide team was established in 2001 through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the County of Santa Cruz, the cities of Scotts Valley, Santa Cruz, Capitola, and Watsonville, as well as California State Parks and the University of California, Santa Cruz (UCSC).
The Santa Cruz County Hazardous Materials Team consists of 24 highly trained Hazardous Materials Technicians and Specialists. The team is comprised of personnel from several agencies, including Santa Cruz City Fire, Scotts Valley Fire, Central Fire District, and Watsonville Fire.