The Kansas City Kansas Fire Department hosted a remote training exercise along with seven other Kansas City Metro Fire Departments at Kansas Speedway. These fire departments work together to respond to any major disasters where hazardous materials could be present within the metro area.

 

Firefighters tested equipment that help measure, identify and verify various types of chemicals that could put people in danger. Eight teams equipped with hazardous chemical detecting devices are able to cover a two mile perimeter and send any information back to the Hazardous Material (Haz-Mat) response unit where proper precautions can be taken.  Kansas City Kansas Fire Department Assistant Chief Craig Duke helped organize and explain the purpose of the exercise.

 

“We want to test everything to make sure the equipment is functional as well as train new staff,” Duke said, “If there is something explosive in the air, our equipment will pick it up and send it to our Haz-Mat response unit. Our teams need to know how we are going to evacuate people in case of these types of emergencies.”

 

Duke stressed how important it is to prepare for these potential life threatening situations by training and updating equipment many times throughout the year. Working together to identify the area where hazardous materials are located, the departments are able to direct the public to avoid danger and help maintain the area till more resources come in. 

 

Kansas Speedway Security Department works very closely with the Kansas City Kansas Fire department and the hazardous materials team especially during race weekends.

 

Kansas Speedway tickets are available for September’s NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Kansas 400 – the third race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. Also get tickets for the NASCAR Nationwide Series Kansas Lottery 300 that same weekend. Call 866.460.RACE or visit kansasspeedway.com