Unattended Containers-What Is Your Protocol?

[lad12derff 283]

We were dispatched to New Roc Harley this morning for 15, 55 gallon drums sealed up as tight as a ducks a** and no one around to answer our questions. they were dumped off in the parking lot and nobody knows where they came from. there are no markings on the containers to indicate contents.What are your depts protocals for this job and what does the first arriving officer do.

[Guest]

Being that it was at a motor vehicle site, I would ASSume it was either used motor oil or new fluids that arent regulated. They were probably left as who could lift up a 450+lb drum without a drum lifting dolly. I know I would grab the Sirius meter, the PID and the Ludlum, and the litmus paper and the TIC to see if they are full. Full PPE and be upwind. If they were neatly set-up I wouldnt be as worried as if they were strewn about like a hasty get away was done. If you really wanted to know what it was, my first call would be to the PD or the Alarm company on the front doors, get a hold of someone who works there and get the phone tree going. That and stay far far away if the TIC picks up any heat above ambient.

It could have been some of J. Rende's hair serum that was delivered to the wrong address :-)

[lad12derff 283]

It could have been some of J. Rende's hair serum that was delivered to the wrong address :-)

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I THINK I JUST WET MY PANTS!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Guest]

Glad you liked it! Cause we both know it probably was!

[helicopper 1,050]

How about getting the PD to determine if any local surveillance or security cameras captured images of the drums being dropped off to identify who or when they were delivered?

They could also call the owner of the lot to see if they're aware of the drums and their contents...

Don't forget, the NYPD had a bunch of cyanide in drums dumped in the Bronx after the truck carrying them was hijacked! As much as I'd like to think it was waste oil or something else benign, as was already posted - protect your A$$!!!

Glad to be directing traffic on your perimeter for this one!

[Guest bibbles10504]

Chris, I fully agree with you on this one, call the cops, figure out who dropped it off, and get the owner on the phone. Also, assuming you can find out something about what is in those containers I would also consider giving chemtrec, same as true with any chemcial that you dont know what to do with or need any information about.

Ladder12... I'm curious, if you dont mind sharing, what did you guys do on the call?

[nycemt728 49]

Was the threat an unk substance or was their a concern for terrorism?

[Guest alsfirefighter]

Wow...unattended drum calls always suck.

I can't go off of any protocols, but on a personal level I'd get a hazmat rep to come to the scene to confer with and work with other agencies (PD, DOH) to come to start gaining info for the investigation. We don't have hazmat equipment other then basics so having a hazmat rep to the scene would give me more peace of mind and also lets him determine what level of response they would need if no other information became evident.

[lad12derff 283]

Chris, I fully agree with you on this one, call the cops, figure out who dropped it off, and get the owner on the phone. Also, assuming you can find out something about what is in those containers I would also consider giving chemtrec, same as true with any chemcial that you dont know what to do with or need any information about.

Ladder12... I'm curious, if you dont mind sharing, what did you guys do on the call?

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PD was on scene upon arrival and we had 15 containers sealed up tight. we contacted the dept of health and waited for the store manager from costco to open up. We also asked PD to check cameras mounted on New Roc Harley as well as Costco. The store manager advised us that the drums contained soil samples from core test performed somewhere on Costco property. All was well at the end of the call. There were alot of good ideas from this topic. Thermal imaging cameras, outside security cameras, how were the drums arranged IE stacked or just dumped. How about some other ideas we can all use?

Edited March 31, 2007 by lad12derff

[Guest]

Is M R trying to jibber jabber his way into protecting his brother at the scene :-)