Reporting for Duty: Saratoga County Gets New Hazmat Truck

The Saratoga County Hazmat team is getting an upgrade this week as the county officially unveiled its brand-new Hazmat truck in a wetting down ceremony at the county’s fire training center. 

The new truck was first ordered back in 2023 and expands the capabilities of the County Hazmat team with more equipment space, mobile testing apparatus and command and control equipment. It replaces an older truck that first entered service in 2001. 

“This new Hazmat truck represents a major investment in community safety,” Saratoga County Board of Supervisors Chairman Phil Barrett said. “When hazardous materials are involved, every second matters. This vehicle ensures the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Management, Saratoga Springs Fire Department and the countywide Hazmat team have the right equipment to respond quickly and effectively to protect the public.”

The new truck will be maintained and staffed by the Saratoga Springs Fire Department. It will be based out of Station 3 on Henning Road, just east of the Oklahoma Training Track in Saratoga Springs. 

Mike Stanley, the Fire Coordinator for Saratoga County, said he was grateful to the Board of Supervisors for helping get the project off the ground as well as the numerous responders throughout the county. Stanley said the full team responds about four times a year to hazmat incidents with the majority coming from instances of leaks or accidents in transit. In addition, the Hazmat team also has commanders who help advise local fire departments on what to do when they encounter materials in the field. 

The new truck aids in this mission by allowing the hazmat team to carry all their gear in a single vehicle rather than in a truck with a separate trailer to supplement it, Stanley said. The new truck also includes a new set of spectrometers to help identify the material at the scene and new protective equipment to help keep responders safe. 

“This new vehicle enhances our collective ability to contain and mitigate complexity and safety,” Stanley said.  “It gives our responders the best tools and technology available to protect the life property and the environment of every citizen in Saratoga County. This investment is proof that when career and volunteer, city and county work together, we build a truly resilient system.”

After the remarks, the truck went through it’s “wetting down” ceremony, in which it drove through a curtain of water provided by the Malta Ridge Fire Department. 

As for what’s next, the county hopes to upgrade it’s fire training center in the near future.