Emergency Planning Committee shares their view on a volunteer fire department

The La Crosse County Local Emergency Planning Committee is concerned a volunteer fire department wouldn't be able to provide the same high level of service when it comes to hazardous materials.

Committee members say a hazmat team is critical to La Crosse.

The level of hazmat training, expertise, and time commitment of each volunteer goes beyond reasonable expectation of a volunteer.

Keith Butler, Emergency Management Coordinator says La Crosse is unique. The city serves as a major transportation corridor with hazardous materials being transported by rail, highway, and the Mississippi.

"Reviewing the 12 or so individual training components that a hazardous material technician and responder must have it is almost impossible for a volunteer to achieve. It requires them to be gone from home, from work almost continuously to obtain the training and the refresher training to become familiar with the equipment," said Butler.

The La Crosse hazmat team serves the county as well as surrounding counties.

The Wisconsin statue says out of the 9 emergency response teams, one is required to be located in La Crosse.

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