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Hazardous Materials/Weapons of Mass Destruction Incident Command R0243

Training Specialist


Dave Donohue
301-447-1094

Delivery type


6-day on-campus

Continuing education units


3.6

ACE recommendation


Pending (ACE Review): In the lower-division baccalaureate/associate degree category, 3 semester hours in fire science, public safety management, emergency management or public administration.

Using scenarios and activities, you will serve as the incident commander and command/general staff at hazardous materials incidents.  You will manage tactical resources, coordinate activities, and develop and implement the incident action plan for hazardous materials incidents.

You will be operating at the Hazardous Materials Operations level. Where appropriate, this course aligns with NFPA 470 and other industry standards.

Pre-course materials and course syllabus

Pre-course material.: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/ax/pcm/pcm_r0243.pdf PDF 99KB
Course syllabus.: https://apps.usfa.fema.gov/ax/syll/syllabus_r0243.pdf PDF

  • Emergency response personnel who may be called upon to assume the duties of the IC at hazardous materials incidents, including fires at fixed facilities, transportation accidents involving hazardous materials, or incidents involving weapons of mass destruction or where there may be a terrorism nexus.
  • Safety Officers who support emergency response.
  • Departmental training officers, Chief Officers, Company Officers and regularly acting officers or those preparing for promotion.
  • Emergency management and skilled support personnel who would interface with emergency response personnel through an EOC or Incident command post during a hazardous materials incident.
  • Emergency response personnel who may be called upon to assume the duties of Section Chief (Operations, Planning, Logistics, Finance/Admin, or Intelligence/Information Section Chief) at hazardous materials incidents, including fires at fixed facilities, transportation accidents involving hazardous materials, or incidents involving weapons of mass destruction or where there may be a terrorism nexus.
  • Emergency response personnel who may be called upon to assume the duties of Command Staff (Safety Officer, Public Information Officer, Liaison Officer, Legal Advisor, External Affairs Advisor) at hazardous materials incidents, including fires at fixed facilities, transportation accidents involving hazardous materials, or incidents involving weapons of mass destruction or where there may be a terrorism nexus.
  • Emergency response personnel who may be called upon to assume the duties within the policy group at hazardous materials incidents, including fires at fixed facilities, transportation accidents involving hazardous materials, or incidents involving weapons of mass destruction or where there may be a terrorism nexus. Positions may include elected officials, jurisdiction finance administrators, City/County/District Managers, or similar positions.

Note: While technician level personnel are welcome to attend, this program is designed for non-hazardous materials technician-level personnel.

  1. ICS 100 level and ICS 200 level training and hazardous materials operations level training. Chief’s signature attests that the applicant has completed this required training.
  2. Departments must certify applicants as operations-level trained.
  3. Emergency management personnel must be certified by their jurisdiction as part of the EOC staff.

Upcoming offerings

Dates Availability Location Contact(s) CCP
May 12 - 17, 2024 Cancelled Emmitsburg, Maryland
September 8 - 13, 2024 Apply by 4/15 Apply Emmitsburg, Maryland