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  • Cullman Fire and Rescue fire marshal Chris Chaffin gives an example of how to use the Thermo Scientific FirstDefender chemical identifier at a recent Cullman city council meeting. Trent Moore

    City FD using new chemical identification technology

  • The handheld Thermo Scientific FirstDefender chemical identifier allows local firefighters to identify chemicals on site at a potential oil spill. Trent Moore

    City FD using new chemical identification technology

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July 30, 2010

What is that?

City FD using new chemical identification technology

By Trent Moore The Cullman Times

CULLMAN — What does Cullman Fire Rescue and the U.S. President’s personal security team have in common?

Probably not a lot, but thanks to a recent Department of Homeland Security grant, they do share one common thread: the Thermo Scientific FirstDefender chemical identifier.

The large, hand-held device essentially gives authorities the ability to analyze and identify chemicals immediately in the field.

“We have one of only 12 of these in Alabama,” Cullman fire marshal Chris Chaffin said. “The President actually travels everywhere with two of these devices, in case they’re needed ... This is just another great thing to add to our tool chest.”

Considering the unique location of Cullman, Chaffin said the $35,000 piece of equipment could prove crucial in a variety of situations.

“Due to all the trucks that travel up and down Interstate 65, and all the various industries here in this area, we needed something to help identify chemicals on the scene quickly,” Chaffin said. “It has a laser on the end, and we can also stick in a vile of a chemical to identify it. It’s very quick and easy to use, and should help complement the other tools we have.”

The device can identify more than 10,000 different chemicals, and if the FirstDefender does not have a certain chemical on file, fire chief Edward Reinhardt said a research lab is available for assistance.

“It has a library about the chemicals included in the device, and can give us information immediately about how dangerous the chemical is, and what type of protection we need,” he said. “If it can’t identify the substance, we have 24-hour support from the company to e-mail them the sample to have in analyzed within an hour.”

In the short time the department has had the FirstDefender, Chaffin said firefighters got a chance to use the device at the scene of a recent drug bust with the Cullman Narcotics Enforcement Team (CNET).

“We actually used it with CNET where some unmarked chemicals were there in jars at a crime scene,” he said. “So, we took samples and used this to determine if they were hazardous or not.”

Cullman city council president Garlan Gudger, Jr. said the new piece of tech should allow authorities to make better decisions at the site of any potential chemical spills.

“This will help our local police and firefighters, as well as the citizens that could be caught in a potential chemical situation,” he said. “This will keep things safer for everyone.”



* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.

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