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Gold firefighter badge with "BTFD" at the top, "Fire" on the left, "Rescue" on the right, "Est. 1978" at the bottom, and a center image of a tree, water, and sunset. Text within says "Devoted to Duty Above Personal Risk.
The image displays the word "BLUFFTON" in capital letters with a gold-colored serif font on a white background.

Hazardous Materials Team

Prepared to Respond, Trained to Protect

Protecting Our Community

When Dangerous Materials Threaten, We’re Ready

The Bluffton Township Fire District (BTFD) operates as an all-hazards response organization, where any 911 call has the potential to involve hazardous materials. All BTFD personnel are trained to the Hazmat Operations level, enabling them to perform defensive actions to contain or control hazardous releases.

In addition, BTFD has 30 members across all three shifts who are trained to the Hazmat Technician level, allowing them to take offensive actions such as patching, plugging, and direct mitigation of spills involving solids, liquids, or gases.

Several workers in hazmat suits conduct a decontamination drill outside a building, watched by firefighters in uniform. Equipment, safety cones, and tarps are set up in the area.

Common Hazmat Incidents We Encounter

Our team regularly responds to a wide range of hazardous materials situations, including but not limited to:

  • Gas Smells – Natural gas or propane leaks
  • Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms – Especially when levels exceed 35 parts per million
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) Alarms – Often in restaurants and gas stations with soda dispensing systems
  • Fuel Spills – Gasoline and diesel releases at crash scenes or refueling stations
  • Fire-related Hazards – Presence of hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, low oxygen, and other dangerous chemicals
  • Confined Space Incidents – Risks from low oxygen, explosive environments, or hydrogen sulfide
  • Strange Odors – Such as sewer gases including hydrogen sulfide
  • Vehicle Collisions – Leaks of antifreeze, oil, or transported hazardous cargo
  • Acid Spills – Including muriatic acid commonly carried by pool service companies or found at job sites

Regional Response & Collaboration

BTFD works in partnership with Hilton Head Island Fire-Rescue, providing IFSAC-certified Hazmat Technicians to support the South Carolina Hazardous Materials Team 4 (SC-HM4). This regional response team covers Beaufort, Jasper, Colleton, and Hampton counties, with the capability to deploy statewide when needed.

Team members engage in monthly training sessions to stay current on procedures, equipment use, and emerging hazmat threats.

Specialized Equipment & Technical Decontamination

All BTFD members are trained to:

  • Use 4- or 5-gas monitors for air quality detection
  • Set up technical decontamination lines for “hot zone” entries
  • Deploy specialized equipment housed on Rescue 335, which is stationed at Headquarters and staffed by Special Operations personnel

This allows our department to safely enter and operate in hazardous environments, protecting both our responders and the public.

Explore Our Special Operations Teams

Bluffton Township Fire District goes beyond traditional fire service with dedicated Special Operations Teams trained for highly specialized responses. From honoring the fallen to navigating the most dangerous environments, each team plays a vital role in community safety.

Click Here to Learn more about each team and their mission