The reclassification from Type 3 to Type 2 status expands capabilities and allows technicians to identify and mitigate unknown substances starting in 2026.
The Lorain County hazmat team was called to the Reworld Plant on Schneider Court near Avon Crossing in October 2025LORAIN COUNTY, Ohio -- Lorain County’s hazardous materials response team will operate at a higher level in 2026 after being reclassified from a Type 3 to a Type 2 unit, a change that expands its staffing, equipment and ability to handle complex chemical incidents.
The upgrade was announced during Tuesday’s Lorain County Commissioners meeting by Dave Freeman, director of Lorain County Emergency Management Agency, and Lieutenant Wes Mariner, the county’s hazardous materials team leader and a member of the Sheffield Lake Fire Department. Mariner said the reclassification reflects several years of increased investment in training, personnel and specialized equipment, allowing the team to meet higher standards outlined in Ohio’s emergency response plan. “We can now go into unknown chemicals, identify, and mitigate them, and essentially be self-sustainable for up to 12 hours before we would require mutual aid on smaller incidents,” Mariner told commissioners. “We have a minimum personnel of 15 trained hazmat techs that are available to respond to all of our scenes, and we’re now a more deployable asset in the emergency response plan, which allows us higher grant opportunities and stuff like that for increased awareness and capabilities throughout the county and in the general area.” Under its previous Type 3 designation, the team was primarily limited to defensive operations involving known industrial chemicals and had fewer trained personnel available to respond. The Type 2 classification allows hazmat technicians to enter hazardous environments using fully encapsulated protective suits, identify unknown substances, stop leaks and stabilize incidents rather than only containing them. Mariner added that the team expects to maintain its Type 2 status long term, calling the reclassification the result of years of planning and coordination across fire departments countywide. Hannah Drown has been with cleveland.com since 2014 and currently works in education reporting covering a variety of education topics impacting the region. Previously, she worked as the Facebook Live news...
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Montgomery County outlines new service model, housing aid, economic growth at 2026 State of the CountyMontgomery County officials detailed new programs and continued investments during the annual State of the County address, touching on services, housing, economic development and quality of life.
Read more »
New Russia Township Zoning Commission votes against ‘mega site’ rezoning near Lorain County airportThe New Russia Township Zoning Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday night to recommend denying a proposal to rezone more than 600 acres of land near the Lorain County Regional Airport.
Read more »
King County allocates $2M in funding to help immigrants, bans ICE from county propertyThe order, which takes effect immediately, allocates $2 million in new emergency funding for rental assistance, food access, and legal aid.
Read more »
Pregnant woman, 2 others allegedly hit by Montgomery County constable deputy in Walker County crashAccording to the Montgomery County Precinct 1 Constable's Office , a female was traveling northbound on FM 2296 in Walker County when she crashed into three other vehicles.
Read more »
Lorain County campaign addresses environmental impact of winter salt runoffMetro Parks shares practical tips for reducing harm while maintaining safety: shovel early, apply salt sparingly, consider alternatives
Read more »
Lorain County faces pressure for county commission reform as residents become energizedLorain County's push for commission reform gains traction, partly due to local journalism highlighting governance issues, leading to public calls for change.
Read more »