HazMat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue Company

An open letter to the residents of Lancaster County from members of Hazmat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue

The volunteers of Haz Mat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue have served the county of Lancaster for 42 years, 32 as Lancaster County’s designated Hazardous Materials Response Team. Unfortunately, circumstances have begun to change our trajectory. To quote William Arthur Ward. “The pessimist complains about the wind; the optimist expects it to change; the realist adjusts the sails.”

Today, we find ourselves adjusting the sails. Over the past decade, we have provided over $1 million in uncompensated services, including approximately $131,740 in the past 365 days. We hope the public understands that, despite our dedicated volunteers being willing to donate their valuable time and expertise, it costs money to operate a team.

Our offer to extend our current contract with the County of Lancaster, as is, was not accepted, and was met with a proposed change that would have added significant additional administrative workload on our volunteers. Our volunteers have donated about 1600 hours in just the past 3 months, saving the taxpayers over $42,000 (~$179,200 annually), but cannot continue to give more time that does not directly serve public safety. They would rather spend their time training, responding, and educating.

We want to stress that the county has provided a great deal of support to our team over the years. We have benefited from their generosity in building a station for us to occupy in 2004 when they built the Lancaster County Public Safety Center. Their support in 2023 to use APRA funds to purchase equipment for us to upgrade technologies, and a vehicle to serve the priorities of clean water, public safety, and technology upgrades, to name a few.

However, without a contract, some changes will occur. We've been asked to vacate the station by 5:00 p.m. June 30th 2025. As such we will cease to be Lancaster County’s Act 165 Hazardous Materials Response Team after 11:59 pm on June 30th, 2025. 

Will the team respond to Hazardous materials Emergencies in Lancaster county?

No. While Hazmat 2 carries its own workers' compensation and liability insurance, we will no longer be able to provide Lancaster County with Technician and Specialist Hands-on Services for hazardous materials incidents. 

In Lancaster County, Police, Fire, and EMS may still request technical guidance. Our duty officer can be reached by phone at 717-999-7580. We will answer all requests for technical support.

Can you help?

Yes, you sure can! Hazmat 2 can use your support. Connect with us, by sending an email to SAVE@hazmat2.com

A final message:

To the residents of Lancaster county, thank you for your understanding and support during this period.

To the industry professionals and other hazmat teams who reached out to us, your letters of support and encouragement have truly helped the team through this challenging time.

To the County administration, thank you for trusting us to provide world class Hazardous Materials response to Lancaster County for 42 years.

The Team at Hazmat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue