The Illinois Fire Service Institute is holding a two-day hazmat training session for first responders in the region. The class kicked off Tuesday morning at the at the West City Community Center and will continue to Wednesday afternoon.
Matt Bryan, Field Instructor for the Illinois Fire Service, says the program teaches participants how to teach others in their department about hazardous material incidents.
"We talk about the nuances of the program and how to become an effective instructor to be able to train other individuals in the awareness program," Bryan explains.
Multiple agencies are taking part including Franklin County Emergency Management, as well as, Benton and West City Fire Departments. A firefighter from Godrey also traveled down for the training session.
Benton Firefighter Alex Melvin says the session will allow him to instruct local law enforcement, EMS and city workers how to contain a hazardous material situation safely, "Gives us the steps of what to do next, so block the area off and call the right resources in."