The Napoleon Fire and Rescue Special Operations is committed to meeting the stated goals of the Napoleon Fire Department mission statement by providing specialized training and technical support in the areas of rescue, hazardous materials, and disasters.

The Special Operations Division is responsible for training that encompasses those incidents that the organization responds to that are considered low frequency/high risk.

These may include:

• Hazardous Materials
• Terrorism/Weapons of Mass Destruction
• Grain Bin/High and Low Angle Rescue
• Water Rescue
• Confined Space
• Major Transportation Incidents
• Mass Casualty Incidents
• Urban Search and Rescue
• Structural Collapse

These types of “infrequent” incidents require specific on-going education & training of a specialized nature, which the division is charged with overseeing. Special Operations is responsible for providing many specialized services in support of the Department’s daily mission in the City of Napoleon, Henry County, OH and surrounding areas.

The Napoleon Hazardous Materials (Haz-Mat) Team is a Type 3 team. We have many members trained to the requirement of NFPA (National Fire Protection Agency) 472, Technician Level.

All team Technicians are trained for entry into environments requiring up to Level A protection and are capable of performing a wide variety of tasks.

These assignments may include, but are not limited to, recognizing and identifying hazardous materials, monitoring of hazardous atmospheres, confinement or containment operations; absorption, neutralization, pressurized container leaks, highway transportation, and railroad tank-car accidents.

In addition, the team is trained to respond to acts of terrorism involving Weapons of Mass Destruction using Biological, Chemical, or Nuclear agents.

Tobias Westhoven
Special Teams Training Officer