What is the primary purpose of a Hazardous Materials Response Team?

Hazardous Materials Response Teams are critical within the Incident Command System (ICS), which is employed during emergency responses. In the ICS framework, HMRTs work in coordination with other emergency services, such as firefighters and police, to manage hazardous materials incidents. For instance, in a chemical spill, the HMRT would be responsible for identifying the substance, assessing the risk, and executing containment and cleanup operations.

From the perspective of other emergency response personnel, Hazardous Materials Response Teams are seen as highly specialized and essential partners in managing hazardous incidents. These teams are often called upon for their expertise in identifying and handling dangerous substances, which is beyond the scope of regular emergency services.

Source: https://training.fema.gov/is/courseoverview.aspx?code=is-5.a&lang=en