Hazardous Materials Hotline©
September 30, 2026
Battery Information
NIOSH has released a serious injury report of an incident involving the response to a burning Tesla Model 3 that resulted in injuries to responding personnel, the NFPA has released information on managing lithium-ion battery hazards at construction sites, NIST has released a study on the risks associated with lithium-ion battery fires, and FSRI has posted a tactical decision aid to assist with he response to electrical vehicle fires.
Discussion: Alternative energy, whether in vehicles, personal mobility devices, power walls, data centers, or industrial facilities continue to present hazards and challenges to responders. Emergency responders and emergency planners should take an active role in training for response, establishing codes and standards, and pre-planning prevention and response.
Personal Protective Equipment
For those who have been following trends in purchasing, many makers of chemical protective clothing are leaving the market. This report demonstrates the impact on equipping response forces. This follows a release from the NFPA in 2025, warning of shifts in the manufacturing market for CPC due to regulatory changes.
Discussion: Supply chain and regulatory issues continue to plague purchasing and equipping of emergency response teams. Organizational leadership need to be open and honest with decision-makers regarding their ability to equip responders and protect communities if/when supply chains become disrupted.
Weapons of Mass Destruction
West Points CTC has an interesting article examining the history and potential for the use of WMD by terrorists and Stimson has published an article examining the WMD threat over the past 25 years. In related news, Claude AI is reporting that it blocked bioweapon cases.
Discussion: While the higher risk continues to remain the use of conventional/low-tech weapons, the use of WMD continues to remain. Emergency responders and planners should remain vigilant and continue to monitor open source intelligence, such as ProMed for early awareness of trends and emerging issues.
Industrial Incidents
The Chemical Safety Board has released a video examining the fatal release of nitrogen at a food processing facility and the cause of death for 11 victims of a chemical incident in Longview OR has been released.
Discussion: Chemical incidents in industrial settings continue to rise in the US and responders should utilize incidents as a springboard for developing training, planning, and preparedness activities.
Chemical of the Week and IAB Podcast
The InterAgency Board continues to host the chemical of the week (COW) which is released every Monday and bi-monthly and special release podcasts along with the Hazardous Materials Hot Line archive. They make for great training and situational awareness. Recent COWs include Nitrogen Tetroxide, boron trifluoride, and ethyl acrylate.
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About the Author:
Dave Donohue is a hazardous materials course developer, educator, and trainer with experience at the local, regional and national level. He is also a Master Exercise Practitioner, firefighter, and emergency manager.
