Mike Schneider of the Fort Madison Fire Department and Damon Crackley of the Keokuk Fire Department answered questions from the area businesses.
The hazmat group was formed as a way to help when hazardous materials have been mishandled.
The two said they are trained to handle the biggest and smallest incidents.
"We've helped someone whose old grandfather clock had mercury in it," Schneider said.
Crackley said they have dealt with former science teachers who have hung on to hazardous materials not considered hazardous while they were teaching.
The members of the hazmat team are firefighters from Fort Madison and Keokuk's fire departments. They regularly go to training seminars to keep up to date on handling hazardous materials and are in constant contact with industries in Lee County handling hazardous materials. The group tries to have training days throughout the year, going through the process step-by-step for whenever a call is made.
"I understand hazmat and have been trained, but it evolves all the time, and these guys are trained for that," emergency management director Steve Cirinna said.
Before the hazmat group was formed back in 2004, all hazardous material incidents would fall into the lap of Cirinna.
The hazmat group has one truck and trailer at their disposal filled with items needed to handle hazardous situations.
The group is funded by a stipend from the county and grants from the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Justice and FEMA to help pay for the materials and training needed.
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