SERTC to expand emergency response training for alternative fuels, EV

The Security and Emergency Response Training Center (SERTC) recently broke ground on a new training area in Pueblo, Colorado, where first responders will learn how to deal with emergencies involving flammable liquids, alternative fuels and electric vehicles (EVs).

The site will enable first responders to train as part of the "Alternative Fuels and Flammable Incident Response and Management" (AFFIRM) course, according to an MxV Rail press release.

Recently, the Federal Emergency Management Administration's National Training and Education division approved the AFFIRM course as a fully funded grant program. The AFFIRM program will continue SERTC's tradition of offering realistic, hands-on transportation and hazmat training experience.

All current resident courses are a 50-50 split of classroom and field exercises. The field experiences will include live fires on four  training scenarios including a 750-foot-long mixed commodity derailment, an industrial loading facility with rail and highway containers, a 1600-barrel storage tank battery and a live electric vehicle fire.

SERTC is partnering with industry leaders and members of the Association of American Railroads (AAR) to develop relevant classroom materials, MxV Rail officials said. Two pilot courses will be held this year beginning Nov. 4 and Dec. 2.

MxV Rail is an AAR subsidiary. More information on AFFIRM or other SERTC training courses is available here.