Jacksonville Hosts First Stop of Our North American TRANSCAER Training Tour

Our North American TRANSCAER tour officially launched in Jacksonville, Florida, with a successful chlorine emergency response training delivered in partnership with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD). We were graciously hosted by the Fire Academy of the South, with coordination and on-site support from Shawn Fallon. The training brought together 136 responders from 11 different organizations, reinforcing a strong, collaborative approach to hazmat preparedness across the region.

This training also drew the attention of local leadership, with Jacksonville City Council members Jimmy Peluso, Rahman Johnson, and Chris Miller visiting the hands-on training to observe participants in action and show their support for ongoing emergency preparedness efforts.

This training marked an important evolution in our program delivery. For the first time, we tailored elements of the course to meet the specific needs of the host department and incorporated scenario-based exercises directly into first responder training. These hands-on components included a Chlorine Railcar Housing Leak scenario and a Water Treatment Plant Leak scenario, allowing participants to apply classroom knowledge in realistic situations. Based on last week’s success, this approach proved not only valuable, but fully achievable as we continue to enhance future trainings.

We’re grateful to our instructors, Gary Acklin (OxyChem), Duane Carpenter (Westlake Corporation), Mike Croke (JCI Jones Chemicals), Todd Dial (Brenntag), Travis Gladish (Allied Universal), Jimmy Hester (JCI Jones Chemical), Craig Pritchett (Westlake Corporation), Dan Thompson (Midland Manufacturing), Rob Wolniak (Indian Springs), and our host Shawn Fallon for making this training possible.

As the first stop on this year’s tour, Jacksonville set a strong precedent for what’s ahead. Our next stop will take place in Avon, Indiana, June 2–4, with registration now open. We look forward to building on this momentum as we continue delivering impactful, hands-on training across North America.

To learn more, read the full press release here: https://www.myjfrd.com/news/jfrd-firefighters-train-alongside-regional-responders-in-chlorine-emergency-response