The Hazmat Files

About The Hazmat Files

Welcome to "The Hazmat Files," brought to you by the TRANSCAER® Program. This podcast serves as a resource for first responders and the community, focusing on the safe handling and transportation of hazardous materials. Each episode features expert insights, the latest safety protocols, and discussions on emergency response strategies. Our aim is to equip you with the essential knowledge to effectively manage hazmat incidents. Subscribe to stay informed and prepared in the ever-evolving field of hazardous materials management. Learn more about upcoming training events and resources available for first responders at www.TRANSCAER.com. TRANSCAER also offers a variety of online hazmat courses for emergency responders and community leaders who cannot attend classroom events. You can take the courses at your own pace, and at a time and location that is convenient for you. All of TRANSCAER's courses are free! Visit www.hazmatcourses.com to learn more.

Publisher

Erica Bernstein Fischer

Category

education · education

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

18 Jun 2024

Latest episode

21 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   21 Sept 2026

   Thermal Runaway: Fires, Emissions, and the Challenges for Responders

   Lithium-ion batteries power everything from smartphones and e-bikes to electric vehicles and large-scale energy storage systems, but when these batteries fail, the resulting thermal runaway events present unique challenges that extend far beyond a traditional fire for first responders. In this episode of The Hazmat Files, we examine what happens during thermal runaway, why these incidents behave differently than conventional fires, and what responders need to know about fire behavior, toxic emissions, explosion hazards, battery reignition, air monitoring, scene management, and responder safety. Join us as we explore current research being conducted by UL's Fire Safety Research Institute and Chemical Insights Research Institute, lessons learned from real-world incidents, and practical considerations for firefighters, hazmat teams, EMS, and emergency managers responding to one of today's fastest-growing hazards. Special Guests: Craig Weinschenk, PhD, Director of Research, UL Research Institutes' Fire Safety Research Institute Mark Wilson, MSPH, PhD, CIH, Research Director, UL Research Institutes' Chemical Insights Resources: ·         Full-Scale Electric Vehicle Fire Experiments and Recommendations for Fire Incident Response ·         NERIS - The National Emergency Response Information System (https://neris.fsri.org/) ·         Fire Safety Academy | Research‑Based Online Fire Training ·         Battery Safety - Take Charge ·         Evaluating inhalation risks and toxicological impacts of lithium-ion battery thermal runaway emissions - ScienceDirect ·         What toxic chemicals are released in lithium-ion battery fires? - Science Journal for Kids and Teens

2. 

   15 Sept 2026

   Episode 5: Leadership, Legacy, and the Future: Women Shaping the Fire Service

   The fire service is evolving, and women are helping shape its future at every level, from the station floor to executive leadership, emergency management, hazardous materials response, and fire prevention. In this episode of The Hazmat Files, we sit down with accomplished women from across the fire service to discuss leadership, mentorship, resilience, and the legacy they're building for the next generation. Together, we'll explore how leadership styles are changing, why diverse perspectives strengthen emergency response, and what today's leaders can do to inspire tomorrow's firefighters. Whether you're new to the profession or have decades of experience, this conversation is about more than representation, it's about creating a stronger, more prepared fire service for everyone. Special Guests: Assistant Fire Chief Benita Dawson, Prince George's County Fire & EMS Department Battalion Chief Kristi Bartlett, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department About the Fire Departments: Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department serves approximately 1.2 million residents across 400 square miles in Northern Virginia, immediately west of Washington, D.C. The department employs approximately 1,400 career personnel and operates 39 fire stations. Women represent approximately 11.5% of the department's career workforce. Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department serves approximately 1 million residents across 500 square miles in the Capital region of Maryland. The department employs approximately 1088 career personnel and operates 45 fire stations. Women represent approximately 12.5% of the department's career workforce.

3. 

   8 Sept 2026

   Behind Every Call: More Than an Emergency Number

   When responders call CHEMTREC, they aren't reaching a call center, they're connecting with an experienced Emergency Operations Center team that's available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. In this episode of The Hazmat Files, we go behind the scenes to explore what really happens after the phone rings. Learn how CHEMTREC's Emergency Operations Center gathers critical information, connects responders with product manufacturers and technical specialists, coordinates with carriers and government agencies, and helps provide the information needed to support safe, informed decision-making during hazardous materials incidents. Whether you're responding to a highway accident, rail derailment, warehouse fire, or chemical release, this conversation highlights why CHEMTREC is far more than an emergency phone number, it's a connection to one of the largest hazardous materials emergency response networks. Special Guests: Andrew LaVanway, Chief Executive, CHEMTREC Kevin Lavezzo, Associate Director, Operations Center, CHEMTREC The 2026 award opportunities closed on Sept. 4. Stay tuned for more information on scholarships and HELP Awards that will be offered in 2027. Hazardous Materials Instructor of the Year Award and Scholarship Hazardous Materials Officer of the Year Award and Scholarship HELP Award | CHEMTREC®

Who has been a guest on The Hazmat Files

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Clay
• Lane
• Brian

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

5,443

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

Spotify

3.0 / 5

2 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 48 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

53

Social presence

0

YouTube

74

Engagement

32

Contact The Hazmat Files

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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