Staff recommendation is to approve the travel request by Jason Lyon, Battalion Chief/Hazmat Coordinator to attend the U.S. Department of Defense/Israeli Ministry of Defense test and training in Israel September 29 - October 6, 2022.  Council must approve any travel outside the continental United States.

Battalion Chief Jason Lyon, the Billings Fire Department’s Hazmat Team Leader, has been solicited by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Irregular Warfare Technical Support Directorate to be one of six first responders in the United States to travel to Israel.

This test will involve the actual detonation of a live radiological dispersion device (dirty bomb). This test aims to validate FEMA guidance to first responders on how to best respond to an incident involving radiological materials. All six Montana Regional Hazmat Team members, led by Chief Lyon, recently received instruction in these tactics. Chief Lyon was then asked to support the validation mission. Additionally, Battalion Chief Lyon will evaluate how this guidance may improve response to chemical releases similar to the recent ammonia leak here in Billings.

This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity allows the Billings Fire Department to impact national planning scenarios, a field mostly dominated by large metropolitan fire departments, by representing the interests of medium-sized urban centers. It also gives the Billings Fire Department a subject matter expert in the field who continues to train other first responders in our state successfully.

Finally, being invited to participate in this elite training is a testament to the professionalism of the Billings Fire Department and its Regional Hazmat Team.
 

Chief Lyon has secured over 1.3 Million dollars in grant money for the Montana Regional Hazmat Teams. These funds have led to implementing a statewide hazmat-medic program, three trainings and exercises at federal training facilities, and new, state-of-the-art hazmat and rescue equipment.

Jason is also the Secretary of the Montana State Hazmat Advisory Group, which advises the State Emergency Response Committee and the Governor on hazmat/WMD incidents. Additionally, in 2018, Chief Lyon organized a whole-of-community, FEMA-led training on active shooter/high threat incidents. This program reinforced the Billings Police Department/Fire Department Rescue Task Force program.
 

City Council may: Approve; or, Not Approve this travel.

All participants in this program are expected to fund their travel. The estimated cost is $5,500, including airfare, lodging, rental car, and per diem.  Grant Funds previously awarded through the State of Montana in the Regional Hazmat Team budget will be used for these expenses.

This travel will not affect the current Fire Department budget.  Costs associate with this will be provided by HazMat Team training funds.