The Salinas Fire Department Hazardous Materials Response Team was first organized in 1988. In 2003, with assistance from the US Department of Homeland Security and the Monterey County Office of Emergency Services, the team was reorganized as the Monterey Operational Area Hazardous Materials Response Team.

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The team is divided into two divisions, the Inland Division and the Coastal Division. The Coastal Division is comprised of 12 members of the Seaside Fire Department. The Inland Division is comprised of 16 members of the Salinas Fire Department. Both divisions have highly trained Hazardous Materials Technicians and Specialists. The Salinas Fire Department team members currently have over 3074 hours of combined certification training and over 308 years of collective experience as professional firefighters.

In addition, the Monterey County Department of Health provides technical assistance and enforcement services to the team.

The team provides hazardous materials identification, hazard risk assessment, threat assessment, tactical assistance, rescue, hazardous material confinement and containment, recovery assistance and weapons of mass destruction intervention to all Monterey and San Benito County resident’s.