Photo By Joseph Rivera Rebolledo | Sgt. 1st. Class Jose R. Perez Bonilla, medical noncommissioned officer and analytics...... read more read more
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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico National Guard’s 22nd Civil Support Team (CST) responded to an emergency call after receiving reports of an explosion of a water tank in Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, in which one citizen was injured with second-degree burns, and after being notified by local authorities during the evening of Dec. 10.
The explosion occurred after a citizen of Vega Baja, a retired policeman, started cleaning a water-tank with an approximate capacity of 300-galons, which was purchased after responding to an ad on the Internet. As a result of the explosion, the citizen was evaluated and later reported with first- and second-degree burns in 3 percent of his body, and was directed to Puerto Rico’s Centro Medico burn unit for treatment while more than 50 others were reportedly affected by the incident.
“The specific request was for detection capabilities,” said Maj. José Ramirez, commander of the CST.
Once the CST advance party arrived to the scene, three members of the CST survey team approached the area of the incident and were granted access for the evaluation and detection of potential hazardous materials (hazmats) in the area.
“After arriving on scene they established the initial contact with the incident commander from the Puerto Rico EQB (Environmental Board),” said Ramirez.
According to Ramirez, although the state agencies have limited detection and monitoring capabilities, they were able to take pH readings. On the other side and complementing the state agencies capabilities, the CST was able to enhance the state agencies by bringing equipment designed for the monitoring and identification of the presence of hazmats at the scene.
Ramirez also advised of the communication channels between CST and local authorities. He is also convinced that the CST will produce results.
“We will be able to produce a result for the incident commander or lead agency, and from that point, that adds value to the investigative effort to clarify what substance was present,” said Ramirez.
Even though the substance has not being identified yet, the CST lab technicians continue the research in order to find the cause of the explosion.
“What is most important for the CST capability is not to rush the science. We just need to run the science,” said Ramirez.
When asked on how he would rate the unit’s reaction time to a real emergency, Ramirez gave credit to unit climate and cohesion.
“The climate, which is nothing more of an indicator of unit morale and your best measurement of unit morale, is unit performance. Last night’s quick reaction for 100 percent of the unit reporting to the unit location from different points in the island within the time limits of CST doctrine for deployment is just the icing on the cake, is the proof that unit morale at the 22nd CST is high,” said Ramirez.
Even though science is not to be rushed, lab technicians have kept on working non-stop in order to find the cause of the explosion in a timely fashion.
“This is something that is in our hearts, we do it with joy, which is something that motivates us and keep us moving forward on a daily basis,” said Sgt. 1st Class Jose R. Perez Bonilla, medical noncommissioned officer and analytics lab operator.
| Date Taken: | 12.11.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 12.11.2013 15:40 |
| Story ID: | 118053 |
| Location: | SAN JUAN, PR |
| Web Views: | 182 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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