UASI Project Summary Sheet - HazMat Truck.docx

Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) 
Project Summary 
 
Please email completed forms to phoenixuasi@phoenix.gov 
 
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION 
Agency Name:   
City of Buckeye – Buckeye Fire-Medical-Rescue Department 
(BFMRD) 
Point of Contact:   
Rob Roach 
Phone Number:  
623-349-6165 
Email:  
rroach@buckeyeaz.gov 
 
 
PROJECT TITLE: 
Buckeye Fire-Medical-Rescue Department Hazardous Materials 
Truck 
 
UASI SUBCOMMITTEE PROJECT FALLS UNDER:  
 
Emergency Management 
PROJECT SUMMARY DESCRIPTION: 
Project description must include: 
 What the project intends to do or accomplish 
 How this project would benefit the agency, region, or state 
 Any additional information you see fit that would provide greater clarity as to what the 
project is trying to accomplish and/or the added benefit it would provide 
 
The Buckeye Fire-Medical-Rescue Department (BFMRD) urgently requires a new Hazardous 
Materials (HazMat) truck to replace the existing failing HazMat truck, which is beyond its useful 
life and is a converted bread truck. Without a timely replacement, BFMRD personnel and 
citizens may face challenges responding to hazardous materials incidents, potentially 
necessitating assistance from neighboring jurisdictions and resulting in extended response 
times. BFMRD’s HazMat truck is becoming unreliable as the aging parts are experiencing 
wear and tear. The existing truck technology is outdated and insufficient. If BFMRD does not 
acquire a new HazMat truck soon, its personnel may not be able to respond to calls for service 
involving hazardous materials and may need to request assistance from a neighboring 
jurisdiction, which increases the response time. In 2024, BFMRD provided mutual aid in 1,188 
incidents and deployed the HazMat truck to 112 calls for service within Buckeye and 
neighboring jurisdictions. Calls for service included emergency responses, and potential for 
terrorist and mass catastrophic events such as the Super Bowl, visiting dignitaries, and large 
soft target events. BFMRD anticipates that calls for service within Buckeye and neighboring 
jurisdictions will increase every year due to the rapid growth within Buckeye and neighboring 
cities, and the attractiveness of holding large events in Metro Phoenix.

BFMRD’s current HazMat truck was funded through a UASI grant in 2012 and is a 2009 
converted bread truck. BFMRD’s current HazMat truck is 16 years old, is facing an increase 
in repair and maintenance frequency, and is at the end of its useful life. Additionally, the current 
HazMat truck technology is outdated and is too small for the 4 HazMat technicians who 
respond to each HazMat call, and the technicians face increased summer temperatures 
reaching 115 degrees, as the air conditioning is not operating properly. The estimated cost for 
a new HazMat truck is $1.5 million.  
 
The HazMat truck is a vital resource for the community and not just for the City of Buckeye, 
as neighboring jurisdictions request the deployment of the Buckeye HazMat truck. It is 
important to note that the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station, approximately 20 miles west 
of Buckeye, is considered the largest nuclear energy facility in the United States, as it spans 
4,000 acres of land. Nuclear waste from the plant is stored in steel and concrete columns that 
are earthquake-proof. The containers take up space equivalent to that of a football field, and 
while they may be constructed to be earthquake-proof, there is no guarantee that a hazardous 
event will never happen at this facility. If BFMRD did not have a HazMat truck and a hazardous 
event occurred at this facility, the response time would be much longer, as resources would 
need to be pulled from a jurisdiction further than Buckeye, as Buckeye is the closest city to the 
facility. Another potential cause for hazardous material events are the I-10 freeway and State 
Route 85, which carry freightliners transporting goods, including hazardous materials. If the 
freightliners get into accidents or have mechanical issues, there is a possibility for a hazardous 
material event, which would require the deployment of a HazMat vehicle. The HazMat truck 
ensures that the BFMRD provides the community with swift, excellent service and ensures 
that all BFMRD members and the general public are safe and protected from potentially 
hazardous materials. An example of the BFMRD providing excellent service with the HazMat 
truck includes a chemical spill at a Buckeye high school lab, which was contained by the 
BFMRD and resulted in no serious injuries. Other potential hazardous materials locations 
within Buckeye include Fertizona, which had to be evacuated a few years ago due to a HazMat 
situation. Thatcher Company, located near downtown Buckeye, experienced a nitric acid spill 
in June 2024. Large toxic plumes entered the air, triggering a shelter-in-place for the 
surrounding communities. BFMRD required assistance from neighboring agencies due to the 
HazMat truck’s limited capabilities, which delayed the resolution of this hazardous event. 
HazMat situations may occur at warehouses, manufacturing companies, fertilizer 
manufacturers, and anywhere chemical spills or hazardous materials may be released. A 
hazardous spill event occurred earlier this year. The City of Buckeye continues to grow 
precipitously with a mix of residential and commercial occupancies, increasing the volume of 
hazardous material and community-wide exposure. BFMRD's HazMat truck plays a critical 
role in ensuring swift and effective responses to HazMat incidents. The HazMat truck is vital 
in addressing incidents at warehouses, manufacturing companies, and locations where 
chemical spills or hazardous materials releases may occur. Acquiring a new HazMat truck is 
imperative to uphold the BFMRD's commitment to providing excellent service and ensuring 
the safety and protection of the community and neighboring jurisdictions against events of 
mass catastrophic and terrorist events.  
 
This request is scalable. 
 
BUDGET: 
Item 
Qty Requested 
Cost Per Item 
Total Requested 
Hazardous Materials 
Response Truck 
1 
$1,500,000.00 
$1,500,000.00 
TOTAL PROJECT REQUEST: $1,500,000.00