EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — East Palestine's fire department has begun the decontamination process of contaminated fire gear, 11 days after a train derailed in the area. 

What You Need To Know

  • It has been nearly two weeks since a train derailed in East Palestine, forcing residents to evacuate their homes 

  • Five of the 20 rail cars that derailed were carrying toxic chemicals 

  • East Palestine Fire Chief Keith Drabick said his department has begun the process of decontaminating fire gear used that night 

  • Most of the fire gear had direct exposure to the chemicals
  • Manufacture recommendations tell Drabick all of that gear must be thrown away

For nearly 36 years, Fire Chief Keith Drabick has led a life of service to his community.

“This is absolutely the greatest job on the earth,” Drabick said.

He added he wouldn't trade it for anything.

“The satisfaction you get from being able to give to the community and give back, knowing that you were there when people need you,” he said.

That need is never greater than now. His department responded to calls on Feb. 3 that a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals had derailed. It was a call Drabick said he and his team will never forget.

“They did a phenomenal job — not just my guys, but everyone that came to help,” he said. 

The immediate threat from the train derailment may be gone after crews did a "controlled release" of the toxic chemicals, but now, it’s time for chief to begin assessing what can be salvaged from the gear and equipment used while responding to the derailment, especially equipment that was in direct contact with the chemicals spilled. That includes the hoses dragged through those chemicals, oxygen packs, radios and helmets worn by those who responded. 

"We have to wear those into dangerous situations — house fires, car fires where those are going to come in contact with flames or high temperatures,” Drabick said. “So the manufacturers, of course, they're using erring on the side of caution and saying It's probably not best if you use that stuff.” 

This means most of the gear that was used that night will be decontaminated and disposed of.

“We want to make sure that [the gear is] in perfect working order,” Drabick said. 

This doesn’t mean the station is left without the proper gear they need to continue to serve the village.

“We’re OK for right now," he said. "I have enough equipment that I feel comfortable we can go handle business if we need to, but I need to replace the stuff that I’ve lost.”

It's a replacement process that could take months. 

He does all this for a village that he’s determined to keep safe.

“We do appreciate the handshakes and the thank you’s, but it’s ingrained in us, it’s what we do, we’re here to serve," he said.

Drabick said at this time he hasn’t tallied up the number of dollars spent on new equipment, but he can be sure that it’s in the hundred of thousands of dollars, a bill he hopes will be covered by Norfolk Southern.