The San Bernardino City Fire Department has a Hazardous Materials Response Team specially trained and equipped to handle hazardous materials releases which have adverse effects on lives, the environment, and property within the City of San Bernardino.

A hazardous material is any material that, because of its quantity, concentration, of physical or chemical characteristics, poses a significant present or potential hazard to human health and safety or to the environment if released into the workplace or the environment.

A release is any spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, or disposing into the environment, unless permitted or authorized by a regulatory agency.

All significant spills, releases, or potential releases or hazardous materials must be reported immediately.

To report significant releases or potential releases of hazardous materials call 9-1-1.

Hazardous Materials are part of daily life. The last time you filled your gas tank did you consider you were actually pumping a hazardous material into your tank? When used properly hazardous materials are normally not a problem. But when used improperly, the results can be devastating. A spill of gasoline into a waterway is sure to take its toll on fish and wildlife.

Hazardous Materials are even in our homes. Drain cleaners, solvents, pesticides, paints, motor oil, dyes, and antifreeze to name a few, are all household hazardous materials. All these materials and more need to be used, stored, and disposed of in a safe and proper manner. When these products need to be disposed of they are considered a household hazardous waste. Improperly disposed of household hazardous waste causes many problems. For instance, City workers have been injured by the flames of mixed household hazardous waste which were improperly put in curb side trash bins. To properly dispose of these wastes and receive additional information contacts.

Residents of the City call (800) OILY CAT

Residents of San Bernardino County Calls 909-382-5401

Used Motor Oil can be taken to a local Chief's or Kragen Auto Parts Store. Look in the Yellow Pages for a location nearest you and call for additional information.