Over 70 members within Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue are Hazardous Materials Technician certified. The initial training for this certification is 160 hours of technician level training, followed by annual refresher training that meets or exceeds the State Emergency Response Commission for Hazardous Materials recommended refresher competencies.

The Hazmat Team is operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week and is one of four regionally posted Hazmat teams. The Team not only responds to incidents within the City of Fort Lauderdale and within Broward County, but also has the equipment, training, and capabilities to respond State-wide. A minimum of five Hazmat Technicians are on duty at all times. Based on the size and scope of an incident, additional Technicians from around the City may be requested to respond as needed.

Common types of calls the Hazmat Team responds to involve propane or natural gas leaks, acid spills, gasoline spills, chemical spills, and chlorine and vapor leaks. Common household calls often involve BBQ grill propane tanks and natural or propane gas leaks in pipes or appliances.

The Hazmat Team trains frequently with the Fort Lauderdale Police Department's Special Operations Units, including working with the Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD, or Bomb Squad) and the Environmental Crimes Division. The Team provides Hazmat training to other local agencies, such as awareness level training and hosts a variety of specialty classes (Propane Emergencies, Advanced Radiation courses, etc) regularly.

The Hazmat Team also works with several local, regional and federal agencies to develop protocols for different types of hazardous material emergencies. These multi-agency partnerships have been strengthened to foster interagency knowledge, as well as to develop an understanding of what each agency's role is in an emergency situation.

The Hazmat team is outfitted with a tractor-trailer to store and transport the various pieces of equipment and protective gear necessary for hazardous materials emergencies. The Medical Rescue Unit assigned to the Hazmat Team is equipped with advanced technology, such as a Forward Looking Infrared Camera (FLIR), multiple multi-gas monitors, and radiation detection technology both inside and outside the unit.

All Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue Operations Division  units are equipped with chemical/biological protective suits for use at hazardous materials incidents. All agency medical transport units are equipped to treat and transport victims of chemical or biological exposure.