Application Now Open for CHEMTREC® HELP Award to Support Hazmat Incident Preparedness

June 1, 2021

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) and CHEMTREC® are pleased to announce that in honor of CHEMTREC’s 50th anniversary, five U.S. volunteer fire departments will each receive $10,000 through the 2021 CHEMTREC® HELP (Hazmat Emergencies Local Preparedness) Awards.

CHEMTREC® is the world’s leading source of 24/7 call center support and information during hazardous materials incidents. This is the third year that CHEMTREC® and the NVFC have partnered to offer the HELP Awards to volunteer fire departments. To date, four departments have received a total of $35,000 to bolster their hazardous materials incident response capabilities and increase local readiness for hazmat events.

“Congratulations to CHEMTREC® for its 50 years of service to the first responder community,” said NVFC chair Steve Hirsch. “We are excited to partner once again to help our nation’s volunteer firefighters be better prepared and equipped for a hazmat incident and are grateful for the continuous support you provide to our volunteers.”

“Supporting first responders is at the core of our mission, so CHEMTREC® could not think of a better way to celebrate our 50th anniversary then to provide $50,000 towards the HELP Awards this year,” said CHEMTREC interim chief executive Chris Brown. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with the NVFC and supporting volunteer firefighters.”

Departments must meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply for the 2021 CHEMTREC® HELP Awards:

  • Be over 50% volunteer
  • Serve a population of 25,000 or less
  • Have an income of no more than $250,000 for the most recently completed fiscal year
  • Be located in the United States and legally organized under state law
  • Demonstrate in the application essay the department’s need to receive the award
  • Chief or individual applying on behalf of the department must be a member of the NVFC. Learn about member benefits and join at nvfc.org/join.

Only one application will be accepted per department. Past recipients of the HELP Award must wait five years before reapplying. Departments that receive the award must use the money to increase their department’s hazmat response capabilities and not for any other purpose. The award cannot be redistributed.

The application period is open until September 1. View full criteria and access the application at https://www.chemtrec.com/emergency-responders/help-award.

About CHEMTREC®
CHEMTREC® is the leading source of 24/7 call center support and information during hazardous materials incidents. CHEMTREC is the single point of contact that connects emergency responders with everyone involved – manufacturers, shippers, consignees, carriers, and government agencies. CHEMTREC is equipped to handle any situation and any class of hazardous material.

CHEMTREC’s team of trained, experienced Emergency Service Specialists provide emergency responders with the information they need to safely and effectively manage chemical shipping incidents, including guidebooks, training opportunities, and industry resources. CHEMTREC’s service is complimentary for emergency responders.

About the NVFC
The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) is the leading nonprofit membership association representing the interests of the volunteer fire, emergency medical, and rescue services. The NVFC serves as the voice of the volunteer in the national arena and provides critical advocacy, resources, programs, and education for first responders across the nation. Learn more at www.nvfc.org.