The team members were trained in Chemistry of Hazardous Materials and how to manage a hazardous materials incident. After the team members were selected and trained, the team was placed in service at the quarters of Engine Company 3 at East Main and Driver Street in East Durham. A hazardous materials unit was purchased and stocked with specialized equipment in 1987. Rescue 11 (re-named to Rescue 1) which was located at Fire Station 1 was trained and made part of the Haz-Mat Team. From 1990-1991 Rescue 11 was quartered with Engine 3, but was then relocated back to Station One to more centrally cover the city. In 1996 to make the team more effective, Engine 1 and Engine 3 swapped crews so that the Haz-Mat team (Engine 1/Rescue 1/Haz-Mat 1) would respond together.

In 1997 Fire Station 13 was opened in Research Triangle Park. Engine 1's crew was relocated to the new Fire Station 13 and staffed Engine 13 and Haz-Mat 13. Rescue 1 was dropped from the Haz-Mat team in order to concentrate on Tactical Rescue responses. To supplement the team, Engine Co. 3 was once again added to the Haz-Mat Team. Engine 3, Engine 13 and Haz-Mat 13 now serve as Hazardous Materials Team for the City of Durham.

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