When arriving on a potential Hazmat incident on the highway, you should stage emergency apparatus in which direction?

• A. Uphill and upwind
• B. Downhill and downwind
• C. Uphill and downhill
• D. Downwind and upwind

Answer: (A)

Staging uphill and upwind from a hazmat release minimizes your crews’ exposure by putting the response area on the side where the wind and gravity are most likely to carry the hazard away from you. Hazardous vapors generally travel with the wind (the plume drifts downwind), and spilled product can run downhill with gravity or with surface water. By placing apparatus uphill, you also reduce the chance that runoff or any condensate will flow toward you. In short, upwind keeps you out of the plume, and uphill keeps you out of potential runoff, creating a safer buffer as you begin containment and assessment.