The Fire & Rescue Department co-operates a hazardous materials response team with the Cleveland County Emergency Management (CCEM)  that is capable of operating at the technician responder level.  The team is fully equipped to provide mitigation and containment services in a variety of hazardous material spills, leaks and releases scenarios, and provides decontamination of responders and civilians.  The equipment is based and maintained at the CCEM facility in Shelby for ready deployment.  The primary mission of the  Fire & Rescue Department is to provide the team with trained responders and operational support.  The department's heavy rescue apparatus is available to deploy in advance to incidents throughout the county to begin containment while the hazardous materials team resources are being mobilized.