By MES Dispatch Staff
The Briefing
- HazMat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue announced August 12 it will cease hazardous materials emergency response services in Lancaster County and transition to an educational foundation due to financial inability to sustain operations.
- The volunteer nonprofit had provided hazmat response for decades under county contract before the relationship ended in July 2025 following disputes over contract renewal and financial accountability.
- Without county fee-based funding that previously supported operations, HazMat 2 cannot maintain the $20,000 annual insurance required for emergency rescue calls.
- Lebanon County’s professional hazmat team has provided mutual aid services to Lancaster County since the contract ended, averaging 38-minute response times compared to approximately one hour under HazMat 2.
- The HazMat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue Foundation will operate with 12 remaining members, providing educational programs funded through grants, donations and workshop fees.
LANCASTER COUNTY, PA. — HazMat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue announced August 12 that it will discontinue hazardous materials emergency response operations and establish an educational foundation to provide hazard awareness training to Lancaster County residents and businesses.
Executive Director Kurt Windlebleck stated that financial constraints prevented the nonprofit from sustaining emergency response operations. HazMat 2 has relied on savings to maintain operations over the past year after losing county funding support.
HazMat 2 had operated under contract with Lancaster County for decades, receiving operational funding through fees collected from commercial facilities storing hazardous materials on their properties. State law restricted those fees to hazardous materials response purposes.
The contract relationship terminated in July 2025 after disputes emerged regarding contract renewal and allegations of financial mismanagement. County officials accused HazMat 2 of questionable expenses including an international trip, personal medications, and personal mobile phone purchases. The nonprofit denied allegations and stated county leadership had been notified of expenditures when made.
A county investigation into HazMat 2’s spending remains ongoing, with no public disclosure of findings as of August 12.
Without the county fee-based revenue stream, Windlebleck stated HazMat 2 cannot fund the $20,000 annual insurance required to operate emergency rescue calls. The nonprofit has transferred its four remaining emergency response vehicles to Lebanon County’s hazmat team.
Lebanon County’s professional hazmat team began providing mutual aid to Lancaster County immediately after the contract ended in July 2025. The counties signed a formal one-year service agreement in October 2025, which was renewed for an additional year in June 2026 following review by Lancaster County’s Local Emergency Planning Committee.
County spokesperson Michael Fitzpatrick stated Lebanon County’s hazmat team has averaged 38-minute response times to hazardous incidents in Lancaster County, an improvement over HazMat 2’s previous full-team response time of approximately one hour. Fitzpatrick noted that Lebanon County personnel have provided training to Lancaster County volunteer firefighters, equipping crews to coordinate on hazmat-related incidents with reduced full-team response calls.
HazMat 2’s transition to the HazMat 2 Environmental Fire Rescue Foundation will focus on educational initiatives addressing chemical and environmental hazards including lithium-ion battery fires and chemical spills. Windlebleck stated the foundation will serve students, small businesses, and private residents with educational programs and environmental stewardship training.
The 12 remaining HazMat 2 members will manage foundation operations, which will be funded through grants, donations, and workshop fees. Windlebleck stated leaders are filing paperwork with the state to establish foundation status. A timeline for the transition has not been established, though Windlebleck indicated completion is targeted before year-end 2026.
The Local Emergency Planning Committee meeting minutes indicate Lancaster County is also pursuing a mutual aid agreement with Lancaster city’s fire department for hazmat services, though the county has not disclosed the rationale for pursuing additional hazmat coverage beyond Lebanon County’s existing contract.