LyondellBasell, has made a donation of $100,000 to fund specialized emergency training for six Houston-area fire departments that serve key industrial corridors.
The donation will underwrite hazardous materials (HazMat) training scholarships for fire departments in Houston, Channelview, Pasadena, La Porte, Sheldon and Mont Belvieu.
Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX), an internationally-recognized leader in emergency response training and firefighting, will administer the training to the fire departments.
“We recognize the challenges fire departments in Houston and smaller outlying communities face in obtaining this unique type of training,” said Bob Patel, LyondellBasell CEO and chairman of the management board.
“We believe in being a responsible, good neighbor where we operate and are pleased we can help in saving lives and protecting our communities.”
“We are honored to play a small role in ensuring that the brave men and women who put their lives on the line every day are even better prepared to safely do their jobs.”
The greater Houston area is home to many industrial facilities including refineries, storage terminals and chemical plants that handle a variety of materials and products.
The TEEX courses will train firefighters specifically in handling incidents involving different hazardous materials that require specialized response tactics.
According to Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, the training provided by the scholarship donation is an essential resource that will help prepare area fire departments for all types of emergencies.
“This donation will go a long way toward better equipping our firefighters with the expertise they need when responding to industrial related emergencies,” said Turner.
“LyondellBasell is such a wonderful community partner. They never hesitate to step forward to help out. I want to thank them for their generosity.”
The LyondellBasell donation will provide more than 1,200 hours of instruction in TEEX’s HazMat training program.
Fire departments will have the option of attending classes either at the Brayton Fire Training Field in College Station, Texas, or onsite at their fire stations using TEEX’s mobile training units.
“This generous donation by LyondellBasell will help enhance the region’s operational and hazardous materials response readiness. With Houston being the ‘energy capital of the world,’ it is important that we stay up to date with the dynamic arena that is hazardous materials,” said Houston Fire Chief Samuel Peña.
“I would like to thank Mayor Turner and Bob Patel for their leadership and commitment to our area fire departments.”
The donation of HazMat training is LyondellBasell’s most recent effort to partner with and support local first responders.
The company regularly coordinates with fire departments and other mutual aid groups to cross train at its facilities in order to increase overall response effectiveness.
The company also donated funds to purchase essential safety equipment for Harris County Sheriff’s Industrial Unit Deputies, tactical vests for the Houston Police Department, and three rescue boats for the Houston Fire Department.
LyondellBasell is one of the world’s largest plastics, chemical and refining companies, with more than 4,000 employees in the greater Houston area and 13,000 employees worldwide.
LyondellBasell products and technologies are used to make items that improve the quality of life for people around the world including packaging, electronics, automotive parts, home furnishings, construction materials and biofuels.
Last year, the Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) served more than 168,000 people from every U.S. state and territory and 82 countries worldwide.
TEEX makes a difference by providing training, developing practical solutions and saving lives.
