The Tempe Fire Department is receiving a Thermo-Electron system, which will allow it to detect very low levels of radiation in emergency situations.
Purchase of the system was approved by City Council last week and is being funded by a $44,501 Homeland Security grant given to the Fire Department, said City of Tempe spokeswoman Shelley Hearn.
"The grant is designed to enhance government agencies at all levels and to improve [emergency] response and prevention capabilities," said Tempe Fire Department Battalion Chief Tom Abbott.
Abbott said the unit is made up of two pieces and includes a scintillator and probe. The probe is used to detect the radiation and the scintillator picks up the radiation information and plugs into a display, where the department reads the information.
The department will also receive an adjustable gate and dosimeters for each fire fighter. Dosimeters, which are about the size of a pen, measure radiation exposure. Currently, the department is only able to supply one dosimeter per truck.
According to Abbott, the gate, which is also able to detect radiation exposure, will be adjustable so individuals and vehicles can either walk or drive through.
"Depending on how we set it up, it can be a drive-through gate," Abbott said. "If someone comes through with radiation, it will pick it up."
Although the department will receive more radiation-detecting materials, Abbott was unable to comment on them, citing security reasons.
"Other instruments can't be released, but we will be getting 'unknown substance' identification equipment that will give us chemical, biological and radiation detecting capabilities," he said.
All of these materials are used on a situational basis, usually at special events, such as the Fiesta Bowl block party and the upcoming presidential debate, where the Fire Department will be equipped to handle an emergency situation, should one arise, Abbott said.
"Everything will be in by Oct. 13, and we will be on hand," he said.
Abbott said the gate would not be set up at the debate, but it will be ready if needed.
He would not comment on specific situations in which the materials are used, citing security reasons, but said that there are no known specific terrorist or radiological threats surrounding the debate.
"To my knowledge there are no specific threats," he said. "We hope [with these materials] we'll be in a better position to respond to an emergency, should one occur, regardless of its nature."
Reach the reporter at jenna.eckenrode@asu.edu.
