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CIMA

Channel Industries
Mutual Aid

Our Services

Industrial Firefighting

Most CIMA members have Emergency Response Teams that include industrial trained firefighters.  These firefighters are trained in fire suppression techniques, hazard mitigation and various emergency response protocols.  Their main goal is protecting personnel, property, and assets within our member facilities.  Currently, our CIMA members combined can provide mutual aid support utilizing several hundred of these trained men and women.

Hazardous Material 

Many of our CIMA members have Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) response teams.  These teams consist of members who are trained and expected to perform work to handle and control actual or potential leaks or spills of hazardous substances requiring possible close approach to the substance in question and decontamination efforts. These efforts can be performed on land and/or in waterways when a spill occurs.

Rescue

CIMA can offer our members support in High Angle and Confined Space rescue capabilities with highly qualified rescue technician trained responders. These teams will typically respond in a rescue vehicle that is equipped with breathing air equipment such as Supplied Air Respirators or SCBAs (Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus), Extrication equipment that includes hydraulic rescue tools, air bags, and cribbing along with a four-person rescue team.

Emergency Medical 

CIMA supports our members with Emergency Medical Services on-site via ALS (Advanced Life Saving) and/or BLS (Basic Life Saving) equipment from other members in the organization.  Much of the emergency medical equipment available to CIMA members comes from our municipal partners.  We also have contacts in nearby counties if further assistance is needed in the event of an MCI (Multiple Casualty Incident).   

Member Benefits

Incident Support

The object of CIMA is to respond to fire alarms and extinguish fires through the mutual efforts of its members.  Participation in such emergencies is wholly voluntary based on the needs and availability of a CIMA member to respond.  CIMA is founded on the belief that the pooling of available resources of its members will provide a more efficient and effective response for firefighting, rescue, hazmat, and medical emergency situations for its members and non-members in the Houston Metro Area.

Training

Personnel must be properly trained on the CIMA/NIMS incident command system and all other CIMA standard operating procedures and guidelines.  CIMA has designated the National Incident Management System for the organization.  Members are responsible for training their own teams, however; CIMA tries to offer avenues in which our members can accomplish this.  We offer classes such as HazMat 8hr and 24hr, Interior Fire, Rescue, Strategy & Tactics, as well as many others through our partners at the HCFMO.

Drill Exercises

Training and exercises provide a means for CIMA member companies to prepare and test their emergency action capabilities.  Benefits of these activities are numerous.  They add value to not only the host company(s) but also to the organization as a whole.  These benefits include improving coordination and proficiency, finding improvement opportunities, validating existing systems, processes, plans & procedures and demonstrating a commitment to preparedness.

Central Dispatching

CIMA dispatch is operated by ECOM in Channelview, TX.  This center monitors a designated line for incoming CIMA alarm calls, as well as CIMA radio communications.  CIMA dispatch is designed to dispatch a special call, standby or alarm list activation.  After an assignment has been dispatched, dispatch will monitor the CIMA radio and transfer the dispatch function to CIMA personnel supporting command once a command vehicle arrives on-scene and assumes the dispatch function.

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