Thanks to private

donations, Fayette County's ability to respond to hazardous materials

situations has doubled.

Trailers For

Less and Coweta-Fayette EMC have chipped in to provide a new trailer to

store hazardous materials response equipment in. The new trailer will

be stationed on the east side of the county to enhance response times

there as "a few" more types of hazardous chemicals are being

located there, according to Capt. Pete Nelms of the Fayette County Department

of Fire and Emergency Services.

The trailer

will be supplied with hazardous materials handling suits, containment

materials and other equipment. The other trailer will remain located in

Peachtree City, as that is where the bulk of the county's hazardous chemicals

are located because of the city's large industrial park, Nelms said.

The Peachtree

City Airport Authority recently donated $1,000 to the Local Emergency

Planning Committee to help equip the trailer. The LEPC consists of local

businesses and industries that partner with the county to share resources

that can be used in the event of a hazardous materials leak, spill or

other emergency.

"The corporate

community in Fayette County has really rallied and supported this cause,"

Nelms said, acknowledging the airport authority, Trailers For Less and

Coweta-Fayette EMC for their donations. "We greatly appreciate that

and it's useful to have that kind of support."

The county's

hazardous materials team consists of personnel from the county, Peachtree

City and Fayetteville.