Wednesday, OCTOBER 1, 2025 |
Photo – 2012 Hazmat emergency response book – Bigfoot99 file photo
The Rawlins Fire Department will receive a new handheld chemical identification device at no cost.
On Friday, September 26th, the Rawlins City Council held a special meeting to discuss demolishing the 137-year-old Wyoming Bar building in the downtown shopping district. During the meeting, the governing body also considered a 2025 State Homeland Security Program grant application. Rawlins Fire Chief Allen Robinson requested a $103,550 grant from the Wyoming Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency to purchase a Raman Point chemical detection device for the city’s fire department.
Chief Robinson explained that the handheld chemical detector will allow firefighters to quickly identify a wide variety of unknown substances, including explosives and narcotics.
Raman spectroscopy uses a laser to determine the chemical makeup of materials. When the laser hits a substance, a small portion of light changes energy. By measuring that change, the device can identify the material.
Back at Friday’s meeting, Chief Robinson explained that the fire department already has a Raman chemical detection device. However, the unit is past its operational lifespan and can no longer be serviced.
Chief Robinson said the chemical detector is portable and can be quickly deployed where it is needed. In fact, the Fire Chief said the 2025 State Homeland Security Program grant stipulates that the device must be available to any agency requesting its use.
Chief Robinson said the Laramie Fire Department has a Raman chemical detector similar to the one he’s requesting, but it’s too far away to be useful during an emergency.
Vice Mayor Darril Garner asked how frequently the chemical detector would be deployed. Chief Robinson responded that he doesn’t expect to use the machine often because his firefighters are trained to identify hazardous substances.
However, Chief Robinson said the chemical detector will be housed in Rawlins, allowing firefighters to quickly deploy the unit when needed.
The Rawlins City Council unanimously voted to allow Chief Robinson to submit the $103,550 State Homeland Security Program grant application for the purchase of a new Raman Point chemical detector. This is a zero-match grant, meaning no City funds are required.
