Charlotte Fire adds HM-FS 34 mobile hazmat lab for field testing

# What the HM-FS 34 is and why Charlotte Fire added it

Charlotte Fire placed a hazardous materials field screening unit, designated HM-FS 34, into service to give hazmat specialists a controlled mobile laboratory at emergency scenes. The department described the unit as a safe, controlled place to do analytical work that previously had to happen outdoors, in truck cabs, or in other improvised locations.

# How the unit works

Key operational features described by the department:

• Exterior access point for passing samples into a sealed workspace.
• Laboratory vent hood that keeps the testing area contained and ventilated.
• Containment and replaceable filtration to manage detected hazards and restore the unit after exposure.

# Operational benefits for on-scene response

Before HM-FS 34, crews sometimes handled samples outdoors or inside vehicle cabs, which made it difficult to maintain cleanliness, control contamination, and preserve evidence. The mobile lab addresses those issues by providing:

• A controlled environment for safer sample handling and analysis.
• Improved ability to identify unknown substances on scene, speeding operational decisions.
• A space designed to preserve chain of custody and document evidence during multi-agency incidents.

# Multi-agency use and training

The unit has been used for multi-agency training and operational support with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, the FBI, and the State Bureau of Investigation. Its design accommodates evidentiary workflows so law enforcement and investigators can maintain documentation and chain of custody while analysis happens at the scene.

# Practical implications for response timelines and safety

# What this does not replace

The HM-FS 34 provides field screening and controlled analysis at incidents, but the department framed it as a complement to—not a replacement for—other resources. When a situation requires more extensive laboratory testing or specialized analysis beyond field screening capabilities, off-site labs and investigative partners remain part of the response model.

# Bottom line

Charlotte Fire's HM-FS 34 creates a purpose-built, mobile lab that improves on-scene chemical screening, evidence handling, and multi-agency coordination. The vehicle addresses practical problems crews faced when testing in unsuitable spaces and gives hazmat teams a contained workspace that supports safer, faster operational decisions.