Lt. Tom Ubben was named the Iowa Haz Mat Technician of the Year. That is an honor bestowed by members of hazardous materials response teams across the state.

‘Honestly, I wasn’t sure I was deserving of it,” Ubben said.

As a result of receiving the honor, he attended the International Hazardous Materials Team Conference held June 10-15 in Baltimore, Maryland.

The award will be presented to him at a hazardous materials team symposium in October.

Ubben was nominated for the award by Firefighter/Paramedic Andy Midtling, who is the coordinator of the Region V Hazardous Materials Response Team operated by the Fort Dodge Fire Department.

In an award nomination letter, Midtling wrote that Ubben had been the team coordinator for a few years before he was promoted to lieutenant.

“As team coordinator, he made many improvements to equipment by updating our air monitors and vapor protective suits,” Midtling wrote. “He was also instrumental in procuring our team a new truck.”

“He will go above and beyond to make himself and our team better,” he added. “He takes the lead on training his shift and is a mentor to younger members of the haz mat team.”

Ubben joined the Fire Department in 2011 and volunteered for the hazardous materials team in 2012. He was the team coordinator from 2014 to 2017.

He said former Fire Chief Steve Hergenreter was a big influence in his decision to join the team.

“He was very passionate on haz mat,” Ubben said.

The regional hazardous materials team handles emergencies that involve large amounts of gasoline, ethanol or diesel fuel. It also deals with anhydrous ammonia, acids, caustics, propane and other chemicals.

It averages about 10 responses a year, according to Ubben.

“I hold our team in high regard,” he said. “I would say we’re a very progressive haz mat team in terms of handling a lot of haz mat incidents.”

He said Midtling “does an outstanding job with the haz mat team.”