Toyota helps with fire prevention

LIBERTY — If there were concerns about fire safety at the Toyota North Carolina battery manufacturing site near Liberty, the company has put them to rest.

On Oct. 14, Toyota invited the media for a look at fire prevention, emergency response capabilities and partnerships with local first responders. It was a way to recognize National Fire Safety Month.

The event also answered a question posed at a Randolph County Board of Commissioners meeting on Jan. 3, 2022, when the Toyota facility was being built. Commissioner David Allen of Liberty said that there were concerns in the neighborhood about response times of local fire departments. In reply, commission chair Darrell Frye said that the megasite could become a fire district in itself.

Sure enough, Toyota has its own fire brigade with 18 full-time firefighters and a couple of captains. 

Moreover, the station collaborates with nearby fire districts, including Julian and Liberty, as well as with Randolph County Emergency Services. Specialists are also on the scene regularly.

Don Stewart, president of Toyota North Carolina, said that as a battery manufacturer, they’re dealing with lithium batteries, which are high energy. 

“That’s a reason to be careful,” he said. “We don’t want to cause problems but learn the proper handling of chemicals.” He added that the company trains team members to “keep the right mindset.”

Daniel Hogan, Toyota NASEM (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine) operations manager, said rapid response to emergencies is critical to the fire station’s obligations. That includes “making sure the equipment is ready to respond and we’re capable of responding rapidly.”

But Toyota is not in the firefighting business and that’s why the company has contracted with Marksman Security to manage the overall safety of the expansive campus. Jayson Valade is the site manager.

Valade said they partner with the local fire departments, particularly with Julian since Toyota lies within that fire district. “Our obligation is to protect Toyota (employees), keep them safe and protect their site,” Valade said.

Hogan addressed the collaboration with the other fire stations, saying, “We work together and have a fantastic relationship.” He said that when an emergency arises, Toyota personnel will respond but also call 911 to alert other fire stations or first responders.

The Toyota fire station has state-of-the-art equipment and even a dispatch center to monitor the entire complex. Hogan said the firefighters train between 140 and 160 hours per month, so are “well-prepared for emergencies.” 

He added that they do some training at the Randolph Community College Emergency Training Center east of Asheboro.

“We prepare for the inevitable,” he said. “Protection of the employees is job 1. Toyota has invested heavily” to ensure that the fire station is prepared for fire, medical and hazardous material events.

“We prepare to not have emergencies,” Hogan said. The firefighters from Toyota as well as Julian and Liberty are familiar with the vast complex. 

“We know where hazards exist and are fully prepared,” he said. “After every event, we go through the process to see how to improve.”

Hogan said the majority of the fire-fighters are experienced, coming from other departments. He said it can be a challenge to find professionals but that turnover has been low.

Valade said the philosophy at Toyota is, “It’s going to happen so we need to be ready. … Communication is vital and we work with Liberty and Julian.”

Toyota, Valade said, has an advantage over other fire stations in that “we know what chemicals we have here and are prepared to deal with them.”

Kalese Howse, safety senior manager for Toyota NC, explained that regular employees receive training to deal with problems that may arise in their work area. “Safety is proactive,” she said. “We try to think of things ahead of time. Toyota is investing in team members having adequate training. We tell them, ‘If you see something, say something.’”

Marksman Security is a nationwide company with the “mission to provide customized security and safety services for our customers,” according to its website.

To date, there have been no major emergencies at Toyota NC, mostly medical issues.