The State of Iowa activated a Hazardous Materials Task Force to help poultry facilities hit by the bird flu. The task force includes firefighters from Burlington, Cedar Rapids, Council Bluffs, Muscatine and Sioux City. Sioux City Assistant Fire Chief, Jim Clark, says the firefighters will first deal with the vehicles that’re are taking away the millions of dead birds.

He says they also have to inspect the roll-off containers and the bags containing the dead birds.

Clark says the firefighters who are trained in handling hazardous materials are both teaching and learning as they work at these facilities.

Clark says a total of 11 Sioux City firefighters have seen duty at poultry farms and landfills as part of Iowa’s Hazardous Materials Task Force.