Nankin Mills Mud Day Combines Fun, Hazmat Training

Thousands of children, teens and adults from around metropolitan Detroit – including kids from the Berkley Building Blocks summer day camp – crowded into Hines Park in Westland on Tuesday for some good, old-fashioned muddy fun. 

But Mud Day 2012 wasn't just a chance to muck around and get dirty. For the Western Wayne Hazardous Materials Response Team, which includes firefighters from Farmington Hills and 22 other Metro Detroit departments, it was also a training exercise. 

Lt. Mike Kish said no other hazmat team in the country does a live decontamination exercise. 

"We set the whole thing up in about 12 minutes," he said. Children moved through a line of firefighters who gently hosed the mud off them. "In real life, there would be soap and water." Kish added. 

Firefighters poured 20,000 gallons of water onto 200 tons of topsoil to make the mud pit, according to Wayne County executive Robert Ficano. This year marks the event's 25th anniversary. 

Caroline Borer, 7, of Berkley said she got out when "kids started throwing mud at each other." She was at the event with Berkley's Building Blocks Summer Days Camp.