Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Adds 908 Devices’ XplorIR to Its Hazardous Materials Response Toolkit

908 Devices Inc., a pioneer of purpose-built handheld devices for chemical analysis, announces that the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) has purchased eight XplorIR devices, one for each of the seven counties and District of Columbia, which comprise the COG. The devices were shipped in Q1 2025, with training taking place in Q2 2025.

The handheld XplorIR device accurately detects, identifies, and quantifies 5,000 unknown gas and vapor chemical threats in seconds. The device has simple controls, an intuitive display and is built for harsh environments, making it easy for first responders to use in emergency situations.

“The XplorIR is a crucial addition to our response toolkit,” said Peter J. Dziubla, Captain, DC Fire and EMS Department, Hazardous Materials Unit. “The ability to quickly detect and identify an unknown gas provides the information we need to contain a potentially dangerous situation and to keep people safe.”

The Metropolitan Washington COG is an independent, nonprofit association that brings District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia leaders together to address regional issues, such as homeland security and public safety. COG brings police chiefs, fire chiefs, emergency managers, and other leaders together to strengthen regional public safety coordination, homeland security planning, and emergency communication.