Kimtek

EMERGENCY AIRCRAFT

If you have photos you would like to see in our Emergency Aircraft feature please upload them on our website www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@1stResponderNews.com.

CHRIS DILLEY The Georgia Forestry Commission operates this 2007 Cessna 182T for aerial wildfire patrols and fire suppression support missions. It was photographed at the Waycross-Ware County Airport.

CHRIS DILLEY A Georgia Forestry Commission 2017 Thrush 510G Switchback aircraft Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) aircraft was photographed operating out of the Waycross-Ware County Airport. This aircraft is equipped with an 800 SHP GE H80 turbine engine, a 500-gallon water/retardant tank and a Max Viz Enhanced Vision System. It is also configured with a dual cockpit and dual flight controls. This aircraft was one of the first two switchback aircraft produced by the Albany, GA based Thrush Aircraft Company, and is capable of being used for fire suppression and agricultural work.

CHRIS DILLEY A Georgia Forestry Commission Bell 407 helicopter was photographed operating out of the Waycross-Ware County Airport. This aircraft was manufactured in 2000 and is powered by a Allision Model 250 engine, has a max takeoff weight of 6,000 pounds and cruises over 150 mph. This helicopter uses a 200-gallon bambi bucket to assist with wildfire suppression missions.

PATCH OF THE MONTH

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EUGENE WEBER JR. This patch belongs to the Hall County Fire Department, located in Hall County, GA.

APPARATUS IN ACTION

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SHANE SHIFFLETT PROVIDED

Monroe County Health Department Administers Covid-19 Vaccine to 120 Georgia Public Safety Training Center Personnel

Monroe County, GA - The Monroe County Health Department, in partnership with Region 5 Office of EMS and Trauma and Georgia Department of Public Health-Emergency Preparedness, administered the first of a two-shot series, to 120 public safety personnel from the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC) on Friday, January 15, 2021.

The health department allocated two days, of Georgia’s Vaccine Administration Phase 1A+, specifically for the men and women who are serving to provide essential training for Georgia’s Public Safety Community. Personnel from all divisions of GPSTC, Georgia State Patrol (GSP) and current GSP cadets, Georgia Bureau of Investigations (GBI), the Attorney General’s Office (AGO), and the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) were among those who were vaccinated.

“The Georgia Public Safety Training Center sincerely appreciates DPH, Emergency Preparedness, Office of EMS and Trauma and Monroe County Health Department for their role in coordinating efforts with GPSTC to provide personnel the opportunity to be vaccinated in just one day,” stated Chris Wigginton, Executive Director of GPSTC.

The Department of Public Health (DPH) continues to focus their efforts towards the completion of Phase 1A+ of the Georgia Vaccine Administration Matrix and move into Phase 1B. At the close of business on January 14, 2021, 329,506 vaccines had been administered to Georgia residents. Phase 1B of the vaccination matrix will include: essential workers (nonhealthcare) who perform job tasks across critical infrastructure sectors, ensuring continuity of functions critical to public health, safety, economic and national security.

According to DPH, the vaccine supply is still very limited and public health departments are scheduling vaccines by appointment only, as are most other providers. Depending on vaccine supply allocations from the federal government, it may be weeks before additional providers will have vaccines available for quicker and more widespread distribution. The personnel from GPSTC receiving the vaccinations are the public safety instructors that are continuing to provide essential public safety training through the pandemic.

Executive Director Wigginton added, “We continue to monitor our operational procedures to ensure we are complying with all recommendations of the CDC, Georgia Department of Public Health, and the guidance of both the Governor’s Office and Georgia POST Council. Many of our non-essential personnel are still teleworking at this time.”

GPSTC remains concerned about the health and safety of staff, customers, and students and continue to take all appropriate precautions to safely provide critical, essential training to Georgia’s public safety personnel.

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CIRONE PHOTOS

West Manatee Fire & Rescue Battle Yacht Fire

Cortez, FL - Shortly after 3:00 P.M. on Monday, January 19th, Manatee County Dispatch received a call of a boat fire at Cortez Cove Marina, located in Cortez Village, the oldest fishing village in Florida. While units were en route it was evident that they had a working fire, as thick black smoke could be seen from miles away. On arrival units found a 72-ft. Princess Yacht in dry dock fully involved, and surrounded by other boats. Luckily, the wind was calm and firefighters made an aggressive attack, however the Yacht was a total loss. There were no reported injuries.

PATCH OF THE MONTH

If you have photos you would like to see in our “Patch of the Month”feature please upload them on our website, www.1stResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@1stResponderNews.com.

PASCO COUNTY FIRE RESCUE Pasco County Firefighters Assist in the Rescue of a Bald Eagle

Pasco County, FL - Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 21 heard a knock on the station door around 4:00 P.M. on the afternoon of January 7th. When Driver Engineer Jerry Brown opened the door, he was greeted by two JUMP TO FILE# 011121118 kids holding an injured bald eagle.

The Eagle was tired, and its beak was wrapped in fishing line. After closer examination, Firefighters realized that the Eagle was underweight, a fishing hook was through his beak, and a fishing line was wrapped around his wing. The line was preventing the Eagle from eating and flying.

The crew called for assistance from the Owl's Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife in Odessa. Dianne, a volunteer from Owl's Nest Sanctuary, hopped in her car and headed to station 21 to assist. It appears that the Eagle was wrapped in the line for about two days, was underweight, and dehydrated.

The team loaded it into a crate, and Dianne transported the Eagle to the Owl's Nest Sanctuary for treatment. Owl's Nest Director Kris removed the hook and examined the Eagle. After the Eagle is deemed stable, it will be transported to Busch Gardens for further treatment.

Thankfully, the Eagle appears in good health, and veterinarians believe that it will fully recover. After the Eagle is cleared from Busch Gardens, it will be released back in the area of Station 21.

A big thank you to everyone who helped save this Bald Eagle's life! We are #PascoProud and thankful for this happy outcome!

PASCO COUNTY FIRE RESCUE

FF JIM ROBERTS / MOUNT PLEASANT VFD

Pile Burns Cause Brush Fire in Quincy

Quincy, FL - On December 28, 2020 at 4:45 P.M., Mount Pleasant Firefighters were dispatched to a grass fire in the 400 block of Fulton Shaw Road in the Robertsville/St. Johns Community north of Quincy. This was a joint response with Robertsville VFD and the City of Quincy FD. Upon arrival of the first due departments, personnel found an estimated nine-acre grass fire that started from two pile burns that escaped and a request went out for brush apparatus. Quincy and Robertsville Firefighters were able to contain the fire. Mount Pleasant Firefighters responded with a brush truck and a rescue truck (Type 6 Engine on loan from the Florida Forest Service) and were assigned to work the perimeter with the brush and rescue trucks to assess for extension into the tree line and mop up any hot spots.

CIRONE PHOTOS

MVC with Double Medevac in Cedar Hammock

Cedar Hammock, FL - As the sun began to set at the end of Cortez Road on January 10th, Cedar Hammock Fire & Rescue District was called to a MVC with one vehicle on its side, and the other vehicle heavily damaged. One person in the Subaru on its side was trapped while a family in the other vehicle had two pediatric traumas. Both were flown to John Hopkins All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg. The accident is under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.

PASCO COUNTY FIRE RESCUE

Illegal Grilling on Apartment Balcony in Odessa Causes Two-Alarm Fire

Odessa, FL - On Saturday, December 26, 2020, Pasco County Fire Rescue responded to the Tuscano at Suncoast Apartment Complex for a reported fire. When firefighters arrived, they reported a three-story apartment complex with heavy fire and smoke coming from the second and third floors. The incident called for a secondalarm due to the fire load and the number of evacuations needed.

Command set up three divisions and started the evacuations of over 100 residents from 48 apartments. Thankfully, the residential sprinkler and alarm system activated, alerting residents to the fire. The system assisted Firefighters in knocking down the fire.

Hard work from Firefighters on the scene kept the fire from quickly spreading. In all, five apartments suffered fire and smoke damage. It took about 30 minutes to knock the fire down, and there were no injuries reported.

Pasco County Fire Rescue Investigators determined the cause of the fire to be from illegal grilling on a second-floor apartment's balcony. That fire extended to the third floor and into the roof of the apartment building.

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- COREY DIERDORFF

IN SERVICE

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