June 2021 Florida Fire Services Magazine by ffca

THE PUBLICATION

OF THE

FLORIDA FIRE CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION

June 2021 • VOLUME 29 NUMBER 6

Hall-mark ad

Wheeled Coach ad

LIKE US on Facebook

Florida Fire Florida Fire Fire Chiefs’ Florida Fire

Service is the monthly publication of the Chiefs’ Association, provided to Florida Association (FFCA) members, by the Chiefs’ Association.

Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association 221 Pinewood Drive Tallahassee, FL 32303 Phone: (850) 900-5180 Email: info@ffca.org • www.ffca.org FFCA Staff Wm. Ray Colburn - Executive Director & CEO Denise Holley - Office Manager Scott Leisen - Marketing Director Ngoc Huynh - Conference & Events Director Liz Aperauch - Administrative Assistant FFCA Board of Directors Ty Silcox - President Douglas Riley - 1st Vice President Reginald Duren - 2nd Vice President Darrel Donatto - Immediate Past President Julie Downey - Secretary/Treasurer Ryan H. Crawford - Northwest Region Director Carlos Aviles - Northeast Region Director Terry Wooldridge Jr. - East Central Region Director Percy Sayles - Southeast Region Director Ian Kemp - West Central Region Director Gregory DeWitt - Southwest Region Director Wm. Ray Colburn - Executive Director & CEO Cindy Morgan - Foundation Chair Leland Greek - Senior Member

FEATURES The Fair Doesn’t Come This Week . . . 6

Organizational Success Through Focusing on Employee Strengths . . 8 Ego and Leadership . . . . . . . . . . . 10 What Does The American Rescue Plan

Mean for Fire Department? . . . . . 16 Advanced Rope Rescue Workshop . 18 Trauma Star Florida Keys Air Ambulance Saves Lives. . . . . . . . 20

20 FURTHERMORE

Orlando Firefighters Welcome Seven Bundles of Joy . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 God is Faithful . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

FFCA New Members . . . . . . . . . . .14 Featured Vendor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

Editorial Submissions magazine@ffca.org (850) 900-5180

Palm Coast Dedicates Truck to Fallen Hero . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Advertising Scott Leisen, Editor in Chief scott@ffca.org (386) 717-0055

Members on the Move . . . . . . . . .26 Meet the Chief . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28

Subscription rate for members is $36, which is included in member dues. Archived electronic monthly editions of Florida Fire Service magazine are available at www.ffca.org. Log in as a member and click on the Publications tab. Florida Fire Service June 2021, Volume 29, Number 6 USPS # 016-759

Periodical postage paid in Daytona Beach, Florida, and additional post offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Florida Fire Service, 221 Pinewood Drive Tallahassee, FL 32303. Statements of fact and opinion are the responsibility of the authors alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers or the members of FFCA. Copyright 2021 by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without written permission.

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

In brief . . . news from around the state . . . . . . . . . . . . .30 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . .38

CUT LOOSE GIVE YOUR CREWS MORE FREEDOM WITH OUR FULL LINE OF GENESIS BATTERY TOOLS

E F O RC E

Scan here to request extrication training for your department today!

2924 Crescent Dr, Unit A, Tallahassee, FL 32301 - 850.698.2457 - WWW.RESCUESYSTEMSUNLIMITED.COM

By Rick Spence, FFCA Chaplain

“But that’s not fair.” I cannot count the number of times I have been told that by my children. It was not something they stopped saying once they became young adults. This phrase was also something I heard throughout my career as a firefighter. There has probably been an occasion or two (dozen) that I have said the same thing. Why is it that we tend to think everything should be fair for everyone? And is that what we really want, for everyone to be treated the same? Should we all be held to the same standard raising our children? Our job performance? Should our behavior be in line with everyone else? What about our ability to perform certain tasks? I remember sitting in labor/management meetings and hearing our former fire chief say how he was going to do certain things going forward. I would often argue that he can’t do that because it was not fair to some of those involved. In fact, a lot of problems within the fire service involves fairness, more precisely, the perception of unfairness. For the most part, firefighters seem to have a heightened sense of justice, more so than others. Perhaps, that is why we go into this profession, to help those who are unable to help themselves. Maybe to help level the playing field for everyone involved. One of the things I have learned over the years that our fire chief knew and I did not recognize, is that to allow certain situations to continue would create an even greater 6

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

miscarriage of justice. Looking back, my rationale was that I had to represent the union members that were being affected and minimize the impact on them. When I would get home, I would have similar situations with my twin son and daughter. They would often argue back that my decisions were treating them unfairly. My argument as a parent was that my decision was better for them in the long run. I had something in common with our fire chief, we both were able to see a bigger picture where a perceived unfairness on one side is the better option to a long term injustice. My point is, at times life is unfair and things happen to people that they do not deserve. But there is also a bigger picture and good can come from the unfairness we endure as individuals. When this happens, we should all do our part to treat each other in a manner that honors God and is respectful to the department we represent. There are many times throughout the Bible where we are commanded to love one another as Christ has loved us. The best way to demonstrate our love of Christ is to show our love for other people. John 13:34 “…just as I have loved you, you are to love one another.” Think about how many uncomfortable or confrontational situations could have been avoided by treating each other how we would want to be treated. That is the ultimate road to justice for all. These situations are not just present in the fire service, but in almost every

segment of our society; politics, entertainment, sports, academia and even religion to name a few. There have been tens of thousands of careers, reputations and lives that have been ruined by one person’s mistreatment of another. The recent events involving the Me Too and social justice movements along with the scandals within religious organizations are evidence of long-term injustices that have gone unchecked for many years on a large scale. Each of these situations all started out as a small, one on one mistreatment of someone else and continued to escalate into worldwide injustices. While the unfair incidents that occur within the fire stations may never evolve into worldwide events, they each have the potential of ruining someone’s career, reputation or life. If we train and work hard to improve the public’s life and minimize their tragedies, shouldn’t we be willing to do the same for the people we spend over one third of our lives with? Whether we believe in the teachings of the Bible or not, the Apostle Paul got it right when he wrote in 1st p Rick S ence Corinthians 13:4-6, “…love is patient and kind…it does not insist on its own way, is not resentful or irritable, it does not • • FF rejoice at wrongdoing, in CA a l p a Ch but rejoices with the truth.”

Organizational Success Through Focusing on Employee Strengths By Dr. Eric Smith, EFO, Assistant Professor of Public Administration, Barry University

ften organizations have difficulty placing employees in positions that are a good fit for both the organization and employee. Not to mention the cost of placing employees in roles in which they do not perform well, thereby costing the organization time and money in a time when money is not readily available. Should organizational vacancies be filled on the hunches and whims of management, or should a more scientific method of matching jobs with people be developed? Managers or decision makers should strive to identify employee values, skills, and abilities related to the world of work to generate options on how employees can fit into the world of work, and to develop strategies to assist employees achieving their career goals. Career development discussions should be focused on identifying and enhancing the goals and expectations of employees and partnering those goals and expectations with an organizational plan that would bring higher levels of success to both the employee and the organization. Managers should consider using career development discussions focused on experiences where employees have been the most successful, in the situations where they have shown the most excitement and passion about their jobs. It’s clearly time for a paradigm shift that introduces new approaches to career

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

development. New models that apply a systematic approach to the process of finding the right employees for the right jobs will be useful in achieving organizational success and employee satisfaction. Managers should develop an employee strength-based approach to career development. In a recent newspaper article, a Florida firefighter envisioned his county having a piece of the 9/11 World Trade Center as a permanent monument. He talked about this idea within his department for several months. Throughout, his focus on honoring the firefighters who died on September 11, 2011 never waned. The commitment to honoring those who had sacrificed their lives inspired the fire chief to encourage the firefighter to apply for a grant to receive a piece from the World Trade Center. Although receiving the grant was not a sure thing, the chief saw the passion in this employee and saw how important it was for him to try. By empowering this firefighter to act on his passion, the organization’s leadership recognized an employee who was not only committed to his department, but to the traditional core values of the fire service, as well. With this dual vision of utilizing a systems approach from the organizational side and the strength based approach focused on individual career development,

the firefighter was able to attain more than 1,800 pounds of steel from the World Trade Center, which will serve as a permanent monument to those who gave all. This example is a wonderful illustration of the combination of leadership taking the time and effort to identify the passion and strengths of a single employee and building on those strengths and passions to create a win-win situation for all. It is about looking at those times when things are going well, developing an image of what one wants, learning from others how they have been successful, and creating an image that can be continually regenerated and used as a guide for the future. At the simplest level, one outcome is achieving satisfaction and success by building on personal strengths and managing around weaknesses. This idea of strength based focus uses the power of inquiry to engage our imagination, which in turn influences our actions. By focusing through inquiry on that which is engaing, that which is energizing, that which is joyful and fun, and by amplifying those qualities by involving the whole system in coconstruction and co-innovation, systems transform themselves.

FLORIDA FIREFIGHTER CANCER TREATMENT INSURANCE Custom insurance product designed to assist Florida Fire Service organizations with meeting various requirements of SB 426 (now codified as s.112.1816 Florida Statutes). Not intended to meet all requirements.

COMPETITIVE PRICING / INDUSTRY LEADING COVERAGE BENEFITS .

LINE OF DUTY CANCER INITIAL DIAGNOSIS LUMP SUM BENEFIT ($25,000)*

OPTIONAL RECURRENCE DIAGNOSIS BENEFIT (UP TO $25,000)*

OPTIONAL ADDITIONAL DIAGNOSIS BENEFIT (UP TO $25,000)*

OPTIONAL LINE OF DUTY CANCER EXPENSE REIMBURSEMENT BENEFIT

OPTIONAL LINE OF DUTY CANCER DEATH BENEFIT ($75,000)

(up to $12,000 per covered individual per year)*

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS/ BENEFITS AVAILABLE:   

Allows employment with multiple Florida fire service organizations to meet five year, full-time firefighter continuous service requirement Ability to add civilian personnel Ability to expand types of cancers covered (beyond the statutory 21 cancers set forth in s.112.1816 Florida Statutes)

WHAT WE OFFER: 

Direct Claims Administration



Simplified Process for Proposal/Purchase/Enrollment A Rated Insurance Carrier



PRESENTED BY: ®

FOR INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT: ALLEN DURHAM, UNITED BADGES INSURANCE SERVICES | 850-841-9992 | adurham@unitedbadges.com Subject to insurance policy terms and conditions. Product not intended to cover all requirements of s. 112.1816 Florida Statutes. *Items 1-4 collectively subject to $50,000 maximum lifetime benefit. Promotional material for overview purposes only. United Badges Insurance Services / Provident Insurance Programs. PBG-AH-018-AXI-0620

and Leadership By Jo-Ann Lorber, Assistant Chief, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue

hink back to your days in college when you took Psychology and you learned about Sigmund Freud’s three components of our personalities: ego, superego and id. No, this is article is not a refresher in psychology, but a look at how our ego affects leadership especially in the fire service. The ego is generally thought of as the “manager” part of our self – the part that sorts through reality and makes conscious decisions. Ego also defines our identity – how we see ourselves and how others see us. Aside from the psychological origins of the term, when describing others, most people refer to the ego as a person’s sense of self – their self-esteem, or self-importance. As we rise through the ranks, we acquire more power. And with that, people are more likely to want to please us by listening more attentively, agreeing more, and laughing at our jokes. All of these tickle the ego. And when the ego is tickled, it grows. An unchecked ego can warp our perspective or twist our values. When we are caught in the grip of the ego’s craving for more power, we lose control. Ego makes us susceptible to manipulation, it narrows our field of vision, and it corrupts our behavior, often causing us to act against our values or the organization’s values. Our ego is like a target we carry with us. And like any target, the bigger it is, the more vulnerable it is to being hit. In this way, an inflated ego makes it easier for others to take advantage of us. Because our ego craves

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

positive attention, it can makes us susceptible to manipulation. It makes us predictable. When people know this, they can play to our ego. When we’re a victim of our own need to be seen as great, we end up being led into making decisions that may be detrimental to ourselves, our friends/family, and our organization. An inflated ego corrupts our behavior. When we believe we’re the sole creators of our success, we tend to be ruder, more selfish, and more likely to interrupt others. This is especially true in the face of setbacks and criticism. In this way, an inflated ego prevents us from learning from our mistakes and creates a defensive wall that makes it difficult to appreciate the rich lessons we gather from our failures. Finally, an inflated ego narrows our vision. The ego always looks for information that confirms what it wants to believe. Basically, a big ego makes us have a strong confirmation bias. Because of this, we lose perspective and end up in a leadership bubble where we only see and hear what we want to. As a result, we lose touch with the people we lead, the culture we are a part of, and ultimately our community stakeholders. Breaking free of an overly protective or inflated ego and avoiding the leadership bubble is an important and challenging job. It requires selflessness, reflection, and courage. Here are a few tips that will help you keep your ego in check: • Consider the perks and privileges you are being offered in your role. Some of them

enable you to do your job effectively and that’s great. But some of them are simply perks to promote your status and power and ultimately your ego. Consider which privileges you can let go of so your ego does not inflate. • Support, develop, and work with people who won’t feed your ego. Hire or promote smart people with confidence to speak up when your inflated ego goes off in a meeting. • Humility and gratitude are cornerstones of selflessness. Make a habit of taking a moment at the end of each day to reflect on all the people that were part of making you successful on that day. This helps you develop a natural sense of humility, by seeing how you are not the only cause of your success. End the reflection by actively sending a message of gratitude to those people. The inflated ego that comes with success – the bigger salary, the nicer office, the easy laughs – often makes us feel as if we’ve found the eternal answer to being a leader. But the reality is, we haven’t. Leadership is about people, and people change every day. If we believe we’ve found the universal key to leading people, we’ve just lost it. If we let our ego determine what we see, what we hear, and what we believe, we’ve let our past success damage our future success. Until next time, be safe!

25DRIVE

SUPPORTING FIRST RESPONDERS Call United Badges for your free insurance quote and the Florida Fire Chiefs Association (FFCA) will receive $25! No obligation for purchase.

Call and You Could Save Today!

MULTIPLE CARRIERS | MULTIPLE OPTIONS Call United Badges Insurance Services for your free insurance quote and the Florida Fire Chiefs Association (FFCA) will receive $25! Please reference the FFCA when you call for a quote. Applies to personal lines insurance products quoted through September 30, 2021. No obligation for purchase.

800.566.5990 | UNITEDBADGES.COM Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST

Limit of one $25 sponsorship from United Badges per household quoted. United Badges Insurance Services LLC is an insurance agency offering insurance through multiple insurance companies (carriers). Some insurance products may be offered via a United Badges Insurance Services LLC partner agency. Applicants are individually underwritten by each respective insurance carrier. Some applicants may not qualify for insurance and/or all available discounts. Insurance coverage subject to policy terms and conditions of each respective carrier. Not available in all states. Promotional material for descriptive purposes only.

Orlando Firefighters Welcome Seven Bundles of Joy By Ashley Papagni, Public Information Manager, City of Orlando Fire Department

From fires to pacifiers. These seven Orlando Firefighters went from 24/48 hour shifts to 24/7 dads in a matter of

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

months for the special assignment of fatherhood. Crews welcomed three baby girls and four baby boys during the pandemic. We

are happy to see moms, dads and babies are all doing well. Just a matter of time before these new recruits begin to gear up.

By J osep h A. La C og nat a, C h apl ain , Fi re Resc u e Su pp ort

Cameron Bucek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marathon Fire Rescue Sarah Cooksey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Tallahassee Fire Department Yoshimi Core . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Escambia County Fire Rescue Joseph Dixon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gainesville Fire Rescue Bob Furci . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Palm Bay Fire Rescue Dustin Green . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Citrus County Fire Rescue Brett Hogan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Highlands County Fire Rescue Geraldine Jaramillo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Julie Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Department of Financial Services

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

matter what. While Semper Fidelis has been the Marine Corps motto since 1883, it has been God’s motto from before the beginning of time. “Always faithful” is one of the many characteristics that God demonstrates to us. • For the word of the LORD is right and true; he is faithful in all he does. Psalm 33:4 • Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. Lamentations 3:22-23 • He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 • But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:3 • Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we

Jonathan Kramer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .East Niceville Fire District Bob Kropa . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Mackenzie McClintock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .South Walton Fire District Javatis Midget . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Jeremy Morgan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Fort Walton Beach Fire Department Colby Redfield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Jackson County Fire Rescue Ross Sheffield . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .DeFuniak Springs Fire Department Patrick Thume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Palm Beach County Fire Rescue

profess, for he who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 • If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 As you read this, my son-in-law is nearing the end of his eighth year in the Marine Corps. My respect, admiration, and gratitude for h A. La C ogna se p ta Jo those serving our country have never been greater. Personally knowing just a little more about those Fir t eR or that are committed to escue Supp give their all for a cause greater than themselves is very humbling. But, I’ve also learned an incredible lesson about God. He has been and will continue to be faithful to me. He gave His all for the cause of ransoming me. How will I live my life in return knowing what He has done? Father, I pray you will find me always faithful. •

Years ago I had the opportunity to be in Parris Island, SC. I was there attending the graduation ceremony of a young man who is now my son-in-law. Over 600 men and women had completed their recruit training at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and were now being recognized as the newest United States Marines. For 12 weeks, this group, had endured difficulties, faced challenges and accomplished tasks that most of us will never deal with. They had learned to give their all. And when they thought they were empty, they dug down deeper and found hidden strength. They were taught the history and values of the Marines, including the Marine Corps motto, Semper Fidelis. Latin for “always faithful,” this motto guides Marines to remain faithful to the mission at hand, to each other, to the Corps and to country, no

•

Semper Fidelis

R EMO U N T

HIGH WATER RESCUE UNIT ETR AMBULATORY ACCESS STEP

STRETCHER | WHEELCHAIR ACCESS

MOUNTED STRETCHER ANTLER

SIDE STORAGE COMPARTMENTS

360º FLOOD LIGHTS Thank You Thank You to the Palm Beach County Fire Department

1-844-612-8148 19 YEARS OF RESPONDING TO YOUR NEEDS

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

What Does The American Rescue Plan Mean for Fire Departments? By Jerry Brant

he American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, also called the COVID-19 Stimulus Package or American Rescue Plan, is a $1.9 trillion economic stimulus bill passed by the 117th United States Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden on March 11, 2021. The intent of the legislation is to speed up the United States' recovery from the economic and health effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing recession. To understand the impact of the American Rescue Plan on fire departments, you must first understand the legislation’s two types of mechanisms to distribute funding to eligible entities. Competitive Grants The amount of funding available through the American Rescue Plan is unprecedented. Just as unique is the process being developed to distribute these funds. Many fire departments are used to applying and receiving grants through a competitive process. The American Rescue Plan contains set asides for funding specific grant programs: $100 million was

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

included for the Assistance to Firefighters Program and an addition $200 million was included in the legislation for the SAFER Grant Program. As of the date of this writing, we have reached out to FEMA to see if they have determined how these grant funds will be accessed. FEMA has two options. They can tack the extra $100 and $200 million onto the 2021 AFG and SAFER competitive grants or they can announce a distinct funding cycle for just the ARP money allocated for SAFER and AFG. As soon as we know more, Lexipol and FireGrantsHelp will let you know. Formula Grants The second funding format in the American Rescue Plan that will have an impact on fire departments is formula grants. Included in the ARP is $195 billion of direct funding to states and $130 billion to local municipalities. The amounts allocated to each governmental unit were determined through a modified CDBG formula using population size, poverty rates and measures of housing instability. Local

governments will not have to apply to receive this funding. They will either receive it directly from the United States Treasury or the money will be funneled through their state government to them. Local governments have been given more latitude than usual by the federal government on how this money may be utilized. In general, it may be used to: • Respond to COVID -19 or its negative impacts • Provide premium pay to eligible workers or grants to eligible employers • Provide government services affected by reductions in revenue due to COVID -19 • Make investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure The factor to keep in mind is accessing this funding for your fire department or EMS agency will be a local process. There will not be an American Rescue Plan grant application announced by the federal government. The entire process will be determined by state and local officials.

What You Can Do Now Even though ARP funds may not reach local governments for several months, you should start your efforts now if you are going to be successful. Begin by approaching your local leadership to determine what type of a process they will used to distribute these funds. Some items to keep in mind: • Will there be public meetings to determine funding parameters? • Will there be a local grant process to access ARP funds? • Will cost estimates be needed and if so, will you need a specified number of estimates? • Will your local government accept requests to recall laid off employees as part of their ARP funding? The sooner you have an idea of the process your local government will use to allocate these funds the sooner you can craft your response. After meeting with local officials, your department should conduct a needs assessment and determine your funding request. If you are considering multiple items, you should prioritize them in case your local government trims the amount of money you are going to receive. The impact of the American Rescue Plan on fire departments has the potential to be huge. As with all funding requests, don’t wait until the last minute. Start your planning process today. Jerry Brant is a senior grant consultant and grant writer with FireGrantsHelp and EMSGrantsHelp. He has 46 years of experience as a volunteer firefighter in west-central Pennsylvania. He is a life member of the Hope Fire Company of Northern Cambria, where he served as chief for 15 years. He is an active member of the Patton Fire Company 1 and serves as safety officer. Brant graduated from Saint Francis University with a bachelor’s degree in political science. In 2003, he was awarded a James A Johnson Fellowship by the FannieMae Foundation for his accomplishments in community development, and in 2019, he was honored as with the Leroy C Focht Sr. Memorial Award from the Central District Volunteer Fireman's Association. He has successfully written more than $70 million in grant applications.

Please check us out on social media

https://www.facebook.com/FlFireChiefsAssociation/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/florida-fire-chiefs

@FlFireChiefs

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

Advanced Rope Rescue Workshop By Madison Heid, Community Outreach Coordinator, City of North Port

lways working to be better, members from North Port Fire Rescue's Station 86 “A” Shift (located near Wellen Park) recently attended an advanced rope rescue workshop in Jerome, Arizona. Lt. Kyle Dawson and Engineer Anthony Morandi are working to further their skills in the rope rescue realm, and this class will

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

help further their education and prepare for any hazards our City may face. These two guys paid for this class out of their own pocket in order to enhance their skills for the benefit of our community. Thank you, gentlemen! We appreciate you and your dedication to the Department and to North Port.

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

By Kristen Livengood, Monroe County Public Information Officer, Monroe County Fire Rescue

onroe County’s Truama Star is a threehelicopter emergency transportation service for critically injured individuals in the Florida Keys who need specialty care not found within the island chain. Since the Florida Keys are isolated from the mainland by distance and a single road, Trauma Star saves critical minutes for patients to receive lifesaving interventions on the mainland. In March 2021, Monroe County Fire

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

Rescue’s (MCFR) Trauma Star flight team members set a record number of flights, exceeding 129 air rescue missions with their partners at Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, providing a variety of lifesaving treatments. The service is staffed 24/7 and always ready to launch within a moment’s notice. On-scene emergency paramedics can request Trauma Star to fly patients directly to emergency medical centers out-of-county

without first being admitted to a local hospital, saving precious time for the start of lifesaving treatments for trauma, cardiac arrest, and stroke alerts. “This is a team effort and it is an honor to work alongside highly trained and talented individuals,” said Lynda Rusinowski, Trauma Star Chief Flight Nurse. “Our thanks goes to our pilots and maintenance crews who keep us safe and available to provide this valuable

service to both the citizens and visitors of the Florida Keys.” Rusinowski said flight patients include but are not limited to pediatric and adult trauma, diving accidents, and stroke and cardiac arrest patients. Trauma Star Chief Flight Nurse Lynda Rusinowski said trauma is the leading cause of death for individuals under 46 years old, and

uncontrolled bleeding remains the number one cause of preventable injury death. In rural areas like the Florida Keys, the role of blood transfusion is even more critical, being up to 150 miles to the nearest trauma center. To make sure every second counts, MCFR Trauma Star crews have advanced inflight prehospital treatment to include the addition of blood for critically injured patients and the

implementation of a comprehensive stroke and heart attack training program for all field medics to initiate air transportation quickly to State-certified comprehensive stroke or cardiac hospital on the mainland. Trauma Star is the only air ambulance service in Monroe County and remains free of out-of-pocket costs for Monroe County residents in need of the service. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

CCI – Fire Equipment Division CCI is a custom manufacturing company that has been providing services in Florida for over 35 years. The main production facility in Lake Wales is on 18 acres with over 100 employees. Before founding Chemical Containers, Inc. (CCI) in 1983, John Motis came from a background in agriculture, centered in Nebraska where he grew up. When he moved to the small town of Lake Wales in central Florida, he worked for Petersen Industries where he started out as a welder helping to

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

make their citrus loading equipment. Over the next six years his role in the company grew from welder, to foreman, to sales and travel and eventually, Vice President. In the early days of CCI, the company focus was on supporting the citrus industry. It was very seasonal where in the fall business would slow down. To create more stability in the business and support steady growth, Mr. Motis started looking at ways CCI could diversify and expand what was offered to a variety of industries beyond agriculture. The ability to design and build custom equipment in house and over half a million parts in inventory prompted the expansion into the wildland engine and brush truck business. Additional retail stores are located throughout Florida along with a location in Lyons, Georgia. Friendly and knowledgeable staff are always available to provide assistance with anything customers might need, whether it be at one of these locations, over the phone, email, or live chat on the website. www.chemicalcontainers.com.

Start your job search or placement at www.ffca.org

Palm Coast Fire Department Dedicates New Ladder Truck to Local Fallen Hero By Patrick J. Juliano, Fire Lieutenant Paramedic Fire Public Information Officer, Palm Coast Fire Department

he Palm Coast Fire Department hosted a Gold Star Dedication ceremony in which they dedicated a new ladder truck in memory of Marine Sergeant Zachary J. Walters on Memorial Day Weekend. The ceremony took place at Fire Station 25 with the family and friends of Sergeant Walters, Gold Star Families, and fire department personnel. The Fire Department took delivery of a 2021- E-One Cyclone 100’ Ladder Truck earlier this year. The ladder truck will be placed into front line service offering additional fire protection for all of Flagler County. Sgt. Zachary J. Walters was assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division, Marine Expeditionary Force based out of Camp Lejeune. Sgt. Walters and a fellow marine were killed on June 8, 2010 while on patrol in the Helmand Province of Afghanistan. He was a graduate of Flagler Palm Coast High School, Class of 2005. Zachary got his start in the Junior ROTC

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

Program while at Flagler Palm Coast High School. His instructors noted that he always took the uniform seriously, and that stuck with him when he passed up scholarships and job offers to instead join the military. The day after graduation, at age 19, he joined the United States Marine Corps. He was laid to rest with full military honors at Dallas Fort Worth National Cemetery. The idea for dedicating a fire truck to the memory of a Fallen Solider was proposed by Firefighter-Paramedic Christopher Strozier, who is a Navy Veteran. Firefighter Strozier stated, “We often forget why we have the rights and freedoms we do. Dedicating the fire engine to the memory of a Gold Star Families is a small way to show our appreciation for what they have sacrificed.” The fire department plans each Memorial Day to dedicate a Fire Engine to a Gold Star Recipient whose name is inscribed in the Veterans Memorial at Heroes Memorial Park. Sergeant Walters’ mother, Regina Walters, and grandmother, Lorie Minor, were on

hand to unveil the ladder truck’s dedication. “We’re not here to memorialize Sergeant Walters’ life, rather to celebrate his call to duty to preserve, protect and defend,” stated Fire Chief Jerry Forte. Chief Forte added, “As this ladder truck offers protection to our citizens during their calls for help, Sergeant Walters’ legacy of protecting our nation is carried on.”

East Lake Fire Rescue’s Fire Chief Tom Jamison Retires Tom Jamison, Fire Chief for the East Lake fire district in Pinellas County is retiring at the end of June. Chief Jamison started his fire career with East Lake in 1995 as a firefighter paramedic and worked his way up through the ranks and was appointed Fire Chief in 2011. Prior to East Lake, he worked in EMS as an EMT and paramedic beginning in 1992. Chief Jamison served as the president of the Pinellas County Fire Chiefs’ Association and leaves as the Immediate Past President. He was recognized as the District Manager of the Year by the Florida Association of Special Districts in 2017, and East Lake was recognized as the District of the year in 2019. Division Chief Jason Gennaro will assume to position of Fire Chief. “It has been an honor and privilege to serve the East Lake fire district, Pinellas County and the fire and EMS services for 29 years,” said

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

Chief Jamison. “I am confident this organization is in good hands moving forward.”

Fire Chief James Callahan Retires, New Fire Chief Steve Hudson Announced Monroe County Fire Rescue Fire Chief James “Jim” Callahan retired on May 19, 2021 after 15 years with Monroe County Fire Rescue and in career fire service for 51 years. In addition to Monroe County, he has served the City of St. Petersburg and Hillsborough County. Callahan implemented the “Callahan Plan” when he was hired in Monroe County, which focused on improving infrastructure and the level of service to the citizens and visitors of the Florida Keys. A few accomplishments included overseeing the building and refurbishing five Monroe County fire stations and a training facility, adding fire rescue staffing, and increasing Trauma Star

operations. He is also responsible for upgrading emergency communications during hurricanes and implementing a fire hydrant installation program. “I am proud of what Monroe County Fire Rescue has accomplished the past 15 years,” said Callahan. “Chief Hudson will continue the efforts where I leave off.” New Fire Chief Steve Hudson brings 38 years of career fire service experience and joined Monroe County Fire Rescue in 2012. He has a master’s degree in disaster preparedness and executive fire leadership. He is also a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Executive Fire Officer Program and Leadership Monroe Class XXVII. “It has been an honor to work and develop under Chief Callahan,” said Hudson. “His experience and wisdom have helped me prepare to be his successor and for that I’m extremely grateful. I wish him and his wife Cindy the very best in their retirement.”

AMKUS STRONG ALL METAL TOOLS

iC750

AMKUS introduces six new models to its family of high performance battery powered and line extrication tools. The tools’ bodies are constructed from solid aluminum and are ready for service in the severe duty challenging first responders.

STRONG TOOLS FOR STRONG WORK

Compact, all-metal bodies designed to access tight spaces and require less room on the apparatus Great speed under both loaded and unloaded conditions The ION models are DEWALT FLEXVOLT battery powered so batteries can be shared with other fire-rescue tools like saws, lights and drills High Intensity LED lights located in the handle for increased visibility

EVR

Emergency Vehicle Repair, Inc. Tim Nantka tnantka@yahoo.com 321-228-7691

Tim Grenz tgrenzevr@yahoo.com 321-576-4421

AMKUS.com 800-592-6587

Chad Michael Cianciulli, Fire Chief Martin County Fire Rescue

Fire Service Tenure: I have served in the fire service for 25 years, all of which has been with Martin County Fire Rescue. Career Journey: In 1995, I began my fire service career as a firefighter/EMT with Martin County Fire Rescue. Two years later, after completing paramedic school, I advanced to the position of firefighter/paramedic, and then in 2001 I earned a promotion to fire rescue lieutenant. In 2016, I was promoted to battalion chief, where I spent a large amount of time working on special operations coordination and working alongside Martin County Fire Rescue administrative leadership with operational projects. Most recently, on March 9, 2021, I was appointed by the Martin County Board of County Commissioners and accepted the promotion to fire chief for Martin County Fire Rescue. 28

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

Form of Government: Martin County is a local government agency and is governed jointly the Board of County Commissioners and Martin County Constitutional Officers. The Board of County Commissioners consists of five commissioners who serve as policymakers, approving the County’s budgets, passing ordinances, and take actions to provide for the health and welfare of the residents and visitors of Martin County. Sources of Funding for Jurisdiction: Martin County has a variety of funding sources. The most impactful to fire rescue services are those taxes and fees collected through ad valorem tax revenue, special revenue funds used for expenditures related to specific purposes, and grant revenue funding. Composition of Department: Martin County Fire Rescue encompasses Emergency Management, Fire Rescue Communications, Fire Prevention, Ocean Rescue, Fire Rescue Administration, Fleet Maintenance & Logistics, Fire Rescue Operations and Special Operations (aeromedical rapid transport services, HazMat, technical rescue, and dive team) services. Martin County Fire Rescue consists of 11 fire stations and two specialty stations that house our LifeStar aeromedical unit and a medic-only unit.

Department Equipment: Martin County Fire Rescue fleet consists of fire suppression apparatus such as engines, ladders, tankers and brush trucks, EMS transport units, specialty vehicles including Ocean Rescue's jet skis and ATVs. Supplemental equipment is utilized by Martin County Fire Rescue to supply fire suppression, BLS/ALS medical services, and special operations such as high angle, vehicle mechanical, confined space, structural collapse, rope, water and HazMat rescue operations.

Population served including square miles covered: Martin County Fire Rescue provides fire rescue services to Martin County, the fifth largest county in the State of Florida by land area, reaching approximately 543 square miles of mix of suburban, agricultural/rural land, with a population of 161,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Call Summary: In calendar year 2020, Martin County Fire Rescue had a total of 24,681 total station responses to calls for emergency service, which included a total of 43,558-unit responses. What is the most challenging issue facing your department today? Alike many other emergency services agencies, the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to be the most challenging issue Martin County Fire Rescue is currently facing. As response to the pandemic continues to evolve, we continue to see an impact on fire rescue operations, EMS services and outreach and engagement. Describe your management style. I subscribe to a decentralized command-style leadership. I believe that putting faith in your department leaders at various levels throughout the organization facilitates ownership in the operations. I stand firm on the concept that education and empowerment is positively correlated to success within the department. Does your department have a formal, long-range strategic plan? In 2019, Martin County Fire Rescue developed and presented a five-year strategic plan in which covered many aspects of our operations. This plan focused on developments in key policy initiatives such as internal communication improvements, personnel wellbeing and health, training and development, technologies, equipment and facilities, as well as community outreach.

How have current economic times impacted your department? Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Martin County Fire Rescue suffered financial impact through personnel leave related to COVID-19 and supplementary overtime staffing. Although this has generated more overtime spending than preferred, the department is currently within our budgetary tolerance for overtime-related expenditures. Explain how you are doing things differently today because of the economy? Today’s economy has allowed us to continue to enhance our level of service by adding additional apparatuses to our fleet. These additions have allowed us to meet the call load demand for higher populated areas as well as reduce response times. Although COVID-19 has financially impacted our department, the CARES Act and maintaining fiscal responsibility has allowed us to continue perusing our vision for service for the community. What challenges do you see facing the fire service today? Staffing continues to be a challenge for the

fire service in general. Hiring qualified individuals at the pace of the increasing retirements continue to be a challenge. Your experienced firefighters are quickly being replaced by new firefighters who lack the experience. Fire rescue services are also finding it challenging to find firefighters that are certified paramedics. This continues to be a challenge for our department, too. What do you look for in a new recruit? I am always looking for future leaders-somebody who is motivated, has a passion to be a part of the fire service and serve our community, and most importantly, someone who is selfless. All of these things are critical, and physical fitness is paramount, of course. How do you view training? Training is the second most important aspect of the fire service, next to personnel. We have to get the right people for this demanding and dangerous job. Training then impacts competence in operations, safety of personnel and constituents, and professional development of all ranks. Do you have a close working relationship with your neighboring departments? Martin County Fire Rescue works closely with neighboring counties and our local municipal public safety agencies. Our department has inter-local agreements with the City of Stuart, Sewall’s Point, as well as the Town of Jupiter Island. Additionally, we work to maintain mutual aid agreements with both Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and St. Lucie County Fire District. What’s the future for the fire service as you see it? Our future has no limits! We are investing in our personnel through education and training, and we’re taking our professional development to the highest levels to prepare them to lead our organization into an amazing future.

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

Plantation Seasoned Vet is Promoted By Joel Gordon, MS, RN, EMT-P, MPIO, CFO, Deputy Chief

Florida Elks Association First Responders of the Year By Matt Brown

On May 29, 2021, Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) Driver Engineer/Paramedic Derek McBrayer received the Florida Elks Association First Responder of the Year-Firefighter Award at their Annual Convention in Orlando. In addition, two of his crew members, Driver/Engineer Alvin Catholic and Firefighter/Paramedic Wade Kirkland were recognized as First Responder of the Year-Firefighter Team. Driver Engineer/Paramedic McBrayer expressed he was, “Humbled and honored to be receiving recognition for an award that is also deserving of so many others.” Driver Engineer/Paramedic Catholic added, “I feel this is an honor and I feel very privileged that I was recognized for such as prestigious award.” The individuals were nominated for the award by Lakeland Fire Department Fire Chief Douglas E. Riley. On August 19, 2020, at approximately 1:00 am, first responders were dispatched from the Lakeland Fire Department’s (LFD) Fire Station 4 to a motor vehicle accident on Brunnell Parkway. Rescue 42 with Driver Engineer/Paramedic Derek McBrayer and Firefighter/Paramedic Wade Kirkland arrived on scene of a single vehicle accident in Lake Bonnet. The vehicle was found upside down with a trapped driver. Bystanders were assisting the driver by keeping her head above water to avoid drowning. The driver was belly down, between the vehicle’s B-Post and seat, unable to free herself. Movement of the vehicle could injure the assisting bystanders or result in the victim drowning in the layer of water she was trapped in. Driver Engineer/Paramedic McBrayer, a previous Firefighter of the Year recipient, no stranger to dangerous situations, immediately sprang into action and entered the water to make contact with the driver. Upon submerging himself and assessing the situation, McBrayer was able to determine the driver was caught by the seat belt and he was able to disengage the seat belt, freeing the driver. The driver was lifted out of the water by McBrayer and was assisted to shore and there she shared that there were originally more three others in the car with her. Under the direction of Driver Engineer/Paramedic Alvin Catholic, McBrayer and Kirkland made multiple entrees into the vehicle, submerged in the water, sweeping all area with negative results. After multiple attempts they were relieved to learn that the other three occupants had freed themselves and were ashore. This incident, which could have had a much different outcome had it not been for the dedicated efforts of Driver Engineer/Paramedic Derek McBrayer, Driver Engineer/Paramedic Alvin Catholic, and Firefighter/Paramedic Wade Kirkland. They, like most LFD Firefighters, are extremely humble and would be uncomfortable by the mere thought of being nominated for this award. 30

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

The Plantation Fire Department promoted, John Legrand, a veteran paramedic, to a Lieutenant’s position within the Rescue (EMS) Division, Fire Chief Donald Todd announced. Legrand joined the Plantation Fire Department in 2017, bringing a number of years of experience as a paramedic with Mary Immaculate Hospital in New York City, a flight paramedic with the University of Virginia, and a paramedic instructor for the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, in Dallas. John was promoted to Crew Chief with Plantation in 2019. He graduated from University of Rochester with a degree in Economics and later received his paramedic certification through Stonybrook University in New York.

Contest from Orange County Fire By Lisa McDonald, Public Relations and Outreach Specialist

Orange County Florida is constantly innovating ways to present new and engaging programs to the public and with COVID-19 vaccinations and Hurricane season beginning to merge, the Office of Emergency Management came up with a creative plan. Get a vaccination, get a free weather radio. The push to encourage residents to vaccinate against COVID-19 brought about creativity from the Manager, Chief Lauraleigh Avery. The Chief’s goal was to make sure 500 radios could be easily distributed throughout various locations and what better way to give them out? Use the Orange County vaccination sites. “Orange County wants to assure that our citizens are prepared for the upcoming Hurricane Season by making sure that everyone is vaccinated and prepared for any hazardous weather that may impact our area,” said Lauraleigh Avery, Manager, Orange County Emergency Management. “Orange County families that visit our five vaccination sites can receive a free weather alert radio and an Orange County Emergency Preparedness Guide while supplies last. Preparing today, provides for a safer tomorrow.” Chief Avery came up with a plan to give away 25 radios a day, on a firstcome, first served basis, at five locations around the County for four days straight. These locations serve a variety of residents who may be impacted, not only by the spread of COVID-19, but by the threat of impending storms.

Pasco County Fire Rescue Cadet Post Places Third By Corey Dierdorff, APIO, Public Information Officer

Congratulations to our Pasco County Fire Rescue Cadet Post for placing 3rd place in the donning and doffing category at the Buccaneer Games in Tampa! Cadets competed against 14 other Fire Cadet Programs from across the state. Our Cadet post recently merged with the Zephyrhills Cadet Post after the PCFR/ZFR merger in mid 2020. Congrats to our Cadets! We are #PascoProud of all your hard work and dedication!

Ocala Chief Represents Departments at Inaugural First Responders Mental Health Day Celebration B-34 Historical Marker Unveiling Ceremony By Thomas R. Wood, CFO, FIFireE, Fire Chief

My initial research into the BRAAF base began in 2011 with the assistance of Susan Gillis at the Boca Raton Historical Society (BRHS). I also kicked it up a notch in 2011, when I acquired 11,000 pages of documents from the U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama. My research resulted in publishing a one-page feature article in our September-October 2011 Newsletter titled “BRAAF Fire Department”. I followed that up with “BRAAF Most Notable Incidents – May & June 1944”, a 3-page feature article in our May-June 2014 Newsletter. Both of these articles are available online at the BRHS website at https://www.bocahistory.org/our-history-army-at-field/ I created a Power Point presentation and visited several local civic organizations and BRHS. My goal in 2014 (70th Anniversary) was to commemorate the loss of 9 soldiers at the base from a May 12, 1944 B-34 crash with a Florida Historical Marker at the crash site, which is now Florida Atlantic University (FAU). Flash forward to 2019…on the 75th Anniversary I made the rounds again with the Power Point presentation. Following a Rotary Club presentation on May 3, 2019, Mr. Howard Schwartz approached me and offered to arrange a meeting with FAU President John Kelly. That meeting was held on July 11, 2019 and the work to have the historical marker was launched. I wrote the narrative for the marker and it was edited by Susan Gillis, also the author of Palm Beach County During World War II, and Sally J. Ling, author of Small Town, Big Secrets Inside the Boca Raton Army Air Field During World War II. The application was approved by FAU and it was sent to the Florida Historical Marker Council. They conducted a hearing on November 22, 2019 and it was approved. The historical marker arrived on March 23, 2020, right in time for the COVID-19 Pandemic full shutdown. The first unveiling ceremony scheduled for May 19, 2020 was cancelled. The marker remained in my office through out the Pandemic. On May 27, 2021 a scaled back unveiling ceremony was held at FAU. FAU is planning another event in conjunction with an FAU Football game later in the Fall of 2021, wherein the families of the lost soldiers will have an opportunity to see the historical marker first-hand. Pictured L-R: City Council Member Monica Mayotte, BRHS Curator of Collections Susan Gillis, Fire Chief Tom Wood, BRHS Executive Director Mary Csar, Deputy Mayor Andrea Levine O’Rourke, Council Member Yvette Drucker, FAU President John Kelly, and FAU Vice President Dan Flynn. 32

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

By Ashley Lopez, Public Information Officer

Ocala Fire Chief Shane Alexander had the privilege of joining Senator Keith Perry and Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis in a historic event recognizing May 10th as First Responders Mental Health Day. The quaint celebration attended by fire chiefs from around the state took place at the Florida State Fire College and marked the commencement of an era that will focus on addressing an issue they know too well – mental illness among first responders. “Mental health problems are present and prevalent among first responders,” said Chief Alexander. “Today we choose to prioritize our well-being over fears of stigmas.” Designating a day to address First Responders Mental Health is an invaluable step toward destigmatizing the need to ask for help and normalizing the human emotions experienced during traumatic events.

Hillsborough Promotes Hurricane Preparedness By Eric Seidel, Public Information Officer

With everything else going on this year, you can now add the start of Hurricane Season to the list, so Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) began preparing residents early. On May18, HCFR hosted the Office of Emergency Management’s Hurricane Preparedness Media Day at its Headquarters. Media members got to tour HCFR’s newest AmbuBus, ready for the mass care and transportation of patients, such as during the evacuation of a hospital or assisted living facility. Hillsborough’s Emergency Management Coordinator Jay Rajyaguru explained how this type of vehicle serves to expand the county’s capability to evacuate non-ambulatory patients compared to a regular Rescue Vehicle which typically transports one patient: “On this ambulance we can do up to 12 patients in stretcher fashion, or we can do up to 20 patients if we have patients on stretchers and others in seats.” Among other displays, Hillsborough County demonstrated its sandbag machines capable of producing 500-600 sandbags an hour, along with demonstrations of flood mitigation, shelters, storm preparation, evacuation maps and generator safety.

ARE YOU READY FOR WILDFIRE? In the aftermath of Hurricane Michael, there is still a threat to life, homes and our communities – a wildfire threat. 2.8 million acres of trees (more than 2.1 million football fields) were destroyed during the storm and much remains on the ground today, ready to burn. You must be ready for wildfire.

It’s not about if a wildfire will ignite but when. Protect your life, home and community, visit:

BeWildﬁreReadyFL.com

Winter Haven Acquires Portable Speed Bumps By Erika Orozco, Firefighter/PIO

Winter Haven Fire Department crews respond daily to numerous calls for medical emergencies, vehicle accidents, fire alarms, structures fires, and many others. During these calls, proper truck placement is not only important, but also necessary to keep everyone in the hazard area safe. When vehicle accidents occur, emergency vehicles, such as fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars, respond to the scene. In some situations, these vehicles are placed in a way that blocks one or two lanes, or in extreme cases, the entire road. As per law, vehicles should slow down to a speed that is 20 mph less than the posted speed limit, or to 5 mph, if the speed limit is 20 mph or less. Unfortunately, when people do not follow this law, accidents involving emergency vehicles and oncoming traffic are more likely to happen. In order to help reduce this risk, Winter Haven Fire Department recently acquired portable speed bumps from FIRE-TEC. These temporary traffic calming devices can be easily placed on the roadway where it is necessary to slow traffic

Daytona Firefighters Visit Citizens for Birthday

Pasco County Special Operations Training By Corey Dierdorff, APIO, Public Information Officer

The Pasco County Fire Rescue Special Operations Division headed to Tampa to train aboard the American Victory Ship in Channelside. Firefighters descended down a 60-foot ladder shaft that is 24” by 24” to the ship’s belly. The training scenario is to rescue a victim suffering from a medical emergency while working on the ship’s driveshaft. Firefighters must successfully treat and raise the patient to safety. While we don’t have a lot of mega-ships in Pasco County, this scenario allows firefighters to train in tight spots that exist within the county. We are grateful to the American Victory Ship for allowing us to train on this beautiful WWII Merchant Marine vessel!

Orange County Child Safety Seat Checkpoint

By Sasha Staton, Public Information Officer

By Lisa McDonald, Public Relations and Outreach Specialist

Firefighters recently heard about two Daytona beach residents celebrating

By Joel Gordon, MS, RN, EMT-P, MPIO, CFO, Deputy Chief

Orange County Fire Rescue’s continuing education is important to make sure the residents in the County stay safe. One of the programs, offered by Community Education Specialist Felicia Dixon, is a car seat safety inspection. Dixon has been doing the safety seat checkpoint throughout the COVID-19 pandemic as a way to reach new parents who either do not know how to install a car seat safely or want to have their seat checked to make sure their children are safe while on the road. “The car seat is the primary mode of transportation for our little ones and what we know is that three out of four of those car seats are improperly installed,” said Dixon. Orange County Fire Rescue encourages parents to bring their vehicle out to any of the checkpoints, regardless if it is believed to be installed correctly, just to make sure and check the seats are secure in the belts and snug in the backseat.

Andre Merlucci was promoted to the position of Captain within the Plantation Fire Department’s Logistics Division, Fire Chief Don Todd announced May 26. Merlucci, who was serving as a Lieutenant in the EMS Division, joined the Plantation Fire Department in 2006 and became one of the Department’s first SWAT Medics. The 15-year veteran of the Fire Department also helped organize the City-wide Stop the Bleed program where he taught classes to several City Departments and faculty for most of the public schools throughout Plantation. Merlucci earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Management in 2013.

Please submit your article as a MS word document and include a high resolution jpeg image as an attachment (do not embed photo in document). Try to keep submissions under 300 words if possible. E-mail files and pics to: magazine@ffca.org. If you have an interesting topic that would be informative or entertaining to other departments - feel free to write a feature article for this magazine, we welcome all your submissions! All articles must have a title or headline and a byline as part of the article (please note format in above briefs) - if no byline is supplied- the article will run without.

their birthday and decided to drive by in the fire truck to pay them both a visit. Ella Bell Wilson turned 91 years old and Jessie Corbit reached 102 years old and was beyond excited to see his local fire department personally wishing him a happy birthday.

Plantation Names New Captain

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

Submitting Articles

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

Plantation Fire Department Names New Lieutenants By Joel Gordon, MS, RN, EMT-P, MPIO, CFO, Deputy Chief

Palm Beach Gardens Seal of Excellence Award By James Ippolito, Deputy Fire Chief/PIO

Captain Jeremy Hurd presents Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue the Seal of Excellence award on behalf of the National Fallen Firefighter Foundation. This award is bestowed upon agencies that demonstrate a commitment to the 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives, firefighter health and safety, and reducing the number of firefighter line-of duty deaths and injuries.

HCFR Professional Leadership Development By Eric Seidel, Public Information Officer

Experience and training are certainly two keys to success in the fire service, but Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) wants to make sure its personnel stay ahead of the curve when it comes to professional leadership skills as well. On May 10 HCFR kicked off its Professional Leadership Development Class, at this time focusing on recently promoted captains, but with plans to extend to all organizational levels of leadership in the future. These classes provide specialized knowledge in fire ground command, emergency resource management, personnel evaluation, decision making, problem solving, mentorship and media cooperation among other topics. HCFR Fire Chief Dennis Jones notes these areas are just as important as physical training when it comes to handling fires and other emergencies, as the tough calls made under stress can mean life or death.

Pasco County and Tampa Mutual-aid Training By Corey Dierdorff, APIO, Public Information Officer

Firefighters from Pasco County Fire Rescue and Tampa Fire Rescue took some time on a beautiful Sunday morning to train together on high-rise firefighting operations. The firefighters hit the 10th and 11th floors to simulate a multi-floor high-rise fire in the city. Multi-agency trainings like these are invaluable to ensure smooth on-scene operations during a significant incident.

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

As part of its continued growth to support the City, the Plantation Fire Department promoted three members to Lieutenant’s positions within the Suppression Division, Fire Chief, Don Todd announced today. Matthew Busa (1) has been involved in Fire and Emergency Services since 2002, starting as a volunteer firefighter in New York State. He joined Plantation in 2011 where he rose to the position of Crew Chief. Matt left Plantation briefly in 2016 to take a position with Motorola Solutions in Seattle. The 1 experienced firefighter/EMT returned to Plantation in 2019, where he continues to work full time for Motorola while serving as a volunteer firefighter with Plantation. Lt. Busa holds a BA in Information Technology from Rochester Institute of Technology, and a Masters in Business Administration from Seattle University. He maintains fire instructor certificates in both New York and Florida and currently teaches in Plantation’s Firefighter One program. Busa will serve as a Suppression Lieutenant at Station 5. Aston Bright (2) Joined the Plantation Fire Department in 2014. He was promoted to Driver/Engineer in 2016 and Crew Chief in 2019. Aston also serves as the Department’s Public Information Officer and a member of the Media Services Unit. Bright developed an international reputation as a member of the Emergency Volunteers Project (EVP), an Israeli based 2 non-profit organization which recruits, trains, and deploys FF’s to Israel in times of need. He served in Israel both in 2017 and 2018. He currently travels the country speaking of his experiences in Israel. Lt. Bright earned his Bachelor’s degree from Florida Atlantic University in 1999 and his Masters of Business Administration in 2013. Daniel (Danny) Stearns (3) joined Plantation in 2004. He previously served as a Lieutenant at both Station One and Station Five. In 2014 Stearns left Plantation to serve as a firefighter in Escambia County. He returned to Plantation in 2016. Lt. Stearns maintains his Firefighter II, paramedic, Fire Instructor, Live Fire Instructor, and Fire Inspector certifications. He is also a certified Dive Rescue Specialist and 3 is a member of Plantation’s nationally recognized, Dive Rescue Team. He also serves as a member of Plantation’s award-winning honor guard. He will serve as a Lieutenant at Station One.

Structure Fire at Daytona Beach Apartment Multiple engines responded to a structure fire on the morning of April 23, 2021. Upon arrival there was light smoke coming from a lower unit. Further investigation located the fire in the master bedroom of an apartment where no one was home. After several units were evacuated for safety, firefighters were able to quickly contain the fire and prevented additional units from being damaged.

Two Dogs Rescued by Daytona Firefighters By Sasha Staton, Public Information Officer

Daytona Fire Department was dispatched to a residential home for smoke in a structure. When they arrived on scene, they observed smoke showing. Both the front and back doors were locked causing firefighters to force the front door. As they entered the house, they found light smoke throughout the home. Once access was gained into home structure was searched and we found a pot on the stove that was causing the smoke. The occupants of the house were not home at the time, but firefighters found two dogs inside the home and were able to successfully removed them from the house and reunite them with their owners once they returned.

HCFR Battles Brush Fire Alongside FFS By Eric Seidel, Public Information Officer

Dry weather conditions make brush fires especially dangerous this time of year, and on May 17, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) worked with Florida Forest Service (FFS) to contain an approximately 125-acre brush fire near Balm-Riverview Road in the Riverview area. Crews worked to make sure nearby power lines and structures were protected using brush trucks and other apparatus while FFS dug fire lines and set a backfire to help contain the blaze. Balm-Riverview Road had to be closed near the Balm Boyette nature preserve for the protection of motorists while we fought the crown fires which worked their way through the tree line, effectively jumping fire lines. The fire was contained within three hours with no injuries or damage to any structures. After extinguishing hot spots, a fire watch was set up in this area to prevent any flare ups during the night and over the next few days.

Structure Fire By Sasha Staton, Public Information Officer

Daytona Beach Firefighters responded to a structure fire at a beachside condominium just before 6pm. The fire was located at the Vantage Point condos in Daytona Beach. Large flames were coming from the top floor balcony of one of the buildings as Firefighters arrived on scene. They were able to get control of the fire and contain it to its original location without extension to the adjacent units.

Semi-Truck Fire in Daytona Beach By Sasha Staton, Public Information Officer

Just after midnight, Daytona Beach Firefighters responded to a vehicle fire located on I-95. They arrived to a fully engulfed 18-wheeler pulled off to the side. The driver of the semi was able to pull over when he noticed sparks coming from the truck and exited without injury. Firefighters extinguished the truck that had been carrying ice cream. The cause of the fire was due to a malfunction with the brakes.

Brush Fire

By Anthony Gianantonio, Deputy Chief

Palm Bay Fire Rescue crews prevented a brush fire from engulfing a home in Southeast Palm Bay on May 28. Crews from Station 4, 5, & 6 responded to a home in danger off Reading St and found the fire quickly moving towards the house. Engine crews began attacking the head fire with pre-connects while brush units advanced into the woods to extinguish the flanks and halted the moving fire. Crews were on scene for two hours ensuring that the fire was completely mopped up and check for any extension into the home. No damage was sustained to the house. In total 16 personnel from three fire stations worked to contain the fire. Florida Forestry was requested to build plow lines around the perimeter. The fire totaled 3-4 acres in size.

Firefighters Save Trapped Boater By Sasha Staton, Public Information Officer

Several Daytona Beach Fire Department units responded to a late-night call at a local marina for a boat fire. When they arrived, they were advised that one of the boaters was trapped in the engine compartment which was filling with heat, smoke, and fumes from chemicals. The fire had extinguished but due to the explosion, the 1,500-pound engine hatch was damaged and would not open. Firefighters quickly began working to open the compartment and eventually were able to extricate the injured boater. The male had to be transported by helicopter to be treated for severe burns. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

Advertiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page No. DAB Door 800-257-2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Database Financial Services, Inc. 877-624-3767 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Emergency Vehicle Repair 321-228-7691 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 ETR, LLC 407-339-6737 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Genesis Rescue Systems 850-566-5553 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Hall-Mark RTC 800-524-6072 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Life Scan Wellness Centers 813-876-0625 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Minerva Bunker Gear Cleaners / Fire Soaps 888-928-6537 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Municipal Equipment, LLC 800-228-8448 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 NAFECO 800-628-6233 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Safe Air Corporation 800-798-8820. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, 26 Team Equipment, Inc. 800-367-9054 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 Ten-8 Fire Equipment, Inc. 800-228-8368 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 United Badges Insurance Services 850-841-9992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, 11 VFIS 800-233-1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Wheeled Coach 800-342-0720 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Start your job search or placement at www.ffca.org

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

June 2021

Industry’s Most Versatile Battery Fan

Commercially Available

PURCHASE ANY BATTERY OR ELECTRIC FAN RECEIVE

FREE MOUNTAIN MISTER Valid Until July 31, 2021

DeWalt & Milwaukee Battery Platforms

16” Variable-Speed Battery Fan

18” Variable-Speed Battery Fan

20” Variable-Speed Battery Fan

Model# V16-BL-08-AC-SP • Battery: Milwaukee REDLITHIUM Redlithium™ High Output™ XC8.0 (2) • Weight: 46 lb., 21 kg • Motor: Variable-Speed DC with Standard 120240V AC • Setback: 14 ft, 4.3 m • Angle: 5° • Output: 9,816 cfm, 16,677 cmh

Model# V18-BD-09-AC-SP • Battery: DeWalt FLEXVOLT 9.0Ah (2) • Weight: 53 lbs., 24 kg • Motor: Variable-Speed DC with Standard 120240V AC • Setback: 15 ft, 4.6 m • Angle: 10° • Output: 10,840 cfm, 18,417 cmh

Model# V20-BD-12-AC-SP • Battery: DeWalt FLEXVOLT 12.0Ah (2) • Weight: 62 lbs., 28 kg • Motor: Totally Enclosed Variable-Speed DC with Standard 120-240V AC • Setback: 15 ft, 4.6 m • Angle: 10° • Output: 13,000 cfm, 22,087 cmh

Scan QR Code

LIVE WEBINAR

Wednesday, June 30, 2021 11:00 AM CST - 1 hour long

F210601_FLO150_SUP050_POM_RW_rev2

18” Valor Electric Fan

18” 7 Series Electric Fan

Model# V18-EV • Weight: 84 lbs, 38 kg • Motor: RAE, TEAO Variable Speed, 1.5 HP, 50/60Hz, 115/230V AC • RPM: 2,368 • Start: 2,000 w, 15-amp circuit • Run: 1,500 w • Setback: 9 ft, 2.7 m • Angle: 11.5° • Output: 11,709 cfm, 19,894 cmh

Model# 718-EVS • Weight: 86 lbs, 39 kg • Motor: RAE, TEAO, Variable Speed, 1.5 HP, 50/60Hz, 115/230V AC • RPM: 2,400 • Start: 2,000 w, 15-amp circuit • Run: 1,500 w • Setback: 6 ft, 1.8 m • Angle: 18° • Output: 10,744 cfm, 18,254 cmh

NA F E C O. c o m / S u p e r Va c info@nafeco.com • 800-628-6233

NE W DELIVERIES MARTIN COUNTY FIRE RESCUE CHASSIS: Enforcer® BODY: Heavy Duty Rescue, Walk-In ENGINE: Detroit Diesel DD13 HORSEPOWER: 525 hp FRONT SUSPENSION: Leaf GENERATOR: Onan 15 kW

NORTH PORT FIRE RESCUE DISTRICT CHASSIS: Velocity® BODY: Aerial, HD Ladder, 75’ HAL ENGINE: Detroit Diesel DD13 HORSEPOWER: 505 hp FRONT SUSPENSION: TAK-4® Independent Suspension PUMP: Hale QMAX-200 GPM: 2000 gpm TANK: 500 gallons

BROWARD SHERIFF FIRE RESCUE CHASSIS: Velocity® BODY: Pumper, PUC ENGINE: Detroit Diesel DD13 HORSEPOWER: 525 hp FRONT SUSPENSION: TAK-4® Independent Suspension PUMP: Pierce GPM: 1500 gpm TANK: 750 gallons

TEN-8 FIRE & SAFETY, LLC. is Florida’s premier distributor of fire apparatus, rescues, and firefighting equipment. Learn more at TEN8FIRE.COM. FLORIDA SERVICE LOCATIONS: Bradenton · Sanford DeFuniak Springs · Fort Myers · Pompano Beach