2023 July FFS Magazine

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

Ngoc Huynh - Operations & Events Director

Denise Holley - Office Manager

Liz Aperauch - Marketing Coordinator

FFCA Board of Directors

Douglas Riley - President

Harold Theus - 1st Vice President

Michael Choate - 2nd Vice President

Ty Silcox - Immediate Past President

Carlos Aviles - Secretary/Treasurer

Ryan H. Crawford - Northwest Region Director

Brady Rigdon - Northeast Region Director

Chuck Bogle - East Central Region Director

Chantal Botting - Southeast Region Director

Ian Kemp - West Central Region Director

GregoryDeWitt - Southwest Region Director

Wm. Ray Colburn- Executive Director & CEO

James White - Foundation Chair

Leland Greek - Senior Member

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

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

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

July 2023, Volume 31, Number 7

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 2023 by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without written permission.

Greetings FFCA family.

Since this will be my last official message as the FFCA President, I would like to begin by reflecting on the last two years. First and foremost, I want to thank the FFCA board and staff for the support they have shown me during my tenure as President. I am honored to have had the privilege of serving alongside of some of the most consummate professionals that I have ever met. I have enjoyed building relationships and working with each of you as we have faced numerous challenges and successfully continued to move the association forward. I am proud of the work that we have done and the relationships we’ve built that will surely continue far into the future.

I would also be remiss if I didn’t offer my most sincere gratitude to the FFCA membership for supporting the vote to extend my Presidency for a second year. When I was originally approached about the idea, I made it clear that I would be honored to serve a second term but only if it was the will of the board and membership.

I am proud of the work and accomplishments that I see every day by the men and women of the Florida fire service. You all are truly second to none as you demonstrate unwavering commitment to excellence every day. I am excited to pass the baton to our incoming President Harold Theus and vow to continue to do everything I can to support him with his term in office and

Douglas Riley, Fire Chief FFCA President

continue to support the mission of the FFCA as the Immediate Past President.

Lastly, I want to thank our board members Ty Silcox and Chuck Bogle as they term off the board. I have thoroughly enjoyed your friendship and am immensely appreciative of the leadership, mentorship, and support that you have provided not only to me but to the entire membership.

Your FFCA staff and Board of Directors are the best in the business, and they are here to serve you and advocate for the Florida fire service every day. Please contact us if we can assist you in any way

Sincerely,

Doug Riley

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W h e r e v e r Y o u A r e , B e T h e r e

By Rick Spence

Iremember several years back, my wife and I and our kids were sitting in our living room watching a movie. Out of the blue, I hear my wife yelling my name. I asked her what she wanted and probably commented that she did not have to yell. Apparently, she had been trying to get my attention for a short period of time and I was unaware of it. She finally explained to me that my son had been asking me some questions and was trying to have a conversation with me. That too, I was unaware of. The sad part of this incident was that I was not asleep. I had been staring off into space and my mind was 1000 miles away. I was totally unaware of my son even talking to me. But in my simple firefighter mind, I was spending “quality time” with my family.I thought this is what they wanted. My definition of quality time was being in the same room. I had a lot to learn.

Unfortunately, this was not the first time or the last time a similar incident occurred. There were incidents at family functions, church events and several other inopportune times. Each time, I thought I was engaged and participating. As much as I enjoyed my career as a firefighter, there seemed to be some side effects of the job that we do not recognize, but those around us do. I would argue with my wife that I was spending time with her and our children, and I was doing quality time things. Looking back, I was just a cardboard cutout sitting in a chair. I don’t know what caused me to do this, but after talking to several firefighters, I found out this

is quite common in our profession. I have heard several explanations for this lack of ability to focus on relaxed settings. Some people think it is the chronic fatigue we have from working on shift. Others believe it a lack of intensity/adrenaline that we get from running calls or that firefighters seem unable to slow down at times. For me, my mind would drift to calls or situations where I thought I should have done something different. I was always second guessing myself, thinking of things I could have done differently or do better than what I did. It wasn’t that I screwed up on calls; I was always thinking of how to do the job better next time. It is difficult to shut down our minds and stop to smell the roses. The few times I was able to shut down, I would fall asleep. It was probably when I sorely needed sleep. But I would frantically wake up and start doing some of the things I thought needed to do. My family did not get my best as a husband and father. This same issue spilled over into other areas of my life. I felt like I was only doing things halfway, such as my union duties, Bible study lessons, and household chores, to name a few Once again, this seems to be common in our profession. Fortunately,I realized I needed help (after my wife pointed it out). After talking to several mental health professionals and a couple of pastors, I learned I that I had to relearn how to focus and concentrate, like learning to play chess or golf. It was something I had to be intentional in, consciously thinking about where I was and

who I was with and putting forth effort to be engaged and involved. For me, it was extremely easy for me to “zone out,” and I did that at some of the worst times. Another thing I did was to turn off the TV and put down my phone when I was involved in family activities or other commitments. I do my best to remove anything that can distract me from what I need to pay attention to. It seems to be getting better, but from where I was at, any movement is better than I was previously. It is a theme that is central in the Bible, to treat others as more important than you. James, the brother of Jesus probably put I best when he wrote, “be quick to listen and slow to speak.” I think some of the modern Biblical translations has it, “wherever you are, be there.”

Rick Spence retired as Assistant Chief from the Reedy Creek Fire Department after 30 years. Heis currently the Chaplain for the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, Central Florida FireChiefs’ Association,Reedy Creek Fire Department, Lake County Fire Department, Clermont FireDepartment, Maitland Fire Department, and the Florida Professional Firefighters. He serves asSergeant of Arms for the Florida Professional Firefighters and International Association of Firefighters.He was selected Florida Professional Firefighter of the Year in 2018.He has been married to his wife Alecia for 36 years.

Fire science and firefighter research have evolved significantly over the past several decades, revealing better tactics to fight fires, save lives, and preserve property. But accessing that research and applying it in your department, with your firefighters, can be a tall order. As an industry, the fire service is centered on tradition. Oftentimes, that can be a good thing. Other times, it can be a detriment to success. And resistance to new and effective evidence-based tactics is no small issue when adopting these tactics can be the difference between life and death. Fire departments today must have leaders who are willing to look outside their own department to adopt tools and techniques that increase efficiency and outcomes.

In a recent webinar, “Evidence-Based Tactics: Applying Research & Technology for Safer, More Effective Fireground,” three chiefs from Loveland (CO) Fire Rescue Authority (LFRA) discuss how they have applied research in their fireground operations to improve safety and results across the board.

Getting Buy-In: The Process

“Every single day we go to a fire, there is some form of research being applied,” Chief Tim Sendelbach says. That’s the goal of learning about evidence-based tactics, but how can you establish an effective program in your department? According to fire service leaders, the biggest barrier to implementing new research-based tactics is lack of buy-in among personnel. So how do you get that buy-in?

There are four key areas in which to apply research to fire service operations.

Training Division: Training leaders must be receptive to change and demonstrate a will-

By Lexipol Team - www.Lexipol.com

ingness to adapt to and adopt new technologies. Obtaining buy-in at all levels starts with a firm foundational culture laid by leaders.

Apparatus Specification: For application of evidence-based tactics and technology to be possible, you must ensure the apparatus are built to the right specifications and allow for effective deployment of those technologies.

Fireground Discipline: As with any tactic, it’s critical everyone in your department—and all the agencies your department works with— works off the same system, ensuring proper communication and chain of command. The LFRA adopted the Blue Card system across the board to streamline fireground discipline.

Informed Decision-Making: Decisions must be based on a combination of personal experience on the fireground and research into the most effective firefighting techniques.

Three out of four of these items tie directly into training, which is essential to successful firefighting operations in any circumstance. It can also be helpful in obtaining buy-in. Training allows firefighters to see and understand the why behind the tactics.

LFRA’s leadership recommends starting in the classroom: Do your own research as a department to demonstrate and understand the physics and chemistry of fire. “There’s so much more to understanding what’s taking place in just a simple candle, let alone a building,” Battalion Chief Jason Starck explains. Following a good understanding of fire science, move to hands-on training, starting with observation burns, before moving to larger scale live-fire training to validate these new tactics. Battalion Chief Erik Klaas highlights the importance of this step: “Experiencing that, actually seeing it

and being in that environment allowed us to connect those dots with our people.” First-hand experience gives your firefighters the chance to see the tactics in action and understand how and why they work. This ultimately creates the buy-in you need to apply the tactics, leading to safer and more effective firefighting.

Applying Evidence on the Fireground

Once you’ve identified the research and tactics that work for your department, how do you actually start applying them? Consider what aspects of response the tactics will affect: How should pre-entry evaluation change to fit the needs of the tactics? Does incident command require different or additional information? What does communication look like in light of these tactics? Ask these questions ahead of time and then train, train, train. Remember, first and foremost, it’s critical to have the right equipment and training to support an effective response.

When applying evidence-based tactics, just as in any fireground response, there are three key elements: coordination, common terminology, and a clear description of what’s happening. We have to know what’s happening and maintain clear, consistent communication to employ the right tactics. After the fire, conduct a thorough after-action report: “Did you get the desired effect of the tactics you applied? And if not, what do you need to do to overcome and achieve that?” Chief Klaas asks. These reports can guide future decision-making across your organization (and beyond) regarding tactics, training and response. And, as an added bonus, a focus on continuous learning reinforces buy-in from personnel.

Tribe

By Michael Tucker

•A social group composed chiefly of numerous families, clans, or generations having a shared ancestry and language., or

•A group of persons having a common character, occupation, or interest.

Lee Ann Kaskutas,

“There’s something really powerful about groups and shared experiences. People might be skeptical about their ability to change if they’re by themselves, but a group will convince them to suspend disbelief. A community creates belief.”

senior scientist at the Alcohol Research Group.

Almost every “work” environment can create some degree of connectedness that can impact an individual’s feeling of belonging. Whether you choose to believe it or not, it has been proven that humans are generally social creatures. Obviously, there are those individuals who tend to be introverted and others who tend to be extroverted, but on some level each of us needs human interaction and the feeling of being connected.

Throughout history, humans have formed into some type of tribe in an attempt to ensure comfort, safety, and survival. As the old adage goes, “there’s safety in numbers”. There’s also a proverb that says “a cord of three strands isn’t easily broken”. It’s not simply the fact that there are three cords, but it’sin the way these cords are woven together that gives them their strength. Being woven together doesn’t mean it won’t break, just that it’s not easy for it to be broken.

Merriam-Webster defines a tribe as:

It’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that a tribe is something that existed in the tribal communities of the American Indians or some jungle people deep in a rainforest, but nothing could be further from reality. Tribes exist in all walks of life and are comprised of people from homogenous backgrounds as well as those with different social, economic, and religious backgrounds. There are no standing rules by which tribes are formed or function. Tribes may be joined by blood, religion, career, or social worldview.

In 2018, CIGNA conducted a survey of 20,000 adults in the United States1 in an attempt to understand the issue of loneliness and its impact on people. The results of the sur vey indicate that feelings of loneliness are growing within society and are in fact very pronounced in younger generations (Millennials and Gen Z) compared to older generations (WWII generation). We can debate for hours as to the reasons behind this fact, but the simple reality is that as a society this is where we find ourselves. The issue isn’t as much how did we get here as it is how do we navigate out and for ward.

According to the study, nearly 40% of the respondents felt isolated, lack companionship, don’t have meaningful relationships, and are not close to anyone. In fact, the study identifies Gen Z as being the “loneliest” generation. The study provides many other insights and observations that warrant every leader’s further reading.

Understanding the current state of affairs is only the beginning! Taking the next steps is critical. The ability to create an environment in which people feel like they belong, are understood, and appreciated is paramount to building a successful organization that will function into the future. We can continue to bemoan the fact that “today’s worker” just isn’t want they used to be, or we can begin to proactively lean into the current realities. Whining about the way it used to be isn’t fixing anything.

Collectively, the workforce, comprised of the Millennial generation and Gen Z, is looking for precisely what the fire service has to offer. The growing workforce desires to have authentic leadership, a sense of purpose, and the ability to be part of something bigger than themselves. The challenge for fire service leaders is in helping the evolving workforce navigate the early stages of their careers until they see the value the fire service brings to themselves and

become a member of a tribe.

In his book Tribes, Seth Godin2 puts forward the belief that improving a tribe requires the following three things to occur:

•Transform the group’s shared interest into a passion and desire for change.

•Provide tools to allow members to tighten their communications.

•Leveraging the tribe to allow it to grow and gain new members.

Understanding how a chief officer, or company officer, has the ability to implement these three things has a direct correlation of making the firehouse a more connected place to live and work. Being a leader isn’t easy, and that’s the cold, hard truth. Recognizing that you are leading a tribe, and understanding how that tribe has the ability to positively impact each member’s mental health, and wellbeing, is foundational to your ability to effectively lead.

1 Cigna, 2018 Loneliness Index

2 Seth Godin, Tribes

Michael Tucker has over 37 years of fire rescue and EMS experience,serving fifteen years as Chief of Department and eight years with the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office as Superintendent of the Florida State Fire College.He is currently fire chief of Flagler County FireRescue. He holds an Associate’s Degree in Fire Science, Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management, and a Master’sDegree in Public Administration. He is a graduate of the National FireAcademy’sExecutive Fire Officer Program and is designated as a Chief Fire Officer by the Center for Public Safety Excellence.

How to Survive Career Suicide

By Lee Whitehurst

“You see that light in the corner of your eye? That’s your career dissipation light. It just went into high gear.” That’s what Chicago Firefighter Brian McCaffery said to Alderman Marty Swayzak in the 1991 movie “Backdraft”. Whether Marty knew it or not, he made a mistake and was going to be held accountable for it.

Everyone makes mistakes, some more than others. Some mistakes are no big deal. Nobody was hurt, no one else knows, there was no media coverage of it, and you dodged the bullet. Other mistakes are more noticeable and there is some level of discipline that may get issued in order to create a change in your behavior and to set an example for others not to follow. Still, other mistakes are potentially career ending. Some of us build up to that. Some folks who are otherwise squeaky clean find themselves quickly looking at that career dissipation light flashing in the corner of their eye. Is there any way of getting back from that? A lot depends on what you did. We read every day in public and professional media of Firefighters getting in trouble because of drugs, alcohol, social media, bullying, making bad decisions, and sometimes, intentional criminal acts.

How on earth do you come back from that? If there is any possibility, here is one way you can. I call it “reverse ALARA”. What does that mean? In hazardous materials response training, you are taught to minimize your exposure to radiation using ALARA principles of time, distance, and shielding.

To minimize your exposure to career suicide, just reverse it, Shield (Sword), Distance, Time.

Shielding. For you Game of Thrones fans, instead of using a shield, use the sword. Fall on it. Fall on your sword. Admit it. Be contrite, humble, and accountable for your actions. Don’t fight. As a fire chief, I am most ready to listen to someone when they do not blame others nor present a whole host of excuses, but rather they take responsibility and are remorseful for their actions. Although some acts are simply not forgivable, I am more apt to forgive what I can for those who fall on their sword. Perhaps the punishment will not be as great. Perhaps it is the difference between termination and a second chance. In the end, what do you have to lose? If you fight, it will cost you money,keep you at the top of the “news”, and puts a target on your back. In the end, you probably will not win and likely will lose any chance salvaging your career.

Distance. Whatever you did wrong, distance yourself from it. Drugs? Stop it. Get rehab. Don’t go near the places where you can get it. Stay away from those associated with it. Drinking? Stop it. Get rehab. Don’t go near the places where you can get it. Stay away from those associated with it. Social media? Stop it. Cancel your accounts. Not much more you can do there. Bullying? Stop it. Get counseling. Apologize to those you wronged. Made a bad decision? Stop it. Get your head on straight. Get counseling if you need. Get more training in the area you

messed up in. If you hurt someone by making a bad decision, try to do right by them. Do all of this regardless of if you get in trouble or not and even before you know whether you are going to be in trouble.

Time. It is said that time heals all wounds. All the things you distanced yourself from does take time for people to forget. Everyone is expecting you to mess up again, and they are watching and waiting for it. Your actions have created a “career tattoo” for you. It is what people think of when they see you and hear you. You must live with it, however long it takes and then a little longer for good measure. Let time take its time. Whatever you do, don’t do anything even close to what you did before. Don’t remind anyone of it by what you say or do. Let time heal. There is no guarantee “reverse ALARA” will work for you. But I’ve seen it work. I have seen people try to make it work but their mistakes were too severe, and they lost their career which, most likely, was going to happen anyway. But if there is a chance to salvage your career, “reverse ALARA” can work for you and maybe you can survive career suicide.

Lee Whitehurst is the Chief of the East Manatee FireRescue District in Bradenton, FL. He began his fire service career as a cadet in 1978 before joining East Manatee in 1983 as a volunteer firefighter. He was hired by the District in 1988, is a graduate of (now) the State College of Florida, an EFO, CDM, and CFO.

By Emma Williams, Public Relations Intern, Lakeland Fire Department

1916. It’s the year that the City of Lakeland established its now beloved Munn Park Historic District and the year in which Morrell Memorial Hospital, now known as Lakeland Regional Health, officially opened. 1916 is also when the Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) evolved to become a career fire department.

Originally founded as a volunteer fire department in 1909, LFD was formed after Lakeland residents suffered the devastating effects of three different fires in their city. This initiative would not have been possible without the efforts of several community leaders and H.L. Swatts, who served as LFD’s first fire chief. Prior to his election, Swatts taught fifth and sixth grade at a local school. For four years, Chief Swatts oversaw the department as its numbers increased and more fire engines were acquired until he passed the torch to Joseph LeVay in 1913. Following his retirement, Swatts continued to work for the City of Lakeland in various capacities.

Born in London, England, LeVay came to America at the age of 16 and moved to Lakeland only six years before becoming its fire chief. As the owner of two clothing stores, he used his business savvy to further the expansion of LFD and was especially instrumental in transitioning it from a volunteer fire department to a career fire department. A short time later, a man named Benjamin Driscoll became the department’s first career fire chief and began taking LFD in a new direction.

Over the course of the next few decades, LFD grew to include two full fire stations and went on to make other improvements to its department. During the 1980s, LFD started providing technical rescue services and in more recent years, aircraft rescue and firefighting services as well. Today, the Lakeland Fire Department has seven fire stations located throughout the city, with plans in the works for an eighth one to be built in North Lakeland. Its current fire chief, Chief Douglas Riley, was appointed in 2017 and has been with LFD since 1987.

References

Histor y. (n.d.). City of Lakeland. Retrieved from here

Holland, K. (2021, January 1). A timeline of 130+ historical events that happened in Lakeland, Florida. LALtoday. Retrieved from here

Meyer, M. (2017, April 3). 100-year timeline: Lakeland Hospital grew from 65 to nearly 900 beds. The Ledger. Retrieved from here

Pictured here is one of LFD’s seven fire stations (above) and a few of Lakeland’s first volunteer firefighters (below).

On Friday, July 7, 2023, the Oviedo Fire Department honored a woman who helped save the lives of two small children from a burning vehicle in May

On May 26, 2023, Oviedo firefighters responded to the Oviedo Mall for a report of a car fire in the parking lot outside of a department store. Upon arrival, firefighters found the vehicle fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters were able to extinguish the flames quickly and the State Fire Marshal’s office was contacted to start an investigation.

Before firefighters could arrive, Suzanne Matos, a local elementary school teacher parked her vehicle in the same parking lot

and noticed smoke coming from the burning car As Ms. Matos approached, she noticed two small children trying to escape the car, with no adult in sight.

Ms. Matos quickly sprang into action and got both children away from the car to a safe location near the building until emergency rescue services could arrive.

For this heroic effort, Ms. Matos was presented with a Life Saving Award and Challenge Coin from Oviedo Fire Chief Michael Woodward.

“The efforts of Ms. Matos certainly helped those children whose situation could have gone from bad to worse,” said Oviedo Fire

Chief Michael Woodward. “I’m proud of the citizens and I’m proud of this community.”

Ms. Matos told reporters she was returning items to the store when she noticed the car on fire.

“I was happy I was in the right place at the right time. It was the right thing to do,” said Matos.

Both children, under the age of five, were taken to Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital where they made a full recovery.

At the ceremony, Chief Woodward and Ms. Matos were joined by Firefighters from Station 46 who responded to the call, the Oviedo Police Department, Mayor Megan Sladek, Assistant City Manager Patrick Kelly, and family members who were proud of the recognition.

Martin County Fire Rescue proudly serves and protects roughly 160,000 residents across 528 square miles of suburban and agricultural/rural lands and waterfront along the southeastern coast.

Officially established in 1994, MCFR has roughly 430 employees spread throughout multiple departments, including Fire/EMS, Emergency Management, 911 Dispatchers, Fire Prevention, and Ocean Rescue.

Approximately 340 Martin County firefighters provide lifesaving service from 11 stations, each of which is manned by at least five firefighters/paramedics, one rescue, and one engine twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

MCFR has been at the forefront of progress over the last few years, expanding its effort to increase public safety through multiple projects,

including the construction of four new fire stations and a fire training facility, as well as a more cost-effective LifeStar contract, featuring a state-of-the-art medical helicopter

Leadership at Martin County Fire Rescue has also made investing in lifesaving technology a priority, as work is currently underway to install the Glance traffic signal preemption system and Click 2 Enter technology throughout the county.

Martin County Fire Rescue is led by Fire Chief Chad Cianciulli and Deputy Fire Chief Rodney Robertson, and the department’s mission statement is to protect lives, property, and the environment with safety, integrity, and excellence.

“Martin County Fire Rescue embodies an allhazards response organization. We have a very diverse culture, enabling us to connect with our

residents and provide the highest level of service that they expect and deserve,” said Chief Cianciulli, “Our organization is committed to being progressive and innovative and is constantly searching for safer and more efficient ways to provide emergency response to our community.”

Martin County Fire Rescue has been recognized statewide and within the community for its efforts, receiving fire prevention awards and Beach Patrol of the Year by the Florida Beach Patrol Chiefs Association in 2022.

MCFR recently hired and trained an additional 26 recruits - the department’s largest recruit class in years - which will help the department continue to address a 63% increase in call volume since 2009; a trend that’s expected to continue.

High Performance CPR Training

By Jesse Canales, Assistant Public Information Officer, Orange County Fire Rescue

Early CPR can double or even triple a patient’s chances of survival following a cardiac arrest or drowning according to the American Heart Association. It is a vital tool many Orange County Fire Rescue field crews utilize to save lives or help achieve ROSC from a patient that coded.

That’s why in late April, crews began High Performance CPR training, an innovative way to practice treatment of cardiac arrest patients. In

High Performance CPR training, emergency crews take a training approach similar to a race team ‘pit crew’. Crew members receive a preassigned role so that care happens quickly and seamlessly.

The training utilizes real-time feedback as CPR is done on mannequins such as compression rates, bagging quality, and technique. The new technology allows crews to immediately review their own performance.

Lt. Daniel Lennon, a Special Operations Training Instructor, understands how important it is to train these skills on a continuous basis. He said firefighters train year-round at stations on fire related operations such as vehicle extrication, basic handline deployment, or turning a hydrant, and he believes the same should be done when it comes to medical emergency training.

“I’ve been involved in training since my sixth year when we first started doing stuff with Valencia [College] so, I know the benefit of revisiting things from time to time,” he said. “Lt. Astarita used to say, ‘every skill is a perishable skill’.”

Roughly a third of field crews went through Fire Station 68 to participate so far. Lt. Kimberly Engeman said multiple times after crews went through the High Per formance CPR training they ended up running

a cardiac arrest call the same day and same shift. She said those crews were able to successfully achieve ROSC including Lt. Lennon’s crew at Fire Station 66.

“About five hours after we completed that training, we ended up getting a [call about a] a female [patient around 50-years-old] who coded in front of her family,” Lt. Lennon said. “We arrived on scene and attained ROSC within nine minutes and transported her [to a local hospital]. She was discharged to hospice. It’s unfortunate but, like I explained to my crew ‘at least we bought enough time for everybody to plan and say goodbye to [her].’”

“The intent is to continue this training to ensure we all stay as proficient as possible,” Lt. Engeman said.

“High performance CPR training will help more people recover from cardiac arrest and go home to their families.”

In Fiscal Year 2022, Orange County Fire Rescue responded to 115,936 EMS calls, around 81% of all response calls, and 985 of those patients received CPR.

“With the volume of people coming into this job now, there’s a lot of inexperience but we can make that up through training,” Lt. Lennon said. “We can bring everybody up.”

South Walton Crews Start July at Early-Morning Fire in Santa Rosa Beach

By Mackenzie McClintock, Public Information Officer, South Walton Fire District

South Walton Fire District (SWFD) firefighters responded to an earlymorning residential structure fire July 1 on Sugar Cove Road in Santa Rosa Beach.

The original 911 caller reported a fire was spreading throughout a home’s garage, engulfing a vehicle and the contents inside. Firefighters arrived on-scene at 1:30 a.m. to find heavy smoke and flames showing from the residence and learned that the homeowner had made it out safely, but one dog was potentially still inside.

Squad 3 and Rescue 3 firefighters deployed an attack line and initiated a

primary search of the home. Upon entering through the front door, firefighters encountered high heat conditions and low visibility. During the search, firefighters located the dog in the house’s backyard and were able to reunite the dog with the homeowner.

The next incoming crews established a water supply and fire suppression efforts continued until 1:45 a.m. when the fire was knocked down. At that time, the garage had partially collapsed, and firefighters worked carefully through overhaul operations for approximately two more hours to address

remaining hot spots.

During the incident, SWFD Advanced Life Support evaluated the homeowner and dog for injuries and determined both required only minor medical attention on-scene. No other injuries were reported.

The SWFD Fire Marshal responded to investigate the fire and confirmed it was accidental in nature, and that the garage was the most likely room of origin. Due to the heavy debris load and partial collapse within the garage, the exact cause of the fire is undetermined.

Officer Development - Leadership Training

Fire Departments across three counties joined efforts and resources to host an Officer Development Leadership Training event. To date, this was the largest multi-county leadership training collaboration in this area, and it will help ensure important development among our growing departments.

Hosted by four agencies and the Pinellas County Training Group, which includes of 19 departments, the three-day event consisted of leadership, personnel management, conflict resolution, officer roundtable questions and answers, ICS tactics, and various guest speakers. Almost 200 people from 26 departments across four counties attended or instructed in Tampa, FL from January 23-25.

The event kicked off with a Five Bugle roundtable featuring Chief James Large of St. Petersburg Fire Rescue, Chief Dennis Jones of Hillsborough County Rescue, Chief Doug Riley of Lakeland Fire Department, Chief Jeremy Sidlauskas of Pasco County Fire Rescue, and Chief Scott Sanford of Palm Harbor Fire Rescue. The Chiefs were open regarding their expectations of the company officer’s role, the

concerns facing fire services, how leadership roles have changed, and the need for increased behavioral health programs. They provided a more global view of the fire service that may not typically be considered.

Presentations by Chief Large, Chief Jones, Chief David Dittman, and Chief Anthony Perez followed. Speaking on critical-to-success soft skills such as respect, accountability,trust, and empowerment, Chief Large shared his views on each and highlighted the relevancy in today’s fire department. Chief Jones introduced the idea of different types of personalities needing and responding to different types of leadership. Chiefs Dittman and Perez advised the group on

mentorship, both learning from and teaching others. These perspectives are all invaluable to successful leadership, no matter what career stage.

Conflict resolution introduced real world scenarios that require diplomacy and an understanding of both policy and customs while keeping in mind what is best for the department, the station, and the personnel involved. Seemingly simple situations were shown to be very nuanced and highlighted the idea that making everyone happy is not always a possibility

Day two started with a Division/District Chief Roundtable. Chiefs shared how they personally navigated the transition from firefighter to a leadership role and what they think the most important role of the company officer is. Discussing scene management, resource deployment, and their expectations regarding chain of command and company training, they showed attendees what the day-to-day

looks like as they advance through the ranks. Chief Richard Ganci presented on Leadership, giving a more personal look at his own path and what he learned along the way. He reminded attendees to learn from the people who came before them, demonstrate integrity and ethical behavior at all times, and to remain humble.

Following Chief Ganci’s Leadership talk, he shifted to ICS Command and Control. Simulated scenarios were set up and displayed on screen while selected participants commanded the scene. Rapid initial size-ups, unit deployment to have tactics meet initial ICS objectives. All participants performed well.

The keynote speaker on the final day of the event was retired US Navy Seal, Lt. Jason Redman. He shared his story, the challenges he faced, and his road to recovery. Redman introduced the concept of ‘life ambushes’ and how one reacts to them. He maintains that one should recognize the difference between a truly

bad day and an annoying inconvenience. This mindset can reduce personal stress, force you to look at your role in what went wrong and lead you to the selfawareness to improve both your planning and your reaction. Mastery of the ‘Getting Off the X’ mentality can keep you in a more positive and productive frame of mind and allow clearer thoughts and leadership decisions.

The hosting departments appreciate the sponsorship of the vendors and local associations for their generous donations which helped provide the location, catering, and ticket sales. The partnership among all was a true community effort to ensure this successful event.

By Joel Gordon

As the 2023 First There First Care and Gathering Eagles Conference drew to a close, conference planners already began to realize this year’s programs set a new standard and significantly raised the bar for what the conference has become.

The five-day event began on Sunday, June 11 with The Chief Michael Haygood ALS competition preliminaries. The contest featured 24 teams from as far away as Pittsburgh. The prelims involved several individual scenarios occurring in three different locations.

Monday morning found the conference well underway with the sixth annual K2 Nursing competition, the only one of its kind in the US. Seven emergency nursing teams competed in the event. Memorial Regional’s all-male team took top honors.

FTFC and GOE also hosted its first annual Honor Guard competition with six teams competing and nationally recognized judges evaluating their performances. Sarasota County proudly accepted first place.

Monday’s highlights also included the Resuscitate Florida program, attended by more than 70 participants. The program focuses on developing high quality cardiac arrest practices for both adults and infants.

The conference programs officially began on Tuesday with opening ceremonies, the annual recognition awards, and a keynote address by US Fire Administrator Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell.

Tuesday’s educational offerings included the 2nd annual EMS Leadership Academy,a nursing leadership program, several workshops, and Eagle Creek, where the Gathering of Eagles consortium met to discuss upcoming issues in EMS.

The trade show also opened on Tuesday with nearly 75 exhibitors displaying the latest in EMS technology Much of what was on display tied directly into the conference theme of “Doing more than ever before.”

Day two also brought the ALS competition finals. Seven of the 24 original teams, including one student team faced the EMS version of a Kobayashi Maru, Starfleet Academy’s unwinnable scenario.

But through skill, determination, and perseverance the teams triumphed. This year Tamarac Fire Rescue triumphed as the overall winner.

Educational tracks continued on Wednesday with a closing program featuring the EMS response to Hurricane Ian by those who lived it.

Thursday and Friday brought the Gathering of Eagles, a consortium of municipal medical directors gathered to discuss the science of EMS, the latest advances, and what’s on the horizon. 485 medical directors from around the globe collaborated as the future of EMS, worldwide, was literally written over those two days.

Overall the 26th Annual First There First Care and Gathering of Eagles conference

exceeded all expectations and has rightfully taken its place among the most recognized and contributory EMS programs globally

But this is the “Show that never ends.” As the conference committee puts a wrapper on this year’s program, they begin planning the 27th which is scheduled for June 10-14, 2024 at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida.

On Friday afternoon one of the Eagles attendees asked past Committee Chair, Bruce Caruso, “When do you start planning next year?” Caruso turned to the individual with a smile and said, “Monday morning.”

Taking a breath: Conference attendees practice advanced airway techniques during a skills lab. A multitude of education opportunities and skill development labs, with CEUs, were offered to both EMS and Nursing providers.

Present Arms: A contingent from Sarasota County stands Casket Watch during the First Annual Honor Guard competition at FTFC and GOE. Sarasota finished in 1st place.

We are the champions: Tamarac Fire Rescue took top honors during the 2023 Chief Michael Haygood ALS competition. There was a tie for 2nd and only a few points separated 1st from 3rd.

Let’s hear it for the boys: Memorial Regional Medical Center’s all-male Nursing team scored first in the K2 Nursing competition, the only one of its type in the Country.

Leading the leaders: US Fire Administrator, Lori Moore-Merrell (c), participates in a lightning round discussion during the 2nd Annual FTFC and GOE Leadership Symposium. A similar program was conducted simultaneously for emergency nurses.

Eagles flock: Medical directors from around the World gather during Eagle’s Creek to discuss issues in EMS. The Gathering of Eagles program was held on Thursday and Friday with nearly 500 medical directors from across the globe in attendance.

First first: Sarasota County Fire Rescue took the first-ever first place honors at the FTFC and GOE Honor Guard competition.

Sogg y socks: A competitor directs the removal of an injured subject from the pool during the ALS preliminaries. Despite having to get in the water fully clothed, team members competed in two more scenarios after this one.

Doing more than ever before: More than 75 vendors presented the latest advances in EMS care and technology during the FTFC and GOE trade show. Tying in with the conference theme, attendees saw first-hand applications of procedures and concepts not even imaginable only a few years ago.

A tubular response: A competitor crawls through a drainage tube to get to the “victims” during The Chief Michael Haygood ALS preliminaries.

Very few people know what it feels like to be responsible for training the next generation of the Lakeland Fire Department’s (LFD) up-and-coming firefighters. Training

Captain Jason Diaz is one of those individuals. He, along with Training Chief Matt Brown, teach our new recruits how to handle a variety of situations they may encounter on the job. From rappelling off buildings to running into open fires, Captain Diaz prepares these brave men and women for whatever dangerous environments they may find themselves in.

Captain Diaz hasn’t always been a training instructor, however. When he first started at LFD in 2005, he was hired on as a firefighter/paramedic and remained in that position for nine years before becoming a lieutenant. Eight years later, he was promoted to training captain, a role which brings with it some rather unique challenges.

In general, fewer people are going into the fire service, but LFD’s numbers have only increased due to how much the City of Lakeland has grown in recent years. As a result, LFD’s training center is constantly running new firefighters through its extensive, multi-pronged program. With so many students, it can be difficult for their instructors to develop close relationships with all of them, but since the composition of the center is a

two-man team, Captain Diaz and his colleague are better able to do this because of how much time they spend with their trainees.

These are not the only connections Captain Diaz has made. He has also fostered close working relationships with other public safety agencies in the area by assisting them in whatever way he can. For the Lakeland Police Department (LPD), this means regularly lending his skills as a SWAT medic to the officers. For Polk County Fire Rescue, a neighboring fire department, this means

allowing their firefighters to occasionally come and use LFD’s training center.

While it is currently not unusual for fire departments to team up with other public safety agencies, Captain Diaz believes that collaborations like these will take place more often as firefighters start becoming what he calls “jacks-of-all-trades.” Regarding the future of the fire service, he sees firefighting eventually morphing into a profession that responds to all types of emergency calls, instead of being limited to just certain ones.

ByEmma Williams, Public Relations Intern, Lakeland Fire Department

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Orange County Public Safety Exercise Operation “Overamped”

First Responders Train Together for the Unexpected

By Ashley Gipson, Public Information Officer, Orange County Fire Rescue

First responders train year-round to ensure they are prepared to respond to any mass casualty incident. On June 28, 2023 Orange County Fire Rescue partnered with law enforcement and fire and EMS agencies from multiple jurisdictions, as well as local hospitals, to train together on a large-scale public safety exercise. Titled ‘Operation Overamped’, this training scenario centered around a concert at the Central Florida Fairgrounds involving an active shooter, hostage situation, and the threat of explosive devices. Law enforcement worked to neutralize the threat as EMS personnel

triaged the injured and worked with medical professionals to rapidly transport patients to more comprehensive care.

Training exercises such as these give first responders and medical professionals an opportunity to train together on a complex scenario where eliminating the threat and providing a streamlined transfer of patient care from EMS personnel and law enforcement officers to ER staff is critical. It also allows first responders across the region to establish relationships prior to an incident. During Operation Overamped, first responders tested and validated existing

plans, policies, procedures, and prehospital protocols with the objective of ensuring optimal response in the event of a real-life emergency.

“Collaboration is key when responding to mass casualty incidents. I believe Operation Overamped was a success simply based on the working relationships that occurred throughout the day,” said Orange County Fire Chief James Fitzgerald.

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HCFR Collaborates with Amazon Staff for Fire Drill

By James Schmidt, Public Educator

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) fire inspectors and public educators collaborated with the safety staff of the Amazon Fulfillment Center of Ruskin to assist with a facility wide fire/ evacuation drill on Thursday, June 8,2023. HCFR staff reviewed the facilities emergency plan and observed the drill process from different vantage points. The Amazon facility operates twenty four hours a day with over 1,000 employees working at any given time throughout the 1,000,000 square foot building. Our inspectors were able to watch the electronic accountability system as each Amazon team member safely exited the facility to their evacuation zones. Upon completion of the drill our staff met with the safety, and management team for a critique of the drill and offered suggestions for improvements and additional trainings.

Sanford Fire Department New Firefighters

By Mark Seiferth, Deputy Fire Chief

Palm Coast Fire Department Promotions

By Lieutenant Patrick J. Juliano, Public Information Officer

Palm Coast Fire Department has expanded its Fire Prevention division by promoting Lieutenant Matthew Stevens to Fire Inspector Lieutenant.

Lieutenant Stevens joined the Palm Coast Fire Department in February 2004.

Matt obtained his Firefighter and EMT from Daytona State College.

Lieutenant Stevens was promoted to Lieutenant in May 2009. Over the years he has served on the Honor Guard and Confined Spaced Team. Stepping into the role previously held by Lieutenant Stevens is newly promoted Lieutenant Jeremy Barton. Lieutenant Barton joined the Palm Coast Fire Department in 2016 after previously serving with Marion County Fire Rescue. He attended Daytona State College for Firefighter, EMT, and Paramedic Certifications. Additionally, Lieutenant Barton served as a Driver Engineer Field Training Officer.

The department has expanded the capacity for Driver Engineers, now accommodating a float driver for each shift. This enhancement ensures enhanced coverage and operational efficiency, promoting the safety and wellbeing of the community The promotions to the role of Driver Engineer include Fortunato Damiano, Katelyn Baller, Oleksandr Nikolayev, and Joshua Meeker effective June 2023.

In late June, Fire Chief Ronnie McNeil swore in our newest class of firefighters. After six weeks of orientation, they had earned their badges! They’ll now go on to their assigned shifts as probationary firefighters where they’ll continue to sharpen their skills through experience and training!

Tactical Emergency Casualty Care Course

By Karen Clogston, Public Information Assistant

Five Highlands County Fire Rescue members successfully passed the Florida SWAT Association Tactical Emergency Casualty Care course in July.

“As a member of their cadre for the week, I got to witness them pushing through extreme temperatures, exposed to OC gas, providing treatment in high stress scenarios, and in physical situations that are way outside their comfort zone; they all performed exceptionally,” Battalion Chief Captain Karin Richardson said.

Congratulations to Kaylynn King, Jason Hobbs, Caylyn Gonzalez, Jerry Acosta, and Carlos Navarrete.

Driver Engineer Damiano joined the Palm Coast Fire Department in 2017. Following suit, Driver Engineer Baller in 2018; in 2019, both Driver Engineer Nikolayev and Driver Engineer Meeker joined the ranks. It is noteworthy that all of these esteemed professionals had previously served as volunteer firefighter interns before their respective dates of official employment.

Palm Beach Gardens Designated as HEARTSafe

By Cory J. Bessette, PIO, DICO, Assistant Chief–Operations

The City of Palm Beach Gardens was designated as a HEARTSafe Community by the Citizen CPR Foundation. HEARTSafe Communities promote survival from sudden out-of-hospital cardiac arrest through widespread CPR instruction, 24/7 public access to defibrillators (AEDs), aggressive resuscitation protocols, and collaboration with area hospitals.The

City of Palm beach Gardens is the first municipality in the state to achieve this prestigious recognition.

Sanford Fire Department Retirement

By Mark Seiferth, Deputy Fire Chief

It is with great pride that the Sanford Fire Department announces the retirement of Firefighter/Paramedic Darrin Denmark.Darrin started his career on June 22, 1998.He became a paramedic in 2005.He received EMT of the year in 2002 and Firefighter of the year in 2013.Darrin, thank you for your fearless service and dedication to protecting our community.As you hangup your helmet, remember that you will always be appreciated for your sacrifices. Congratulations and enjoy your retirement.

Crew Reunited with Two-Year-Old Child They Saved

By Victoria Padovan, Communications Assistant

The C shift crew from station 83 were reunited with a two-year-old whose life they saved on May 22, 2023. Orange County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Orlando Health

Arnold Palmer ER physicians joined our crew and Dispatcher Jessica Pinas to receive Lifesaving Awards. The mom of the two-year-old identical twins thanked each person, expressing gratitude for their roles in saving her daughter’slife, following a near drowning incident. While the twins were happy to tour the station and explore all the interesting apparatus and gadgets, it was also nap time... so not the most ideal time for photos. These reunions are so special because they bring everyone together to rejoice in a positive patient outcome and provide closure for all those involved. Thank you to our law enforcement and hospital partners, who are key in the chain of survival required for outcomes like this.

Brevard County Lieutenant Retires After 35 Years

By Chief Patrick Voltaire

We recently gathered to honor an exceptional individual, a true hero who has dedicated an astonishing 35 years of his life protecting and serving the residents and visitors of Brevard County with unwavering commitment and courage. It is with great pride and admiration that we extend our heartfelt congratulations to Lt. Cliff Leffler on his well-deserved retirement! As Lt. Leffler embarks on a new chapter in his life, we hope it is filled with joy, relaxation, and countless memorable moments. May his retirement be a time of reflection, fulfillment, and the realization of long-awaited dreams. Lt. Leffler has truly made a difference and his legacy will forever shine brightly in our hearts. On behalf of the entire community, we extend our deepest appreciation for his remarkable 35 years of service. Thank you and enjoy your welldeserved retirement! Welcome to D-Shift.

Polk County Promotional Ceremony May 2023

By Katelyn Hoverkamp, Public Information Officer

Polk County Fire Rescue’s promotional ceremony on May 31, 2023 was unprecedented for the county. The ceremony celebrated the most captain and driver/engineer promotions in the organization’s 50-year history.

More than seventy-five PCFR employees were recognized. During the ceremony, twenty-one captains, thirteen driver/engineers, nine paramedics, three battalion chiefs, one deputy chief, and four civilian members were recognized for recent promotions. Twenty-three firefighters and two captains were recognized for completing their one-year probationar y period with PCFR.

“We are extremely proud of the Polk County Fire Rescue members who were recognized,” said Fire Chief Hezedean A. Smith, D.M. “Every single one of these members has put in a remarkable effort to attain this success, and I am thrilled at the prospect of witnessing the leadership trail they’re set to blaze within their respective roles.”

The Only Kid to Come to Camp

By Elizabeth Graham, APIO, PEO, Fire Inspector II

What happens when you’re the only kid to come to camp?

You get the VIP fire truck tour, that’s what! Four-year-old, Rowdy was the only camper today, so he sat in the driver’sseat of Truck 67. Lt. Eisenhardt showed him how to honk the horn and press the buttons to turn on the lights and sirens. He explored the inside of the cab and left with a fire hat and some cool tattoos too. Thanks to this great crew for making his day that much better!

Pediatric Readiness Training

By Victoria Padovan, Communications Assistant

Orange County Fire Rescue took part ina pediatric readiness training at Orlando Health—West Horizon. These trainings create opportunities for EMS and ED to create relationships and communicate. Simulating the worst types of calls allows us and our partners to give patients the best possible outcome.

Five Healthy Babies Placed Safely in Rescuers Arms

A Safe Haven for Newborns recently announced the rescue of five infants who were directly handed over to firefighters and healthcare workers under the provisions of the Safe Haven statutes. Three of these were in Florida and two were in other States. Under the provisions of the statutes and to protect the anonymity of the mother, the exact locations, dates, and details of the surrenders are not published.

A Safe Haven for Newborns continues to assert the safest and most highly recommended method of surrendering an infant, in compliance with most Safe Haven statutes, is through direct transfer at a fire/EMS station or hospital.

To date A Safe Haven for Newborns has been involved in safely securing 376 surrendered infants in Florida, several other states, and countries.

Sanford Fire Chief Receives CFO Designation

By Mark Seiferth, Deputy Fire Chief

Fire Chief Ronnie McNeil has successfully completed the process that awards the professional designation of “Chief Fire Officer” (CFO). The Commission on Professional Credentialing® (CPC®) met on June 6, 2023, to confer the designation. Fire Chief Ronnie McNeil becomes one of only 1,882 CFOs worldwide.

The Designation program is a voluntary program designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate their excellence in seven measured components including experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement, and technical competence. In addition, all applicants are required to identify a future professional development plan.

The CFO designation program uses a comprehensive peer review model to evaluate candidates seeking the credential. The Commission on Professional Credentialing awards the designation only after an individual successfully meets all the organization’s stringent criteria.

Achieving this designation signifies Fire Chief Ronnie McNeil’s career commitment to the fire and emergency services.Congratulations Chief!

Fourth of July Campaign to Reduce Unnecessary Calls

By Elizabeth Graham, APIO, PEO, Fire Inspector II

Florida Antique Bucket Brigade

We are a nonprofit organization of antique fire apparatus collectors, and we would like to update our database with any Florida fire departments that have any antique fire apparatus in their inventory, motorized or hand/horse drawn.

Send info to bobrfire17@aol.com

Bob Romig, President

Florida Antique Bucket Brigade www.fabbfire.org

863-427-4717