September 2021 FFS Magazine by ffca

THE PUBLICATION

OF THE

FLORIDA FIRE CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION

September 2021 • VOLUME 29 NUMBER 9

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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 Douglas Riley - President Reginald Duren - 1st Vice President Harold Theus - 2nd Vice President Ty Silcox - Immediate Past President Julie Downey - Secretary/Treasurer Ryan H. Crawford - Northwest Region Director Carlos Aviles - Northeast Region Director Chuck Bogle - 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 James White - Foundation Chair Leland Greek - Senior Member

Editorial Submissions magazine@ffca.org (850) 900-5180 Advertising 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 September 2021, Volume 29, Number 9 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

September 2021

FROM THE SECTIONS Message from the Foundation Chair . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

6 FEATURES God Has His People Everywhere . . . . 8

Leadership Void . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Deployable Mission Critical Communications. . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Heads Up and Clear - Out Firefighter

Safety Around Air Drops . . . . . . 22

FURTHERMORE Brevard County Cadaver Training . 12 Do What You are Told. . . . . . . . . . 14 Fort Lauderdale CERT is Tops in Florida. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 South Walton Battles Multi-home Structure Fire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Flagler County Memorial Stair Climb . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Seminole County Members Deploy to Montana . . . . . . . . . . 26 Lake County Firefighters Deploy to Montana . . . . . . . . . . 29 Station Visit for Fire Victim Karley . .30 FFCA New Members. . . . . . . . . . . 32 Members on the Move . . . . . . . . .32 The Window of Opportunity . . . . .34 In brief . . . news from around the state . . . . . . . . . . . . .36 Palm Coast September 11 Ceremony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 Seminole County Awarded Grant . .42 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

James White Foundation Chair

want to take this opportunity to thank our immediate past Chair Cindy Morgan and the other members of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Foundation Board of Trustees for selecting me as their new Chair. It’s certainly an honor to continue my work with the Florida fire service and our Fire Chiefs’ Association working with our Foundation. Those of you who know me well know I’m not the best one at selling an idea or product. In fact, I’d just as soon do things myself rather than asking someone for help or for a handout. When I was asked to serve as a member of the Foundation Board, I witnessed a real change in my thinking when it comes to “the ask” from people. I began to see a real benefit in the opportunities funding and support bring to the training of firefighters. As a fire chief and FFCA member for more

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September 2021

than 25 years, I knew about the Foundation, but honestly I never knew what they did or what they were all about, and that was my fault. I asked about the Vigiles Societas, what’s that group all about? To say that over the past several years I have been educated in the work of the Foundation would be a huge understatement. What I also found out is that I wasn’t alone. I quickly learned that a number of our FFCA members were also not familiar with the purpose and mission of their Foundation. Simply put, the mission of the Florida Fire Chiefs' Foundation is to provide educational opportunities to fire and emergency services professionals; support the development of future firefighting candidates through scholarships; raise awareness for the educational needs of public safety; and provide

financial assistance through educational grants to advance fire service personnel and ensure they maintain a current knowledge of the latest public safety methods and techniques. As the new Chair of the Foundation, it will be my personal goal to further educate the members of the Association of the opportunities afforded them by the Foundation and the resources available to further the education of their firefighters. I am also challenging all FFCA members to become familiar with YOUR foundation and seek opportunities to use the Foundation’s resources to support their efforts in educating their candidates and firefighters. I am excited about the future of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Foundation and I look forward to many new and exciting opportunities to support firefighter training and education.

God has His People

Everywhere By Rick Spence, FFCA Chaplain

ecently I spoke to a group of Cadets going through the fire academy. There were 3 who were not even born when the events of September 11, 2001, took place. We are now 20 years, almost one generation removed from that iconic day. I reminded them of what happened that day and how it is still affecting our country to this day, and well into the future. To see prime examples just look at how we get on planes and go to large concerts or sporting events. It should be in our DNA, not just part of our job, to remind those coming behind us in the fire service what took place on that day. We owe it to 343 FDNY firefighters, 23 NYPD officers, 37 Port Authority officers, 55 military personnel at the Pentagon and 2,539 civilians, to keep their legacy alive. There were some extremely heroic and superhuman acts of courage that took place on September 11. Most of them we will probably never fully know. This is a brief story of 2 unsung heroes of September 11, 2001, that most people have never heard about. Daniel Lewin Daniel Lewin was a passenger on American Airlines Flight 11 from Boston to Los Angeles. Lewin was a mathematician and businessman who was born in Denver, Colorado and moved to Israel at the age of 14. He was co-founder of Akamai Technologies, an Internet company that provides cybersecurity and cloud services. Lewin created an algorithm that allowed Internet content to be routed and replicated over a large network of distributed servers. For use with flip phones,

think about overcoming the “spinning hour glass.” Lewin became a billionaire overnight. But, more than that, he had been a Captain in the Sayeret Matkal, the Israeli Defense Forces most elite counterterrorism unit, for over 4 years. According to inflight recordings and the 9/11 Commission Report, Lewin attempted to intervene and stop the hijackers on Flight 11, which included mastermind Mohamed Atta. He was stabbed to death by multiple hijackers just prior to the Boeing 767 crashing into the North Tower at 08:46. Because Captain Lewin had been a member of an elite group of the Israeli Army, he knew evil when he saw it. He quickly recognized it and immediately attempted to stop it. Is there ever more of an example of our Lord, Jesus Christ, than to give your life to save others? Jesus himself addresses this in John 5:13, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” Captain Lewin may not have known everyone, or anyone, on Flight 11 that day, which makes his act of bravery even more remarkable. Ben Sliney Ben Sliney became an air traffic controller during his time in the United States Air Force. He went to work for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 1969 and worked off and on for them until 2006. He obtained his law degree in 1978 and practiced law in the private sector during his times away from the FAA.

In March of 2001, he was asked to return to the FAA by Director Jack Kies as his successor. Sliney agreed to return but wanted to work for a period of time as a Traffic Management Specialist at the FAA Command Center in Herndon, Virginia. After that time, he took over as the head of the FAA. He was the person who ordered over 5000 aircraft that were in the sky at the time of the attacks to land within 2 hours. He stated at the time, “In my mind, every aircraft in the sky was a potential missile.” This was the first time in history that this had ever occurred and has not happened since. According to the FBI and the 9/11 Commission Report, there was likely 4 to 8 other planes that could have potentially crashed into other American landmarks had they not been grounded. This man’s previous 37 years of training, working almost every job within the FAA (especially his previous 6 months) and his experience in the United States Air Force, prepared Ben Sliney for that moment in time and enabled him to make that monumental decision. The really amazing part of Ben Sliney’s story is that September 11, 2001, was his first day on the job as Director of the Federal Aviation Administration. The Apostle Paul wrote in his letter to the Colossians 3:23-24, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not from men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.” Both of these men were able to see a much bigger picture than the one that was unfolding in front of them. My prayer for the Fire Service is that when the next critical p Rick S ence and iconic event takes place, we will have the courage and wisdom to act as these 2 men did. •

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

September 2021

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FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

September 2021

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the job properly and protecting the team by removing people from positions where they negatively impact the team and the mission.” Jocko Willink, Leif Babin, authors, Dichotomy of Leadership. The reality is problems don’t correct themselves. Left unchecked the people of the organization will suffer! The number one priority of a leader is the protection of the people they are responsible to lead. Protecting followers is not a matter of protecting them from the consequences of their individual actions, but it is a matter of making sure the work environment is safe physically, emotionally, and psychologically. Harkening back to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs if people don’t feel safe they will never progress to the next level in their performance. By failing to hold people, and yourself, accountable you ensure poor performance will become the norm of the team. Accountability comes from action, not words. As a true leader, you must take the action that others are too scared to take. Speaking to the action is the first step, but it must be followed by consistent and decisive action. “It’s not what you preach, it’s what you tolerate. When setting expectations, no matter what has been said or written, if substandard performance is accepted and no one is held accountable—if there are no consequences— that poor performance becomes the new standard.” Jocko Willink, hael Tucker Mic and Leif Babin, authors Extreme Ownership. Be bold, be brave, lean in and hold everyone gl s er (including yourself) Re Cou nt y Fir e accountable! e

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the figurative “plate” and calling out the individual for their nasty comments or destructive behavior, the tendency is to either ignore, justify, or rationalize the behavior. Commonly, ignoring the behavior simply comes from the fact that confronting the person demonstrating the acidic and poisonous behavior is straight up scary. Feelings of inadequacy in identifying the issue, putting the issue into words that make sense, and then speaking those words to an individual who quite likely will push back with an elevated level of vehemence is real. This is especially true when the person being held accountable is a bully and sees the answer to being challenged as one of being louder than the leader. It’s even scarier when the acidic personality uses the tactic of standing up, crossing their arms, and towering over the person confronting them. Left unchecked these types of behaviors become common within the team. Not only does the acidic person learn how to get their way, but the people said person is mentoring (intentionally or not) learn to behave in the same way. Left unchecked, this begins to create an environment no different than a chicken coop in which a pecking order is developed. If you’ve ever watched this process you know it is brutal and bloody. Feathers get pulled and blood is drawn. Usually, this process is very quick and the pecking order in the coop is established until new chickens are introduced and the process starts all over. However, it is also a fact that this process can lead to the death of a chicken as the others peck them to death. Bold leadership recognizes this type of behavior within the team and addresses it quickly and effectively! “The dichotomy in this situation is balancing between taking care of individuals by keeping them around even if they lack the skill set to do

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erriam Webster identifies the word void as being a verb, noun, or adjective. It is instructive to remember that a verb describes a state of being while a noun is a proper name. As a verb, it is understood as “to make empty or vacate”, and as a noun it is described as “a feeling of want or hollowness”, while an adjective uses the descriptors of “vain” or “useless”. Whether one uses the word as a verb, noun, or adjective it all comes down to the fact that there simply isn’t anything there. When you look at it or reach for it there’s just emptiness. Even at an emotional level, a void has the quality of being cold and dark. In short, a void is something that one can’t expect to find anything in because there’s nothing to find. What is the Leadership Void? The leadership void is the place where individuals with leadership responsibilities fail to initiate action addressing the behavior of the people they have been given responsibility to lead. Left unchecked, this inaction will ultimately lead to dysfunction and toxicity in the organization or team. There are several behaviors causing the leadership void to exist but key among them is the failure to hold yourself and/or others accountable. There are other issues that can be added by anyone should they choose to spend the time to meditate and contemplate on the subject of leadership failures. Conflict isn’t fun! However it is inevitable and it is necessary for the health of the organization and the people from which it is comprised. Unfortunately, most people in leadership positions (notice the terms “managers” was not used) will shy away from addressing and correcting those around them who exhibit caustic behavior or spread poison in the organization. Instead of stepping up to

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Brevard County Fire Rescue Hands-On Cadaver Lab Training By Lisa Smith, Office of EMS, Brevard County Fire Rescue

n June 24 and 25, 2021 Brevard County Fire Rescue hosted a Procedural Cadaver Lab training, sponsored by Teleflex, who is the manufacture of EZ-IO and Airtraq. This class offered Arrow® EZ-IO Intaosseous Vascular Access System, Rusch® Airtraq™, SP Video Laryngoscope System, LMA Supreme® Airway & Laryngoscopy Products. Also, enhancement and understanding using multiple learning modalities including, didactic and hands-on training utilizing cadaveric specimens and stimulation aids. This class was designed to provide local health care providers the opportunity to participate in a hands-on training simulated clinical practice. Attendees were able to learn how to perform interosseous landmark locations and get hands-on placement with real tissue. The locations were proximal tibia, distal tibia, distal femur and humeral. In the second portion of the training, an Airway station was set up and used for Airtraq training where Dr. Christopher H. Ross, MD, FACEP, FAAEM, FRCP (C) specializing in Emergency Medicine at Cooks County Hospital, in Chicago, IL, went over airway adjuncts and airway treatments. The class performed hands-on intubations with the Airtraq and traditional laryngoscopes. Attendees from across Central and South Florida included: Brevard County Fire Rescue, Rockledge FD, Titusville FD, First Flight, Orange County, Rockledge Regional Medical Center, Melbourne Regional Medical Center, Sebastian Regional Medical Center, Sarasota FD, Baptist Medical Center, Hillsborough County FD, New Smyrna FD, Sarasota FD, OMI Students, Tequesta FD, USAR Medic, Sunstar and Franciscan Health.

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September 2021

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

he commander of the LORD’s army replied, ‘Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.’ And Joshua did so. Joshua 5:15 I’ve been in the business of raising children since 1989. Actually, it was 1989 when I started raising my own children. I had been raising the children of others since 1983 when I graduated from college and started my career as a teacher and school principal. One of the great joys of interacting with children is when they actually do what they are told. The roles of adult and parent are full of challenges and difficulties. Teaching children to respond with immediate obedience is one of the most important yet one of the most elusive pursuits.

Through the years, I’ve learned a lot about myself and my relationship to God through raising children. I have glimpsed into the depth of God’s love for me when I consider how much I love my children. I’ve realized that God indeed wants the best for me when I see what I want for my children. I have recognized that I don’t understand God’s perspective when I try to tell my children that there are things I see that they don’t. And I’ve learned the value of doing what you are told. It’s interesting how the issue of immediate obedience is important to us as we parent, but not nearly as crucial as we follow God. We find ourselves saying to our children, “I’m not going to tell you

again” but read the same passages in our Bibles over and over without a change in the way we live. For me, more times than not, I find myself in the Lord’s presence dealing with the same issues again and again. What would it be like if I just listened to what He said? What would happen if I did what I was told? You can find out more about Chaplain Joe and Fire Rescue Support by visiting www.firerescuesupport.com. Jo

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By Mike Jachles, Public Information Officer, City of Fort Lauderdale

s the world was made aware of the emerging pandemic in early 2020, everyday life halted as scientists scrambled to create a solution for the deadly virus. Despite the critical threat of the pandemic, the members of the Fort Lauderdale Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) played an increasingly vital role in the city, and county’s, Emergency Disaster and Recovery Plan. Fort Lauderdale is the largest of Broward County’s 31 municipalities, with a population of more than 175,000. As the pandemic evolved, so did the role of the CERT. Their response continues today, operating the city’s COVID-19 testing done on a daily basis at rotating sites at city facilities. It is this commitment of the team that earned them the 2021 CERT Team of the Year Award at the annual statewide conference held last month in Crystal River. The allvolunteer team of highly trained residents from

CERT members continue to operate COVID-19 on-site testing for the city. 16

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Members train in traffic direction and control from the Fort Lauderdale Police Department.

the city serve as a force multiplier for safety and response at major events and incidents. In addition to the city’s Covid response – from testing to vaccines – the team has assisted in many other areas. They handled traffic control and responded to the recent Stonewall Pride Parade incident. They are a frequent sight at scheduled events and serve as beach ambassadors during spring break. Other notable recent responses for the team were to tropical storms Isais and Eta. The 2021 CERT award is the second prestigious honor for the team – they were recognized as the top national team in 2018. Formed in 1996, the Fort Lauderdale CERT has over 150 active members, who are assigned to their neighborhood fire stations. The program is administered by Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue’s Emergency Management Office.

Under the Battalion Chief of Emergency Management Jermaine Frazier and Capt. Shane Simcox, program administrator, the CERT org chart has two CERT deputy chiefs – one for administration, the other for operations. Under the operations deputy chief, there are three CERT battalion chiefs who are responsible for four CERT captains each, contiguous with the city’s respective fire zones. On the administrative side, the deputy chief oversees the events coordinator, training coordinator and an IT administrator. Their responsibilities, in addition to those previously mentioned, include various training and community involvement efforts, ranging from conducting CPR training for new city employees to mobilizing and providing canteen support to the police department during recent protests.

The team hits Fort Lauderdale beach on foot and on bike to serve as Spring Break ambassadors

By Kevin D. Rulapaugh

veryday, Fire and EMS providers around the world respond to “routine” calls for service, interacting with other units, dispatchers and IC’s utilizing portable and mobile radios, without giving it much thought. We get toned out to a call, hop in our apparatus, notify dispatch we are responding and await

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September 2021

information to be relayed to us about where we are going and what we are responding to. We coordinate our response with the other units assigned to the call, provide arrival reports, request additional resources and bark out orders to accomplish our task. But what would happen to our efficiency if this system were to

suddenly fail, or no longer existed? As first responders, we all say “adapt and overcome... we will make it work...”, and your probably right! I have seen, and been on calls myself, when everything that could go wrong, went wrong, but we persevered and still accomplished the assignment, but were we safe

and efficient in doing so? What could have gone wrong? What would have been the consequences? As emergency services providers, we must have a plan that can be put into place to bridge the gap when this critical infrastructure goes down. In 1998 the State of Florida experienced an unprecedented wildfire season. Nearly the entire state was burning down in what would become known as “Fire Storm ‘98’. Mutual aid come from all over the nation, and even other countries to assist. This diverse response posed a big challenge to Incident Management Teams who were tasked with creating a communications plan permitting all of these responding agencies to talk. It was quickly realized that we needed a preplanned system in place to overcome these issues in the future. Thanks to the ’98 wildfires, the State created the Mutual Aid Radio Communications (MARC) program, a statewide system of portable deployable communications infrastructure and radio cache that can be deployed into a theater of operation and augment existing communications systems, replace systems that have been rendered out of service, or combine disparate communications systems allowing everyone responding to talk on a common channel or channels. The MARC program currently consists of 8 deployable 100 foot towers, repeaters and radio caches that can work independently or in conjunction with each other to provide reliable incident communications. These units are strategically located throughout the state and deployed under the Statewide Emergency Response Plan. The MARC program quickly grew from being a primarily wildfire resource, into an All Hazards resource, thanks to our annual threat of hurricanes. Today, MARC units respond to all types of incidents including hurricanes, USAR incidents, wildfires, civil disturbances, and preplanned events. This September, hurricane IDA, a category 4 storm, battered Louisiana causing widespread damage and failure of the native public safety radio system. Florida was call upon to assist in the recovery effort through multiple EMAC requests. These requests included a USAR Task Force with an embedded MARC team for communications support during the initial response phase, and an Engine Strike Team with embedded MARC team shortly thereafter. On September 5, 2021, EST 1301 consisting of 5 engines and an EVT from Jacksonville Fire Rescue and MARC 3 from Alachua County Fire Rescue deployed for a 14 day mission to provide fire protection in the Port Fourchon area. This port is of national significance as it handles 10 – 15% of the US domestic oil, 10 –

15% of the nation’s foreign oil, and 50% of the US oil refining capacity. Our mission was to protect the port and surrounding areas until the local fire service could be returned to service. Upon arrival in the theater of operations, crews quickly found that the exiting radio system was inoperable making communications on this high hazard port impossible. MARC 3 was tasked with establishing a reliable communications system that would support anything from a “routine” EMS call to a large shipboard fire within the port. Due to the extreme hazard potential, providing portable radio coverage on the port was essential for firefighter safety. MARC 3 began by setting up our 100 foot portable tower with repeaters in the center of the port, the location of highest threat for fires. This permitted portable radio coverage throughout the port, and mobile radio coverage over the entire island, nearly 15 miles long. Within days, EST 1301 was also assigned fire protection for the neighboring island of Grand Isle, which also required communications support. With this additional area of responsibility, we were now covering an area over 20 miles across. To overcome this distance, a secondary repeater was set up on top of the bridge between Port Fourchon and Grand Isle. At a height of 65 feet, this bridge allowed us to cover Grand Isle with a single repeater. The MARC unit utilized our patching capability to link the Port Fourchon and Grand Isle repeaters together, creating a miniature wide area radio network. Not only did the MARC team face geographic difficulties trying to cover a length of over 20 miles, while still providing portable radio coverage in the high threat port, but the area covered spanned 2 different fire districts and 2 parishes. The MARC team, in conjunction with the Communications Unit Leader within the Florida IMT, worked with the 2 dispatch centers to create a patch between the MARC radio system and each dispatch allowing EST 1301 to communicate with local dispatchers directly. As the days marched on, the native radio

system was slowly brought back online, however EST 1301 was still providing primary fire protection. The MARC team worked closely with local communications centers to transition the EST onto the native system, phasing out the need for our deployable repeaters, with the final goal of returning the native radio system to full operation. Hurricane season 2018 also brought about a major hurricane, when Michael came ashore on Mexico Beach, Fl. This category 4, later reclassified as category 5, storm caused catastrophic damage to Mexico Beach, Panama City and Tyndall AFB. MARC 3 was embedded with FL USAR TF2 on this assignment. This deployment was a bit different as the Task Force was focused on a smaller area of responsibility. The MARC Team was able to set up in the center of the theater of operations and provide portable radio coverage for about 5 miles in all directions. Due to the extreme damage and need for a thorough search, the TF remained in the same area for all 10 days. Conversely, during hurricane Irma in 2017, the MARC team followed FL USAR TF8 from community to community as they conducted wide area searches in different locations each day. This deployment required the MARC tower to be assembled and dismantled at each location, often multiple times per day. In all of these incidents the MARC team faced unique challenges and different incident objectives, however the underlying goal always remains the same, to provide reliable mission critical communications, even in the most austere conditions. Without a deployable infrastructure like the MARC program, responders in all of these instances would be limited to line of site communications, placing them at high risk and jeopardizing their safety and that of their mission. About the author Kevin D. Rulapaugh is a District Chief with Alachua County Fire Rescue, serves as the Florida MARC program SME. and is Chair of the FFCA Communications Committee.

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

South Walton Battles Multi-home Structure Fire S

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

outh Walton Fire District led a 26-hour effort to extinguish a multi-home structure fire in WaterSound Beach, overcoming the intense, August heat with the help of the community. The call came into South Walton Fire District’s Emergency Communications Center at approximately 3 p.m. on August 11, reporting a structure fire on Watch Tower Lane, located in a densely populated neighborhood. South Walton’s District Chief 1, Wesley Usher, quickly called for a second alarm, after seeing a thick column of black smoke billowing across Highway 30A. “Judging from the column of smoke, and the heat of the day, I knew it was going to be an all hands on deck job,” said Chief Usher. The first arriving units found two, large homes heavily involved with smoke and flames, then assumed a defensive attack. The fire was also threatening nearby structures and leading to spot fires in landscaping throughout the neighborhood, specifically on Yacht Pond Lane. A district-wide effort ensued to protect the surrounding homes and properties. Despite three crews providing interior fire operations, a third home

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on Watch Tower Lane succumbed to the overwhelming heat and caught fire. The crew inside was evacuated when conditions became too dangerous, changing the tactic from offensive to defensive. Firefighters faced extreme heat from the fire itself, as well as the mid-August temperatures, during their response. Crews were cycled through rehab where their vitals were taken and they were provided cold drinks, ice packs, and wet towels throughout the firefight. “The neighborhood’s residents were invaluable in the effort as well,” Usher said. “They provided food, water, airconditioned homes, chairs to sit in, and other comforts for rehab.” Other irreplaceable resources included mutual aid from Walton County Fire Rescue and Panama City Beach Fire Rescue at the scene, as well as Destin Fire Control District providing coverage. As the firefight continued into the night, SWFD issued a districtwide recall for personnel. Anyone who was available was requested to report to duty, either responding to the scene or covering a station assignment. Units remained in the area of Watch Tower

Lane until the following day, around 4 p.m., extinguishing hotspots and completing overhaul. Ultimately, three homes were destroyed. At least two more homes on Yacht Pond Lane suffered damage related to the flames, heat, and embers. South Walton Fire District’s Fire Marshal and State Fire Marshal were working together to investigate the incident, which has since been taken over by the State Fire Marshal’s Office. The cause of the fires remains undetermined and is still under investigation.

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Editor’s note: This article was first published on FireRescue1.com. love the fire service – so much specialized apparatus and equipment and so many expertly trained personnel to carry out the mission. One of the tops on my list of fire service intrigues is air operations – one of firefighters’ biggest allies during wildfires, remote-area rescues, or patient transports to trauma centers. The pilots of fixed-wing and rotary aircraft perform some of the most incredible maneuvers. There is no question that the pilots face unique stressors and dangers, but it is important to remember the hazards on the ground as well, particularly in the presence of firefighting aircraft dropping retardant (jell or foam), paracargo or water. News headlines capture the dangers (or mishaps) of such drops: “Utah battalion chief’s death may have been

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linked to airplane retardant drop” “CAL FIRE air tanker pilot accidentally drops fire retardant in neighborhood” “Video: CAL FIRE demos low drop with S-2 aircraft” As such, it is vital that pilots consider the optimal retardant safe drop height. The U.S. Department of the Interior explains why: “When the retardant is dropped, the velocity of the aircraft is imparted to the retardant. In other words, the retardant is traveling at the same speed as the aircraft. When the retardant has lost all its forward momentum and is falling vertically as a heavy rain, the danger to firefighters is reduced and effectiveness is increased.” The safe drop height is having been defined as the distance below the airtanker at which the retardant begins to fall vertically. The DOI presents this example: “If a Very Large Airtanker (VLAT) is traveling at 150 knots and is well below the recommended safe drop altitude, the 8,000-19,000 gallons of retardant released will impact the earth at a similar velocity. If personnel are underneath the retardant pattern, they can be struck with the

Photo by John Fish

fast-moving retardant, broken trees, other debris, or all of it.” With this in mind, it should be no surprise that personnel can be injured by the impact of material dropped by aircraft. So, let us detail some of the safety tips related to retardant and water drops, courtesy of the National Wildfire Coordinating Group (NWCG) 6 Minutes for Safety (6MFS) program. Consider the following for all drops you are coordinating: Be aware of the location and flight patterns (final approach, drop zone, exit) of aircraft during drop operations. It is important that you can monitor air-to-ground radio traffic to know when and where aircraft will be working. Your strike team leader or division supervisor should monitor radio traffic as well. Understanding flight patterns and drop locations is important to your safety. Remember, rotor wash from helicopters can also spread fire with erratic wind caused by rotor blades. Ensure you have positive contact with the pilot before the drop. Drops can be extremely dangerous. It falls right in with the 10 Standard Firefighting Orders. If you do not have visual contact, you or your supervisor should have radio contact. Clear all persons, vehicles, and animals from the danger zone prior to the arrival of the

aircraft. Water drops come with a great deal of force – a force can be strong enough to move vehicles, large boulders, or break trees. Personnel should be cleared from the target area before the drop is conducted; however, if an individual is caught unaware in a drop zone, follow these 6MFS tips: Hold hand tools away from your body. The force of the water or retardant could impale hand-tools into your body. Lie face down with hardhat in place and head toward the oncoming aircraft. If you face in the direction the aircraft is heading, the force from the drop can easily take your helmet off your head. Additionally, the force of the drop could cause severe injury and/or death if hit in the face. Grasp something firm to prevent being carried or rolled about by dropped liquid. If you are not secured, you can easily be violently moved with injuries and/or death as a result. Do not run unless escape is guaranteed. Sometimes sheltering in place may be your best alternative. Get clear of dead snags and treetops. The force from drops can easily break tree limbs that become projectiles. Be aware of rolling debris below the drop site in steep terrain. Once the drop is performed, rocks, trees and equipment may be dislodged. Be aware of rolling objects coming your way! Do not forget Fire Order #7: “Maintain prompt communications with your forces, your

supervisor, and adjoining forces.” It is important to make aware of who is calling in the drops and want to let others know when calling in air resources. This is based on situational awareness, the foundation of our risk management. In the case something goes wrong, we know who to contact to adjust or stop until we can reevaluate and re-adjust the plan or go to an alternate. Additionally, use caution when working in an area covered by retardant, as surfaces will be slippery. This can be the case on both hillsides and around structures. Water will also make hillsides muddy and cause escape routes to be altered. Wash the retardant off your skin as soon as possible to prevent irritation. Retardants are made from various chemicals, some stronger than others, which can cause irritation to the skin and eyes and be dangerous if ingested. Key takeaways: • The width of drops can vary from 95 to 135 feet. • Firefighters should stay an additional 50 feet beyond these boundaries. • Drop lengths can vary from 300 feet for smaller aircraft to 5,280 feet (1 mile) for VLATs. • Avoid being in front or behind the drop zone line. • Rising terrain, unexpected cross winds or aircraft malfunction can cause drops to be lower than intended. • Firefighters must be aware of the risks of having aircraft assigned to their fire. • Remember, “Heads Up” and “Clear Out.”

I recall seeing a video that included dramatic footage of 9,000 pounds of fire retardant striking – and crushing – an SUV, underscoring the dangers of personnel working beneath aircraft. Imagine the harm from a low drop from a VLAT carrying 170,000 pounds of retardant – that’s the equivalent of the weight of six Type 3 engines falling out of the sky. An Increased Threat With fire season being year-round in California and many other states now, many fire departments and private air resource organizations are purchasing newer, sophisticated aerial firefighting equipment. Larger payloads, though more effective for firefighting, can be an increased threat to personnel on the ground. Follow the above steps to stay safe on the fireline – and work with pilots to ensure strong communication among teams. And identify whether your department has – or needs – a policy related to working around fixed-wing or rotary aircraft during wildfires. Now is the time to update, prepare and train! Sam DiGiovanna is a 33-year fire service veteran. He started with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, served as fire chief at the Monrovia Fire Department and currently serves as Chief at the Verdugo Fire Academy in Glendale, California. DiGiovanna also serves as executive vice president of fire operations for Cordico, which provides access to critical mental health information and resources to help those on the front lines best take care of themselves and ensure they are best prepared to serve others. Cordico was acquired by Lexipol in 2020.

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By Julie Murphy, Public Information Officer, Flagler County

lagler County and the Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa came together to create an inaugural “Memorial Stair Climb” in honor of the 343 New York City Fire Department (FDNY) firefighters who heroically gave their lives trying save others as they rushed into the World Trade Center twenty years ago to the day. Eighteen climbers ascended the 11-flight stairwell at the resort 10 times to represent the 110 flights of stairs at the World Trade Center that the 343 firefighters climbed in their efforts to prevent the loss of life. Saturday’s climbers carried remembrance poker chips that depicted the faces of the FDNY firefighters who worked their last shift on September 11, 2001 as they climbed a collective total of 39,600 steps. “This is truly humbling,” said FirefighterParamedic Andy Thomas, who brought the idea for a local Memorial Stair Climb to Resort Security Director Adam Dennison. “These guys were going in without thought for themselves. They were going in to work – to save lives.”

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Firefighters, dressed in full turnout gear, began their first ascent promptly at 8:46 a.m. – the moment American Airlines Flight 11 was flown into the North Tower of the World Trade Center complex in Lower Manhattan (17 minutes later at 9:03 a.m., the South Tower was hit by United Airlines Flight 175). A memorial stair climb isn’t a new concept, but it was the first official tribute of this kind held in Flagler County. Fifteen firefighters, including two from Daytona Beach, along with two wives of Flagler County Fire Rescue firefighters, and a former agency firefighter each climbed the 2,200 steps to honor the fallen firefighters. Motivational posters created for the event provided encouragement in the stairwell during their climb, and punch cards helped them track their 10 trips. “I’m not doing this for me, I’m doing it for them,” said Flagler County Firefighter Breonna Banks. “I will finish. I won’t give up.”

Daytona Beach Firefighter Mike Gocke brought an American flag made with 343 poker chips with the face of each NYFD firefighter whose life was lost. The day’s climbers carried the chips for all 10 trips up the stairs, and then returned them to that special flag in remembrance of their heroism. Though the event wasn’t public, spectators from the area – who were provided with an American flag – cheered on the firefighters. Hammock Beach Golf Resort and Spa provided beverages and lunch for the firefighters and small handful of other climbers. “These firefighters put their lives on the line day in and day out,” Dennison said. “It was an absolute pleasure to do this for them. This was one small thing we could do to support our firefighters, and repay them for everything they do. Hammock Beach Resort looks forward to maintaining this relationship and doing it again next year – maybe bigger – in remembrance of all those who lost their lives on 9/11.”

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

Seminole County Members Deploy to Montana By Doreen Overstreet, APR, Public Safety Information & Education Officer, Seminole County Fire Department

eminole County Fire Department personnel FF/P Ryan Hart, FF/P Kevin Buckner, FF Kevin Beavers and FF Joshua Evertsen deployed to Montana at various times this summer. Seminole County Fire Department members who obtain their red card each year

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(certification for federal wildland incident deployment) and meet the requirements as a wildland firefighter are able to sign up with the Florida Fire Service in order to become part-time employees for the federal government who respond to declared states of emergency and wildfires all across the country.

Some things the crews were assigned to included structure protection, wildfire line construction, firing operations, direct and indirect fire attack, mop up, and even beginning restoration to devastated land to avoid future catastrophes such as mudslides when precipitation returns.

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By Samantha Shylkofski, Lead Public Information Officer, Lake County Board of County Commissioners

ake County Firefighters Justin Dennison and Christopher Robertson were deployed on Thursday, July 29 to the State of Montana as part of a 20-member interagency Initial Attack Crew led by the Florida Forest Service. This firefighting hand crew was responsible for assisting local, state and federal authorities initial fire attack and existing wildfire campaigns.

"Anytime we send our firefighters out of Lake County to help other parts of the state and/or country is a proud moment for our agency," says Fire Chief Jim Dickerson. Firefighters Dennison and Robertson returned after 14 days of fighting wildfires alongside the Initial Attack Crew.

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By Dani Moschella, Public Information Officer, Delray Beach Fire Rescue

he afternoon of June 11 was like any other in Kendra Potts’ house. Her 2 and 3-yearold daughters were playing with their kitten in a bedroom while she made them a snack in the kitchen. Her son, 9-year-old Kaiden, went to check on his sisters. Then Kendra heard his panicked voice call “Mom!” A small table had been knocked over, along with a lit candle that had been on it. The bed was on fire, and the flames had ignited the skirt of 2-year-old Karley. “She was actually on fire. As a mom, to see your baby on fire…” Kendra said, closing her eyes and shaking her head as she recalls the moment. “I grabbed her and started ripping the skirt off of her and called 911.” A friend put out the fire in the bed. DBFR firefighterparamedics responded, quickly assessing the toddler. There were third-degree burns on her calf and thigh, as well as parts of her hand, foot and torso. They loaded Karley, along with her mother to soothe her, into the rescue truck.

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Given her age and injuries, they designated her a trauma alert and headed to Delray Medical Center. Ryan Spinelli was one of responding crew, which included firefighter-paramedics Gideon Brown, James Jacobs, Alec Jarzabkowski, Ray Keith, Capt. Anthony Parlamento and EMS Capt. Curtis Jepsen. “When we arrived, you could see pieces of her dress charred on the ground,” Spinelli said. “Everyone came in and knew their role. Everyone immediately did what they were supposed to do to help her. It makes me proud to be part of the crew.” He said Karley was a trouper, despite her burns. Karley is recovering from her physical wounds, but her mother said the incident

traumatized the toddler, who has nightmares and has developed a fear of firetrucks. So the family asked if they could visit Station 111 this week to show Karley there was nothing to be scared of. She and her siblings played with toys from the firefighters, including some from the crew that responded to her house, and explored the fire trucks. Delray Beach Firefighters Benevolent donated a car seat to the family as theirs was recently stolen. Candle fires cause an average of 81 deaths, 677 injuries and $278 million in property damage annually in the U.S., according to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). Thanks to her brother’s protective instincts, her mom’s quick actions, and the medical care given by the DBFR Station 111 crew and Delray Medical Center, Karley’s prognosis is good, and we are all incredibly thankful.

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Karl Bennett Retires Flagler County Names Michael Tucker Chief of Fire Rescue Michael Tucker is no stranger to the field of fire prevention in the State of Florida, and Flagler County recently named him chief of its Fire Rescue department. “It is an honor to welcome Chief Tucker to Flagler County,” said Board of County Commissioners Chairman Donald O’Brien. “His credentials are impeccable. We are very fortunate that he’s chosen to call Flagler home.” Tucker is now Fire Chief of a department of more than 100 firefighter paramedics. He was hired to fill the shoes as the permanent replacement of Don Petito, who retired nearly a year to the day of Tucker taking charge. “Flagler County Fire Rescue has a strong reputation,” Tucker said when he was introduced to the Board. “I look forward to be able to help the organization continue to move forward and hopefully help the organization become stronger.” Tucker’s stellar career spans more than 30 years in Florida where he started as a firefighter and paramedic and worked his way up to Chief for The Villages, where he served

Corey Adamski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .City of Naples Fire-Rescue Joel Baker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .North River Fire District Ben Buckner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .City of Newberry Fire Department Anthony Garcia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Frank Giddens . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Venice Fire & Rescue

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for 13 years. He then joined the staff of the Florida State Fire College where he last served as Superintendent of the Bureau Chief of Fire Standards and Training. “Chief Tucker’s team also conducted the first known statewide job task analysis of Florida’s career and volunteer firefighters to re-write Florida’s Firefighter 1 and 2 curricula,” Flagler County Administrator Heidi Petito said during the Transfer of Command Ceremony. “This initiative led to a new training program for all of Florida’s firefighters to receive training focused on the ‘4 Pillars of Health’ intended to build a foundation for new firefighters improving their personal health and wellness.” In addition to his credentials within the firefighting industry – notably the distinction of Executive Fire Officer achieved through the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD – Tucker has a master’s degree in Public Administration. Pictured L-R: Sheriff Rick Staly, Commissioner Donald O’Brien, Chief Michael Tucker, Commissioner Greg Hansen, Commissioner David Sullivan and Commissioner Andy Dance

Wilbert Hall . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Eric Leon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .City of Dunedin Fire Department Austin Malloy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Monticello Volunteer Fire Department Kevin Naylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .City of Dunedin Fire Department Stacy Thomas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Miami-Dade Fire Rescue

In early August, Division Chief of EMS Karl Bennett retired from North Port Fire Rescue after 15 years of dedicated service to the City. We’re grateful for all he’s done for the EMS Division throughout his time here. He has enhanced the EMS Division greatly, and the missing deep institutional knowledge will be felt throughout the Department. We’ll miss his left-handed handshakes, abundance of candy supplies, and his general fun banter. Don’t worry though - the Bennett name is being carried on at North Port Fire Rescue by his son, Clay, who is a Firefighter/Paramedic with the Department. We wish Chief Bennett all the luck in his future endeavors. Bringing 45 years of experience with him, retired Fire Chief Brian Gorski joined the NPFR family as the new EMS Division Chief. Chief Gorski put in more than 30 years with Sarasota County Fire Department, moving up the ranks to Fire Chief before retiring in 2009. Most recently, Chief Gorski served as Fire Chief for Southern Manatee Fire Rescue District, retiring from the district in April of this year. With a plethora of knowledge and experience under his belt, we look forward to seeing all he will contribute to North Port Fire Rescue.

The Window of Opportunity By John W. Bracey, Community Affairs Officer, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department

lack smoke spewing from the windows of a mobile home. A report of one still inside. And a dicey path to make entry into a zerovisibility situation. The midnight call on Feb. 7, 2020 would eventually pull several companies from their sleeping quarters. Engine 41 was first on scene to the structure fire at a mobile home in Jacksonville, and Engine 29’s crew was on the way. E-29’s Lt. Mike Belcher was focused on E41’s radio traffic and sizing up the scene with each transmission. Belcher understood that 41’s crew would be attempting to simultaneously suppress the fire and save a young child inside, but with no immediate help nearby. That’s why Belcher told Eng. Sean Seng and Firefighter Jon Woodbury to bypass the hydrant because Belcher was committing to the inside search. Upon arrival, Belcher met Selina Lugo and learned her 2-year-old was the only family member unaccounted for. Lugo directed Belcher to the window of her daughter’s bedroom. It was a small window. To gain entry, Belcher would have to climb on the roof of a small aluminum shed adjacent to the trailer. Lugo had placed a small ladder next to the shed, but Belcher worried about the strength of the tiny shed’s roof. “I’m

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probably 300 pounds bunked out,” he said. Belcher broke more of the window frame, and then got an assist from Woodbury who jumped onto the top of the shed and kicked in more of the window. “Most of the time we go in the front door. But being on top of the shed with black smoke pumping out of that window, I wasn’t sure what kind of conditions I’d have going in.” Belcher considered the risk, he thought about his family, and then he staged Woodbury next to the window in case the situation deteriorated. Once inside, Belcher made the right decision by searching to his left. He felt a bundle of blankets, quickly cradled his discovery and passed the child to Woodbury just outside the window. Belcher caught a glimpse of the little girl’s face, and realized his job was done. Lugo said she had been “laser-focused on the window” for what seemed like an eternity. “It was an amazing sight when they brought her out,” she recalled. Belcher’s curiosity about little Eliana Lugo was just beginning. Three shifts later, Belcher and his crew were cleared to visit her in the hospital. That is where he and his crew learned how serious the child’s injuries were, and how grateful her family was to JFRD.

“It was definitely an emotional moment, “Belcher said. “I know a lot of times, that despite our best efforts, that sometime these calls go the other way, and I’m just so thankful that I was able to come through for that family that night,” Belcher added. Fast forward to Spring 2021. Belcher and his crew return from a call and find Selina and Eliana in the day room. The visit transitions outdoors for photos next to the engine, and it’s quite clear that Eliana has fully recovered. She is excited and exploring the bumper and tires of Engine 29, interacting with the crew, and then she sits down long enough for a few photos with JFRD’s Firefighter of the Year. Belcher said he appreciates the public recognition and the responsibility of representing the department at numerous special events, but the best part of it all is Eliana walking and talking. “Seeing her happy and smiling, that’s all the recognition I need,” Belcher said. Photo (left to right) Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s Firefighter Jon Woodbury, Eliana and Selina Lugo, and Jacksonville’s Firefighter of the Year, Lieutenant Mike Belcher, who rescued Eliana from a burning structure.

Flagler County Firefighters Promoted By Julie Murphy, Public Information Officer

Three of Flagler County’s firefighters have been promoted to the rank of lieutenant after distinguishing themselves within their former roles, extensive education and training, and comprehensive testing. Jake Gonzalez (1), Jon Moscowitz (2), and Dylan Pontorno (3) (listed alphabetically) were promoted of the 13 applicants who tested. “These are very deserving men,” said Fire Rescue Chief Mike Tucker. “It takes a lot of dedication to our profession to make it through the rigorous educational program and training developed to ensure firefighters are equipped to step up into supervisory roles.” 1 While the effective date of the promotions was July 23, a ceremony to recognize the promotions will likely be held on October 1. “We had two battalion chiefs retire last December and two of our current lieutenants will be promoted into those positions in the near future,” Interim Deputy Chief Lenny Ensalaco said. “We have a great team, and it’s wonderful when the hard work it takes to prepare for this test can be rewarded with a promotion.” That work includes: studying three text 2 books inside and out; learning both firefighting command policy and Flagler County policy; and, practical tactical and supervisory experience. “This can be done in as few as three years, but it’s not uncommon for the process to take much longer,” Ensalaco said. “It takes a lot of effort to prepare, so the length of time it takes depends on other external demands.” Pontorno was hired by Flagler County in April 2018. He became a paramedic in January 2019, and has Fire Officer 1 and 2 certifications, as well as for Pump Operations. 3 Moscowitz has been with Flagler County Fire Rescue for 13 years. In the course of his career, he has worked as a Flight Medic, and lead Field Training Officer. He has competed on the Advanced Life Support Team locally, nationally, and internationally. His awards include: Kiwanis Firefighter of the Year in 2014 and 2020; Emergency Management Emergency Medical Services Provider of the Year in 2015; and, the Sons of the American Revolution Fire Safety commendation in 2016. Gonzalez, a 7-year veteran with Flagler County Fire Rescue, not only has his Fire Officer 1 and 2 certifications but is Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) certified, is on the Technical Rescue Team, as well as being a Hazmat Technician, and a Fire Inspector. “These new lieutenants have a variety of experiences that add depth to Flagler County Fire Rescue,” Tucker said. “They have bright futures ahead of them and I’m proud to have them as part of the team.” 36

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Orange County Assistant Fire Marshal Completes EFO Program By Lisa McDonald, Public Relations and Community Outreach Specialist

Assistant Fire Marshal Inesita Pressler with the Office of the Fire Marshal successfully completed the prestigious Executive Fire Officer Program, as announced by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Fire Administration/National Fire Academy. The announcement was made July 30, 2021 after Assistant Fire Marshal Pressler spent four-years working through each of the four courses to complete the intensive program. “The Executive Fire Officer Program developed my ability to identify and manage adaptive challenges; a process vital for the implementation of change to benefit the department,” said Assistant Fire Marshal Inesita Pressler. “Additionally, it instilled the significance of community partnerships, a community risk analysis, and specific community preparedness in order to provide the best possible service to the community.” Six months after each course was completed, a written Applied Research Project (ARP) was required from Assistant Fire Marshal Pressler to establish theory and concepts to real life situations within Orange County Fire Rescue from the courses. “The Executive Fire Officer Program was instrumental in my ability to help develop, manage and continue to improve the Orange County Fire Rescue Department Smoke Alarm Installation Program. The program is very successful and of great benefit to the residents of Orange County,” said AFM Pressler. To successfully graduate from the Executive Fire Officer Program, Assistant Fire Marshal Pressler had to appear before a peer-review panel to present a 30minute oral defense of one of her three previously submitted ARPs. “I felt extremely prepared and confident presenting my oral defense. As an Orange County Fire Rescue Officer, you get plenty of practice presenting before Senior Staff. As a result, I have learned to be well prepared with research, data, procedures, alternatives, methodology, etc. for any questions that may be asked of me. As such, OCFRD had already prepared me for the process,” said AFM Pressler. “I am extremely proud of Assistant Chief Pressler’s accomplishment completing the National Executive Fire Officer Program,” said Orange County Fire Chief James Fitzgerald. “The completion of this program exemplifies her commitment to leadership and public safety and I wholeheartedly congratulate her.”

Palm Coast September 11 Ceremony By Lieutenant Patrick Juliano, Fire PIO, City of Palm Coast

n commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks, the Palm Coast Fire Department will hosted a remembrance ceremony and dedication of the Survivor Tree at the Palm Coast Heroes Memorial Park. The Palm Coast Fire Department received a 10 foot seedling of the September 11th Survivor Tree from the 9/11 Memorial Museum. A Callery pear tree became known as the “Survivor Tree” after enduring the September 11, 2001 terror attacks at the World Trade Center. The tree was removed from the rubble and placed in the care of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation. After its recovery and rehabilitation, the tree was returned to the Memorial in 2010. New, smooth limbs extended from the gnarled stumps, creating a visible demarcation between the tree’s past and present. Today, the tree stands as a living reminder of resilience, survival, and rebirth. “Like a tree, we experience the change of seasons of our lives; from the joyous occasions to the saddest occasion; yet when nothing else to be right we are met with again with the spring air and sunshine”, stated Mayor David Alfin. Fire Chief Jerry Forte introduced those that would help dedicate the Survivor Tree by saying, “As we look into the symbolism of some of the world’s most historic events, we will find that trees are one of the greatest things that connect all of mankind”. The Survivor Tree was dedicated by Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin, Driver Engineer Michael LaGreca (9/11 Responder as a NJ Paramedic), Yvonne Robinson (North Tower Survivor), Ophelia Beier (Pentagon Survivor) and New York Court Police Retired Major Ron Young (WTC Responder). The Survivor Tree Seedlings are made available to communities across the United States from the 9/11 Memorial & Museum for communities with sites that invoke the resonating power of tree and create lasting, living memorials to the victims of 9/11, their families, communities and the nation. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

Inspector Taylor Riley Earns Certified Fire Protection Specialist Credential By Stephanie Lewis, Public Relations and Information Manager

Seminole County Fire Department's "Dark" Side By Doreen Overstreet, APR, Public Safety Information & Education Officer

The force is strong at Seminole County Fire Department. Seminole County Fire Department Firefighter/Paramedic Derek Zink (Station 11 in Altamonte, B Shift) is a hero by day … but in his free time he channels is Dark Side as Darth Vader as part of The Florida Garrison … serving the empire to help children’s hospitals and charities. He was recently featured as an “Everyday Hero” by Spectrum News 13.

HCFR Christens and Dedicates Fire Boat By Eric Seidel, Public Information Officer

On August 19th, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) personnel gathered in Apollo Beach to officially christen and dedicate HCFR Fire Boat 29 in honor of Retired Battalion Chief John Perez. Chief Perez retired last year after 31 years with HCFR. He was instrumental in the design of this unique firefighting vessel as well as in developing our Marine Unit which responds to nautical emergencies. The 38-foot HCFR FB29 responds to boat fires, medical calls, and other nautical emergencies, providing critical protection in a waterfront community with a major port and thousands of recreational boaters. Its 3 deck guns can spray up to 3,500 gallons of seawater a minute, as well as foam to extinguish fuel fires. The craft and crew cover a 42-mile shipping channel and surrounding waters from Port Tampa Bay to Egmont Key. The boat can also navigate shallow waters and pull up to beaches and islands with a bow that drops forward, landing-craft style, to load incapacitated patients in medical need. Chief Perez helped oversee the boat’s build until its launch in 2018. Before the gathered crowd, including Command Staff and marine crews, Fire Chief Dennis Jones presented Chief Perez with a framed version of the dedication plaque mounted on the craft. Fire Boat 29 was also informally christened the “Johnny P.” Thank you, Chief John Perez, for your service! 38

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Lakeland Fire Department Inspector Taylor Riley has earned the National Fire Protection Association’s Certified Fire Protection Specialist credential. This credential exhibits his ability to provide the highest level of fire protection for the department and the City of Lakeland while demonstrating his commitment to excellence and advancement in his career. Inspector Riley has joined an elite group of professionals by gaining this meaningful achievement for those responsible for applying fire safety, protection, prevention, and suppression technologies. This certification substantiates expertise in state-of-the-art fire protection and fire prevention practices, including prevention of ignition, design to slow early fire growth, detection and alarm, suppression, confinement of fire, and evacuation of occupants. The National Fire Protection Association created the Certified Fire Protection Specialist credential in 1971 to document competency and offer professional recognition for individuals involved in curtailing fire loss, both physical and financial. Since then, the credential has been awarded to more than 5,000 people who have demonstrated a level of professionalism through applied work experience, related education opportunities, and successful completion of a certification examination. Inspector Riley joined the Lakeland Fire Department in 2011 as a Firefighter/Paramedic and was promoted to Driver/Engineer in June 2017. He was promoted to Fire Safety Inspector I in October 2017 and then to Fire Safety Inspector II in October 2020. Inspector Riley also earned the following certification: Firefighter II, Paramedic, Fire Inspector I and II, Fire Instructor III, Certified Fire Plans Examiner.

Charlotte County Push-in Ceremony By Todd Dunn, Public Relations Manager/PIO

Charlotte County Fire & EMS held a push-in ceremony for their new Squad 12 heavy rescue vehicle on Sept. 8, 2021. The new E-ONE rescue is built on a Cyclone II chassis, is 100 inches wide, and has seating for six firefighters. The rear of the cab was designed to serve as a mobile command post. The E-ONE rescue is 41 feet, 10 inches long, 11 foot, 4 inches tall, and was built to suit the current needs of our special operations team with plenty of storage room for future growth as our mission expands. Charlotte County Fire & EMS’s special operations team is comprised of 21 firefighters and six company officers trained to respond and mitigate unique, specialized incidences, including hazardous material spills. After a short blessing of the new heavy rescue, the crew pushed the unit into its new Station 12 home, where it will serve the community for the next 20 years.

Palm Harbor Fire Commissioner Honored with Highest Award from Florida Association of Special Districts By Elizabeth Graham, Fire & Life Safety Educator, PIO, Fire Inspector II

PBCFR Launches Award to Commemorate Saves By Tara Cardoso, Communications & Media Team

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is proud to launch its new Resuscitation Award Bar for firefighters and dispatchers to wear on their uniforms. This award is presented to all crew members that work together to perform lifesaving treatment according to PBCFR’s Cardiac Arrest Patient Care Protocols. In order for the crews to receive the award bar, the patient must walk out of the hospital neurologically intact. PBCFR 911 Dispatchers are also awarded for their work before the firefighters get to the scene. Dispatchers are able to walk bystanders step by step through CPR over the phone. Bystander CPR greatly increases the patient’s chances for survival and recovery. The award bars can also be awarded more than once to the same employee. That way, if an employee already has a bar and has another “save”, they will then be able to add a number to the bar. Therefore, there is no limit on how many “saves” an employee can display on their uniform. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue already has several employees who have received more than one award since the program began in January. Last year, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue ran close to 700 cardiac arrest calls with a ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) rate of 36.4%. We are, as always, striving for “Excellence Today,” while “Improving Tomorrow.” #CPRSavesLives

Guide Dog Training By Trip Barrs, Fire Chief

Treasure Island Fire and Police crews hosted a group of guide dogs in training at station 24 to familiarize them with our gear and personnel in a safe and friendly environment. The dogs are being trained to be comfortable in many situations that would otherwise be stressful for them. Eight dogs and their handlers were exposed to simulated EMS calls, firefighters in their bunker gear and the sight and sound of pumping fire apparatus. TIPD demonstrated their officers’ equipment and arrival of a PD unit on scene.

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue would like to congratulate Fire Commissioner James Angle on his achievement of the Gale English Lifetime Achievement Award presented by the Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD). The FASD is a collective voice for special purpose government agencies. They strive to unify and strengthen special purpose government through education, the exchange of ideas and active involvement in the legislative process. The Gale English Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest award bestowed upon by the association. The recipient is selected by the awards committee and the honoree is a member who has sacrificed an extraordinary and exemplary amount of his or her time in assistance to the FASD over several years. The award was named after former South Indian River Water Control District General Manager, Gale English who in 2011, was posthumously honored with this award for his long-standing commitment and dedicated service to FASD. From that point forward, it was to be known as the Gale English Lifetime Achievement Award. “I was honored, grateful and humbled by this award, said Angle. I stand proudly with past recipients that have also given so much to the association. Saying thank you does not seem to be enough…”. Congratulations Commissioner Angle, your commitment and character exemplify the strength and compassion you have for leading us and this award was more than well deserved.

HCFR Station Groundbreaking By Eric Seidel, Public Information Officer

On Aug. 12, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) hosted an official groundbreaking for the new HCFR Station 29 in Apollo Beach, off U.S. 41. The new 10,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art facility replaces a small station in the area built nearly 40 years ago. Hillsborough County Administrator Bonnie Wise, County Commissioners and HCFR Fire Chief Dennis Jones all spoke about the need to keep pace with Hillsborough’s fast-growing communities. The new 29 will be home to three 24-hour shifts of at least 7 firefighter/paramedics per shift and a Battalion Chief. It will include 3 drivethrough apparatus bays housing a Fire Engine, ALS Rescue Ambulance, Battalion Chief’s vehicle and a Tanker Truck. It will also house our Marine Rescue Crew of Fire Boat 29 docked nearby. All of HCFR’s new stations have been designed with the latest in firefighter health and safety in mind. Crew entries include a decontamination room with its own air ventilation system to allow crews returning from fire scenes to clean potential carcinogens off their clothes and skin surfaces before entering the main areas of the station. Completion of the new Station 29 is expected by the Summer of 2022. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

Flagler Firefighter-Paramedic Awarded by Sons of the American Revolution By Julie Murphy, Public Information Officer

Members of the Sons of the American Revolution on Monday awarded Flagler County Firefighter-Paramedic Jason Feldman with the Emergency Medical Services Award. Flagler Chapter Awards Committee member David Kelsey spoke of the tradition of presenting the award as “descendants of our great nation’s very first public servants.” Flagler County Fire Chief Mike Tucker introduced Feldman, who was nominated for the Emergency Medical Services Award by Steve Ripley, who alongside Tucker presented him with a medal. The award was established in 2005 to honor community service above what is required for work. “He is an outstanding Firefighter-Paramedic,” Tucker said. “I have every reason to believe he will be receiving a number of promotions under me in the future.” Ripley is one of the Flagler Chapter’s 50 members of the Sons of the American Revolution, as well as a Florida Emergency Management Volunteer and lead trainer and course manager for the Flagler Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program. “Jason Feldman really stood out because of all of his involvement surrounding COVID-19,” Ripley said before the awards ceremony. “He was overwhelmingly accepted by the Sons of the American Revolution for this award, because of his willingness to go above and beyond.” Feldman was part of core COVID-19 team initiative led by Community Paramedic Caryn Prather that started with testing and evolved to vaccinating homebound residents. Rob Errett and Nealon Joseph were also on the team. “I am extremely proud of Jason,” Prather said. Feldman was recently promoted to Field Training Officer for Emergency Medical Services. He is a CERT team lead. He has worked for Flagler County since June 2018.

Submitting Articles 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. 40

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

September 2021

Seminole County Graduates Newest Class By Doreen Overstreet, APR, Public Safety Information & Education Officer

The Seminole County Fire Department is pleased to announce its firefighter recruit Class 21-01. The 23 new recruits recently graduated from an 8-week intensive orientation training at the Seminole County Fire Department. SCFD will be starting a new training class in early November 2021. “We are building the future of the Seminole County Fire Department – and you are part of the future we envision,” said Seminole County Fire Chief Otto Drozd III. “Cherish your time within the Fire Service for it is a noble and honorable profession.” Of the 23 new recruits who graduated: · 43% of the grads currently reside in Seminole County, FL · About 40% of the grads grew up in Seminole County so they will be serving their hometown community · 43% have previous firefighter experience

North Port Promotions By Madison Heid, Communications Coordinator

North Port Fire Chief Scott Titus is honored to announce three Journeyman candidates have just completed a multi-day assessment put together by the Department’s Training Division. All three candidates performed well and showed competence at the level expected to earn the certification. Please join us in congratulating Firefighter/Paramedic Clayton Bennett, Firefighter/Paramedic Travis Hill, and Firefighter/EMT Luke Byrd on this accomplishment. Thank you to all that have helped them along the way to achieve this goal. Congratulations, guys!

Brevard County - 12-LEAD ECG & STEMI Lab By Lisa Smith, Office of EMS

Brevard County Fire Rescue (BCFR) had the pleasure of hosting, renowned 12-Lead ECG and STEMI educator and author Tim Phalen, which was sponsored by Stryker Emergency Care. On July 15-16, 2021, four classes were offered and consisted of approximately 30 attendees including, BCFR employees, local municipal fire departments, hospitals and clinical education programs. The lab covered topics on; Increasing Correct STEMI Activation, Reduce STEMI Overcall and additional topics including: Getting a clear ECG in the real world, correctly applying STEMI recognition criteria, rule out; stop and strategize STEMI imposters, Lead ECG’s posterior and right ventricular, STEMI equivalents, how to integrate ECG findings, patient presentation and device statement. Surveys were taken at the end of the class, attendees stated “Mr. Phalen was knowledgeable and took an interest in our questions and provided detailed answers.” “The course material was explained clearly, and we had a better understanding with ECG interpretation upon completion.” If given the opportunity, we encourage our fellow healthcare providers who initiate or are involved in cardiac care to attend the 12-LEAD ECG & STEMI Lab.

HCFR Honors Retiring Hero By Eric Seidel, Public Information Officer

There were many emotional goodbyes, salutes, and even tears as we wished Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) and community legend Thurnell “Chip” Shields a happy retirement. After 20 years in the Marines and reserves and 28 years as a firefighter with HCFR, it was time for a well-deserved rest for this hero. As a Marine, Chip is a survivor of the horrific Beirut Marine Barracks bombing in 1983, but his service to his country and community never stopped. In addition to his service as a firefighter, Chip has leant his support to countless local events, never turning down a request to put his great vocal talents to use for a patriotic cause. On 7/31, at Veterans Memorial Park there wasn’t a dry eye in the house as colleagues from HCFR, the Marines and the community spoke of his caring and character, and presented him with plaques and sentimental gifts. We will miss you, Chip, but you remain an example for all of us.

Multi-family Dwelling Fire By Stephanie Lewis, Public Relations and Information Manager

Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) received a call for a building fire at approximately 12:50 AM on Sept. 3. Upon arrival to the multi-family dwelling located at 912 Missouri Ave S, crews observed heavy smoke and fire from the building. Fire crews worked aggressively to extinguish the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation; however, it does not appear to be suspicious. All occupants/residents escaped unharmed. Responding to the scene were 9 LFD units. Patrol units from Lakeland Police Department (LPD) and 1 Polk County Fire Rescue Medic Unit (PCFR) were also on scene. No firefighter injuries were reported.

Commercial Fire By Joseph Dorsette, Division Chief – Training and Professional Standards

Firefighters of the Broward Sheriff Office Department of Fire Rescue responded to a commercial fire in an unincorporated area of central Broward County. On arrival, the first arriving Engine established Command and stated they had smoke showing from the rear of the structure which appeared to be an unoccupied building. As members quickly began to force entry into the heavily reinforced doors and windows to make a fire attack, the Captain who conducted a 360 of the building noticed a broken window and several of the security bars were bent which allowed just enough space for people to get inside. The Officer relayed over the radio to all incoming units that they may have people inside. Once crews forced the door, they made entry where they located the fire which was quickly extinguished and conducted a rapid search for any victims. No one was hurt or found to be inside the vacant building. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

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Seminole County Awarded Seven Million Dollar Grant By Doreen Overstreet, APR, Public Safety Information & Education Officer

he Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) was recently awarded a $7,321,470 federal grant to hire 30 additional firefighters and paramedics to serve the community. The Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grants funded by FEMA was created to provide funding to fire departments to help them increase or maintain the number of trained, frontline firefighters available in their communities. This is the first time the Seminole County Fire Department has received a SAFER Grant. The $7.3 million grant will cover 100% of the personnel expenses associated with the cost of hiring 30 new full-time firefighters for a three-year period with no matching cost required. Once the grant has been expended, the Seminole County Fire Department will be responsible for maintaining the cost of the positions. “The Seminole County Fire Department is fortunate to receive this grant that will provide service enhancements in the most densely populated areas of Seminole County,” said Fire Chief Otto Drozd III. “We are thankful for the support of the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners and the hardworking staff at Seminole County Fire Department for helping to obtain this grant. We recently hired

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

September 2021

a new class of 23 firefighters and this SAFER grant enables us to fund an incoming class of 30 additional firefighters who will start training in the near future.” Currently, the Seminole County Fire Department has more than 450 frontline firefighters and paramedics serving the unincorporated areas of Seminole County along with the cities of Altamonte Springs, Winter Springs and Casselberry. “Seminole County is committed to the public safety of our more than 450,000 residents,” said Deputy County Manager Joe Abel. “Our population has increased by nearly 14% since 2010, so this federal grant helps us maintain a steadfast commitment to safe, efficient public safety response in our community.”

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