November 2021 FFS Magazine by ffca

THE PUBLICATION

OF THE

FLORIDA FIRE CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION

November 2021 • VOLUME 29 NUMBER 11

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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

FROM THE SECTIONS Message from the FFCA President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6 Message from the Foundation Chair . . . . . . . . . . . .12

12 FEATURES

Thanksgiving - More than a Day in November . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Firefighter Tardiness: How It Impacts Operations . . . . . . . . . 10 Participative Management:

Everybody Wins! . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Flashlights and Friends. . . . . . . . . 16 Endure, Enjoy, and Embrace the Journey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 No Need for Alarm - Live Fire in

Delray Beach is All for Training. . 20

FURTHERMORE 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 November 2021, Volume 29, Number 11 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.

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November 2021

FFCA New Members. . . . . . . . . . . 18 PHFR Visits Schools During Fire Prevention Month 2021. . . . . . . 22 Seminole County’s “AmbuBus” . . . 24 Lakeland Fire Department Paramedic Orientation Program . 26 Featured Vendor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 An Emotional Farewell to Driver Engineer Ciancio . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Angel Tree Tradition Spreads Cheer for 21st Year . . . . . . . . . 28 St. Lucie County Combat Challenge Team Defends Title . . 30 Daytona Beach Recognizes Firefighters for Heroic Save . . . . 30 In brief . . . news from around the state. . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38

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Douglas Riley, Fire Chief FFCA President

had the opportunity to attend the opening ceremony for the 73rd annual Florida Fire Marshal’s and Inspector’s Association (FFMIA) in Coral Springs on November 1. I appreciate the invitation and hospitality demonstrated by both Executive Director Pasqualone and President Woodside. I am proud of the partnership and collaboration of our Associations and the combined efforts in effecting legislation in a positive manner to keep our firefighters, citizens, and visitors safe. Your FFCA board and staff are busy with the ongoing legislative priorities, preparing for upcoming conferences and continuing to advance and advocate for the fire service. The annual Fallen Firefighter Memorial Service and Prayer Breakfast is right around the

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corner and I hope to see many of you there. The events will be held on Thursday, November 18 beginning at 8:30 am at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala. The annual Safety and Health conference will be offered on December 6 through 8 at the B Resort located at 1905 Hotel Plaza Blvd, Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830. There will be a virtual option for those unable to attend in person. We are excited to be able to resume in person events and invite you all to come out and reconnect with old friends and make new ones. I am also happy to say that Fire-Rescue EAST is back in person and is being held in Daytona on January 18-21, 2022. Staff is working diligently to bring back the Emergency Services Leadership Institute

(ESLI) with the initial focus on completing the program for those that are currently enrolled. I am excited to see that we can resume this valuable training and networking opportunity and encourage those that haven’t had the opportunity to attend to sign up for future offerings. I wish you all the best as we approach the holidays and encourage you to take a minute to unwind and re-connect with family and friends that you may not have seen for a while. This should be a season to reflect on our blessings and put some of the challenges of the past couple of years behind us. As always, your FFCA board and staff wish you the best and are here to represent you so don’t hesitate to contact any of us if we can be of service.

By Rick Spence, FFCA Chaplain

very November we celebrate Thanksgiving Day. It is based on a tradition that started with the early English colonists (Pilgrims) sharing a feast with the Wampanoag Indians and giving thanks to God for the peace they had at the time. This took place around 1621, and later the U.S. Continental Congress proclaimed a national “Day of Thanksgiving” to be celebrated. They left the exact date of Thanksgiving to be determined by individual states. In 1863, President Lincoln proclaimed Thanksgiving to be celebrated on Thursday, November 26. Subsequent presidents proclaimed Thanksgiving be celebrated on other dates, usually the last Thursday in November. Finally, in 1942, President Roosevelt signed a proclamation designating the fourth Thursday in November as the official day of Thanksgiving. Look at the times when our country decided to give thanks to God. The Pilgrims had only been in this country a short time, in fact, they had very few buildings and had yet to start any type of manufacturing. Their living conditions were certainly less than ideal. When the U.S. Continental Congress proclaimed a national day of Thanksgiving, it was shortly after the Revolutionary War ended and our country was starting out in its infancy. The government was just getting

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started and were attempting to rebuild after a war that lasted over 7 years. The war had devastated the land and the economy of our nation. President Lincoln was in the middle of the Civil War and was assassinated less than a year and half after he made his proclamation of Thanksgiving. President Roosevelt was dealing with World War II at a time when the war was not going well for the Allies. When our country and these men were going through extremely difficult times, they chose to give thanks to God for what they had. In spite of what they were dealing with, they realized they had many things to be thankful for. (Although what they were dealing with was probably more trying than what we face today.) The same holds true for us now at this point in time. Regardless of what we are going through, there is so much for us to be thankful for. First, look at our jobs. In my mind, we have the one of best jobs in the world. Since I was unable to hit a curveball (which snuffed out a promissing Hall of Fame career) and was not smart enough to get into Astronaut School, the fire service was an outstanding next choice. We have the

opportunity to render aid to people when they are going through some of the darkest moments of their life. That alone is a tremendous blessing, helping out our fellow citizens. Another blessing unique to our job is that it is never “Groundhog Day.” This is true no matter where we are in the rank structure or how long we have been on the job. No two calls or days are ever the same. Our families are another thing we can be thankful for. I truly understand every family has some members who are a bit “squirrely,” to put it delicately. But, would we trade our relatives’ issues for the issues some of our friend’s relatives are dealing with? Probably not. Each of us would not be where we are without the help and support from someone within our family. For some it is their spouse, children, siblings, parents, grandparents or aunts & uncles who have encouraged us to pursue and excel in this great profession. Another thing we can be thankful for is our country. Regardless of what is going on in our nation, the United States of America is still the best place in the world to live. Think about it, there is no better place to live. If you do not agree, is there anywhere you could live where you would have the freedoms, lifestyle and opportunities that are available in the United States? Other places may be good to visit, but would you really

want to live there permanently? Our system of government and freedoms are unmatched by any other nation. I understand our country is in some deep weeds at this time, but every generation before us has gone through their own deep weeds. Each generation has come out stronger on the other side. I fully believe that will be the same for us, even during the tumultuous times of the 2020’s. Our country, in particular, will be much better and stronger on the other side. It’s part of the strength of Americans. Lastly, I do not want to minimize this, but there is another holiday we celebrate in November, Veteran’s Day. It was initially celebrated on November 11, 1918, and was originally called Armistice Day to mark the ending of World War I. It p officially ended on the Rick S ence 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, which is why it is always on November 11. • • This holiday greatly FF in CA a l p affects Thanksgiving, as Cha well as every other holiday we celebrate in this country. If it had not been for the service and sacrifice the veterans of the United States Military have made, we would definitely have a lot less to be thankful for. So to all the veterans reading this, both past and present, the deepest and most heart-felt thank you I can offer. THANK YOU!

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By Jon Dorman

he fire service has seen many adjustments over the past decade. One of the most noticeable is the change in hiring patterns. Many new recruits have no experience in the emergency services and come from diverse employment backgrounds. While this can be great for pushing the fire service forward, it is not without its pains when it comes to attendance and tardiness. If a new member has only worked in jobs where nobody is any “worse for the wear” if they get to work right on time or cruise in a minute or two late, they may not really understand the gravity of being late to the fire station. Consider the following scenario: Shift change is at 0700. You look at the clock as you’re pulling into the station parking lot. It’s 0702. Two minutes isn’t too big of a deal, you say to yourself as you park the car. But, as you walk into the station, the engine rolls out the door on a call without you. The person you are supposed to relieve shoots you a look that is anything but friendly. Again, you think to yourself, “That firefighter hasn’t liked me since I got assigned here, so what’s one more issue?” In the fire academy, it is usually drilled into new recruits that arriving 15 minutes early is the equivalent to being on time and arriving right at shift change is late. It seems simple enough. But why is that the case? Operational Impacts Part of it has to do with operations. When you show up early, you have time to check out

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your gear and equipment, get it on the rig, and get ready for the shift. Plus, your officer knows you’re there, so they can work out things like rig assignments, fill-ins to other stations, and daily activities. This also gives you a chance to talk with the off-going crew to find out what’s been happening since your last shift. If there’s been an issue with something in the station or on the rig, you’ll know about it before it causes a problem for your shift. Besides the immediate impact of having to cover your spot until you arrive at work, other operational issues can arise if you’re late. Your crew may be forced to work with someone with whom they are unfamiliar. This can cause anything from minor confusion on a medical call to an accountability problem on a structure fire. Personal Impacts While the impact to operations is the reason the department wants you to be ready to work as soon as your shift begins, there is another purpose for getting in a bit early: common courtesy. Depending on department policy, you may be able to take a call for the person you are relieving. That means the off-going person will get to go home on time instead of having to run that call just before shift change, keeping them at work until the rig is able to get back to the station. Hopefully, the person relieving you will do the same thing. Plus, being known as someone who races the bell every shift yet expects to get relieved on time isn’t really good

for your reputation. Everyone Is Responsible Unfortunately, tardiness or being “just on time” to the station aren’t issues limited to new recruits. Senior members and officers need to remember the unwritten rule to be at the station early. If the officer or the senior members are always pushing the clock, why would newly assigned personnel do anything different? It’s you who will set the example for new personnel. Model the behavior that is best for the department and the crews. Get there early, and be ready to work before the clock officially starts. Jon Dorman is a content developer with Lexipol. He has more than 25 years in the fire service in both combination and career departments, retiring as the assistant chief of operations and deputy emergency manager. Dorman also has 10 years of experience teaching in the Fire Science and Emergency Management program at Purdue University Global (formerly Kaplan University) where he has redesigned multiple semester-long college courses to meet the needs of the modern fire service and adult learners. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire protection science from SUNY Empire State College, a master’s degree in employment law from Nova Southeastern University, and a master’s degree in homeland security and emergency management from Kaplan University.

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James White, CFO Foundation Chair

realize that as the fire chief we are often distracted from the details related to the training and certification of recruit firefighters. We often take for granted that the state has approved, monitored, and tested these student firefighters, and that the mere presentation of the state certification at the time of employment qualifies that person as being ready to become a firefighter. Those who don’t always keep up with the changes in curriculum may be surprised to know that in 2020, many new topics were added to the current Firefighter Minimum Standards (Fire 1&2) curriculum placing an additional 96 hours into the course. While I’m very excited about the new curriculum, the increase in the amount of hours has forced many academies to reduce the overall number of cohorts being offered on an annual basis. In my world, prior to this increase my academy was able to

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schedule five to six classes each year. Today, we have had to reduce our offerings to four. Not only are these new hours reducing the number cohorts being offered, many academies are struggling to secure the needed number of instructors able to commit to the additional hours and new curriculum. It’s another one of those perfect storms we’ve heard about. Demand is up, more applicants than seats available in every class, additional course hours from the state, and our instructor cadres are being cut due to the need of those same individuals to staff their career department’s positions due to a lack of people filling the many vacancies. It’s a vicious cycle. So as fire chiefs what can we do to right the ship. In our region, we are encouraging our agencies to plan early for any upcoming vacancies. Communicate with your local fire academies to help them prepare for the

graduates you need, and encourage diversity in your instructor cadre so we can be recruiting and producing the quality of firefighters we need for tomorrow. Funding for these students is also an issue. The more dollars available to them in the form of scholarships and grants, the easier it is for them to complete their certification training and become employed with little to no educational debt. This is where our Florida Fire Chiefs Foundation can help. You should be considering the Foundation’s Firefighter/EMT Scholarship Program for your candidates. An application can be completed on-line at www.ffca.org/scholarship. Your support as the local fire chief is necessary for these candidates. Take the time now to become familiar with your Foundation and be ready for that next young person who approaches you asking for help in becoming a firefighter.

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By Dr. Eric Smith, EFO, Assistant Professor of Public Administration, Barry University

articipative management is a method which gives employees responsibility, accountability, and authority over their work. The process provides an environment to make employee needs known and creates a vehicle for improved communication. Creativity and innovation are two important benefits of participative management. By allowing a diverse group of employees to have input on decisions, the organization benefits from the synergy that is produced from having a larger menu of options. When all employees, rather than just managers alone, are encouraged to participate, the chances increase that a valid and unique idea will emerge. Participative management has clear goals and does not turn over the organization to employees. There is still a hierarchy, but the hierarchy allows for flexibility in matters that affect the employees. In a non dominant hierarchy employees have clear roles and responsibilities and manage themselves as much as possible. Management sets the vision for the organization and what is expected in terms of results employees and then the employees are tasked with developing the methods to meet management’s expectations. It is important to keep in mind that participative management may not work in all

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situations. It will not work well in times of emergency response and emergency management. However, participative management can be useful in developing the strategic plans, and operational guidelines and procedures put in place before the emergencies occur. Participative management must be more than taking part in decision making; it also involves treating employees ideas and suggestions on a variety of levels with consideration and respect. Additionally, employees must be willing to participate and share their ideas. Participative management does not work with employees who are passive or simply do not care. Many times the employees do not have the skills or information necessary to make good decisions or suggestions. In this case, it is important to provide them with information and training so they can make informed decisions. Encouragement should be offered in order to accustom employees to the participative approach. One method to help employees engage in the decision-making process is to know their strengths and weaknesses and capitalize on them. To be successful, organizations interested in instituting participative management programs should develop a pre-requisite framework in order to smooth the way for participative management efforts. The framework should ensure that there is: • A favorable attitude among managers: The attitude of management should be progressive and flexible. Lip service is not going to work. Managers must make a commitment to assigning value to employee suggestions. Nothing will kill participative management quicker than insincere managers. • A clear understanding of objectives:

Managers and employees should have a clear understanding of the objectives of their participation. Everyone needs to have the same information that is relevant to the issues at hand. Participative management meetings should not be merely a formality. Meeting sessions should meaningful and productive. • Education and training of workers: Must be trained and educated to the level that is required to participate. It is counter-productive for the organization and unfair to the employees if the employees are asked to participate in decision-making in areas where they have no training or expertise. • Participation should be voluntary: Participative management should be voluntary and not compulsory. Believe it or not, many employees are perfectly happy to not be involved in the decision making process. Requiring reluctant employees to become part of a participative management program is asking for trouble that the organization does not need. If your organization is looking to institute a participative management program, it is crucial to remember that participative management is not a magic cure. Managers E ri c S m i t h should carefully weigh the pros and cons before a participative management program is put into place. Managers must • • realize that changes will Ba rr y U n i v e r sit y not take place overnight and will require consistency and patience before employees recognize that management is serious about employee involvement. Although participative management may be the most difficult style of management, it can also be the most rewarding.

Flashlights and Friends By Sam DiGiovanna

remember as a young firefighter responding to a structure fire in the south end of town. Upon arrival we had a single-story, single-family dwelling with heavy smoke from the bravo side. My Captain told me to pull a pre-connect and make entry. RIT teams, two in, two out were not policy. I donned my breathing apparatus, pulled the pre-connect and made entry to the front door. I clicked in my air, ready for entry. A routine structure fire; we got this! Upon entry I was met with thick, dark, acidic smoke. I could not see two feet in front of me. I could feel the heat but could not see the fire. Just dark thick smoke with no visibility. I pulled my flashlight out of my turnout coat. I clicked it on, and nothing happened. I swear I just checked it a couple of days ago. I am always good with my morning check of my equipment on the rig. However, I made a big mistake; one I will never forget. What seemed like a few days ago, was more like several weeks. I failed to check my flashlight and the batteries were dead.

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The routine structure fire became a big challenge for me. No visibility and no hand light. Quickly the room grew darker, I became lost and going by feel only. Minutes seemed like hours. I swear Jesus, if you give me the chance, I will never forget to check my flashlight and ensure my batteries are working! Crawling around bumping into things and things falling on top of me. I am lost. In the background I could hear

the faint sounds of sirens of other resources arriving. Thank God the truck was there quickly, and the sound of chainsaws and ceiling being punched above me was music to my ears. Before long, the smoke, heat and gases were venting up and out through the roof. Thank you, Jesus! That day, I failed not only myself, but one of my best tools, my flashlight. Friends are a lot like flashlights. When the flashlight goes weak or stops working do you just throw it away? Of course not. You change the batteries. When a person becomes weak, or doesn’t respond as you expect and they find themselves in a dark place, do you cast them aside? Of course not. You help them change their batteries! Some need AA… Attention and Affection, Some need AAA… Attention, Affection and Acceptance. Some need C… Compassion. Some need D… Direction. Regardless of what they need, if their light still is not shining, just sit with them quietly and let your light shine. There is no darkness so dense, so menacing, or so difficult that it cannot be overcome by light. Stay with them and be their light. You can be their best resource during dark times! Sam DiGiovanna is a 35-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. Chief DiGiovanna is also a Senior Consultant for Cordico www.Cordico.com & Lexipol www.Lexipol.com.

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Endure, Enjoy, and Embrace the Journey By Doug McGlynn

f you log on to the IAFC website, under the EFO Section, you might be met with this notice: EFO Program application period suspended. The open application period for acceptance into the EFO Program is suspended until further notice. To meet the needs of existing students and catch up on scheduling delays due to COVID-19, we do not anticipate accepting applications prior to Fall 2022. For students accepted prior to 2019, they were able to remain in the original four-year curriculum, which would be the last Executive Leadership class to graduate in 2021 from the Legacy Program. That’s where I come in to the story.

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As an EFO Program student, I learned more than the curriculum had to offer. When I initially applied for EFO in 2016, I learned that the one-year wait time to be accepted meant that I had time to study and complete the precourse work. At that time, the program was centered around leadership, community risk reduction, emergency management and the ability to put it all together. Like many fire officers around the country, I decided to pursue my EFO after serving twenty years in the fire service first. I used to think that I had all the time in the world to attend and accomplish all that I wanted in my fire service career. I always felt that I had three decades to get all that I wanted done. A mentor of mine reminded me

Jason Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Iona McGregor Fire District Kevin Martin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Palm Bay Fire Rescue David Mills . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion County Fire Rescue John Molenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Charlotte County Fire & EMS Timothy Moody . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion County Fire Rescue Madison Morla . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Davie Fire Rescue Cadet Post #595 Bradley Olmsted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion County Fire Rescue Alexander Ralls-Novo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Orange County Fire Rescue Thomas Reeves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion County Fire Rescue Joe Rinaudo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion County Fire Rescue Miguel Rioseco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion County Fire Rescue Richard Saulsberry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion County Fire Rescue Eric Scholtz . . . . . . . . . . . . .Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District Kenneth Smithgalls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion County Fire Rescue Frank Stokes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Useppa Island VFD Nikolas Vardakis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Davie Fire Rescue Cadets Post #595 Angie Walker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Excellance Christopher Whitler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Marion County Fire Rescue Sean Withers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gainesville Fire Rescue

that you never have enough time no matter what it is that you’re after. He said, “the bad news is that time flies; the good news is that you are the pilot.” That resonated with me and as a young firefighter, I sized-up my fire service career in three parts, each representing a ten year period. The first part of my career development is what I like to refer as the Incipient Phase. I focused on paramedicine, firefighting, technical rescue, hazmat, and learning the best practices from those who came before me by attending fire conferences locally and abroad. The goal was always to become the best firefighter I could be and in my first ten years in the fire service, I made sure my time was spent on things that brought me closer to achieving that goal. The second phase of my career (10 years – 20 years) is what I referred to as the Steady State Phase. Here is where I found my niche and purpose as a young fire officer. It was a period of rapid growth and development. This was also a period of time that I heard about a term, “burnout” was most likely to occur, which has led others into the Decay Phase. I resisted that by always keeping a positive pressure and attitude on myself. I maintained a flow-path of knowledge and experiences that always made me feel challenged. Albeit so, now I had to learn how to get things done through others, and not necessarily through my own ability. I had to learn that transfering information and treating my people like a transaction was never going to effect change or make things better. More importantly, I had to learn how to

motivate and inspire the firefighters I was entrusted to lead if we were ever going to make a difference. Sometimes the most difficult firefighter I had to lead was myself! My focus shifted to areas that enhanced my ability to manage emergency incidents such as chief officer development, human resource management & commanding a battalion of shift personnel with all sorts of backgrounds, personalities and abilities. I discovered that I needed to improve my abilities in the areas of conflict resolution, command & control of complex incidents, and placing a greater emphasis on my professional education and academic goals such as completing my Bachelor’s degree. As I approach my 25th year of service and progress into the third and final phase of fire career development, I found that my interests shifted once more as it has done in the past. My interests were geared toward learning more about emergency management, intergovernmental relations, fire department budgeting and procurement, public speaking, becoming task-book qualified on local and regional incident management teams, completing my masters degree, and yes, achieving the coveted EFO Program at the National Fire Academy. Looking back, I now see that it was the journey that mattered, and the people that I served alongside. I used to think the tough times were something to endure, but I later learned they were something to enjoy. That’s how I feel about the journey of change the EFO program has experienced since transitioning the four baccalaureate equivalent courses over a four-year period. The program changed the four Applied Research Projects (ARPs) to requiring only three ARPs in the same timeframe. When COVID-19 came along, my four year experience became a five year EFO journey instead. This occurred just as a new blended online learning format was introduced from the NFA that condensed the EFO program from four years to just twenty-four months. To be successful in the fire service, you must be conditioned for change. A flexible and adaptive mindset is absolutely essential. We have a choice when faced with challenge and disruption. We can decide that we are the victim, or we can rise above it as a victor! I realized that firefighters have an inner drive, an internal fire inside each of us that allows us to serve in a sacrificial way if presented with the opportunity to save a life. The key is to find a way to fuel that fire, without getting burned out. The longer your fire remains alive, the stronger your life will thrive. I also realized that if your fire dimmed down, that didn’t mean you were predestined to the smoldering phase, a period of mediocrity and survival. Life with others meant that a colleague or friend could throw another log on your fire, and rejuvenate your outlook on your career, and even your life. I realized that the things I get to do in this third phase of my career, I probably wasn’t ready for earlier in life anyway. I didn’t have the life experience required to properly apply the knowledge I was attempting to synthesize and understand. Abe Lincoln once said, “Fast success builds ego, but slow success builds character.” Sometimes taking the long road to success not only helps to achieve your personal and professional goals, but impacts your world in a way that helps you leave it better than how you found it. In the end, isn’t that the mark of a successful career and a life of service well lived? Doug McGlynn is the Deputy Chief of Operations at Palm Beach County Fire Rescue. McGlynn has twenty four years of service at Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and is a graduate of FFCA’s Emergency Services Leadership Institute (ESLI) He holds an Associates degree in Fire Science from Palm Beach State College, a Bachelor’s in Public Administration from Barry University, and a Master’s in Leadership from Palm Beach Atlantic University. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

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November 2021

By Dani Moschella, Public Affairs Manager, Delray Beach Fire Rescue

or the first time in 14 years, Delray Beach Fire Rescue took on the task of conducting live fire training in a vacant house slated for demolition. The exercise was the final portion of an officer development program for DBFR's 21 newlypromoted lieutenants and provided a wealth of training opportunities for many others in the department. The process to obtain permission to use the structure from the development company that owns it and then make it safe enough for training per National Fire Protection Association standard 1403 can be arduous, even daunting to some departments, but DBFR's Training Unit says it was worth all the hard work. That work included removing asbestos from the house and a hive of Africanized bees from the chimney. The training allowed firefighters to practice various skills and protocols, including search and rescue and vent enter isolate search, or VEIS, which is used to make a rescue before a hose is in place to fight a fire. They also practiced extinguishment, ventilation, exposure protection and teamwork. It allowed DBFR’s specially-trained live fire training instructors an opportunity to teach, supervise and function in required roles to renew their qualifications. DBFR Division Chief Jim Bradford, who organized the training, said a

controlled fire training exercise can still be dangerous for firefighters but called it "an opportunity to practice firefighting tactics under real fire conditions. Everything is real. It requires professionalism and courage to do this kind of training as there is a risk of injury, but it’s worth it to be ready for any eventuality and keep our community safe.” He said creating a successful live fire training is all about relationships, both within the community and in other departments. He reached out to other training supervisors at Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, Coral Springs Fire Rescue and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue for advice. Having experienced company officers that are also live fire training instructors is key. “My advice for other departments who haven’t done live fire training is to be flexible,” Bradford said. “Hold the line on safety issues, and that will lead to success.”

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

PHFR Visits Schools During Fire Prevention Month 2021 By Elizabeth Graham, Fire & Life Safety Educator, PIO, Fire Inspector II, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue

uring the month of October, PHFR visits every school in the district to ensure fire safety messages are being taught to the youngest of residents. On this day, E66 Firefighter/ Paramedic Driver, Luca Petrone dons his protective gear and gives high-fives to preschool students at the Growing Tree Preschool. Fire Engine visits to preschools and Kindergarten classrooms present a "Firefighters Are Your Friends "

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program to children 3-5 years old. The children are taught not to touch/play with "hot" items, what a burn is, and how to call 9-1-1 during an emergency. "It's important the children see us before and after we put on our bunker gear so they don't become afraid and hide from firefighters in the event of a real fire, said Fire Safety Public Educator Elizabeth Graham. We get down on their level and make the visit fun and

engaging to break down any fears that they may have. When our firefighters go out and teach at preschools not only are they engaging the children and making a difference for them but they are also reaching the parents, grandparents, and teachers of these children and our message of fire safety has a ripple effect. It's all about keeping our community safe and that is what we are here to do. "

By Doreen Overstreet, APR, Public Safety Information & Education Officer, Seminole County Fire Department

he Seminole County Fire Department recently purchased an “AmbuBus” (ambulance bus) with Federal CARES dollars

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and it arrived in its fleet in late October 2021. Serves as an effective and efficient deployment asset for the Seminole County

Fire Department in the event of mass evacuation and transport of patients, casualties, and others who require non-ambulatory transport. It can accommodate up to 20 patients and has 15 stretchers and four seats for patients and the stretchers can be removed or rearranged to adapt to multiple types of situations. One of the main uses for the AmbuBus is in Mass Casualty Incidents for “special call” emergencies (MSU-1 – Medical Support Unit #1). At mass casualty events, it is important to ensure there are no “walking wounded” and to establish scene safety. For example, the SCFD deployed the AmbuBus when there was a 15-car pileup accident on the 417 in Oviedo, Fla.. There were hundreds of gallons of fuel on the road in a quarter mile area and more than 26 people were involved. The AmbuBus brought the patients to a secure and safe location and it also allowed the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to interview all eye witnesses involved in the accident.

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By Stephanie Lewis, Public Relations and Information Manager, Lakeland Fire Department

History The paramedic orientation program is a home-grown program Lakeland Fire Department began developing in 2013 to prepare our paramedics for standalone status in Polk County. The purpose was to improve the quality of existing training conducted outside of our department and manage the increasing number of paramedics as LFD grew its advanced life support (ALS) program. Benchmarking Before our program begins, we provide benchmarking. Benchmarking is where we take certified paramedics candidates and test their abilities in specific areas, including protocol knowledge, medical skills, medical scenarios, pharmacology, and advanced 3 lead and 12 lead ECG recognition. This is done several months in advance of the paramedic orientation program with the intent of providing feedback and direction as to where a candidate’s strengths and weaknesses are. Candidates can then have confidence in their strengths and train up their identified deficiencies based on their benchmark. We believe this is a best practice as it sets our paramedic interns up for success. Program Content The Paramedic Orientation Program consists of 120 hours of lecture, skills development, and scenario-based training. We have partnerships with Lakeland Regional Health, Polk State College, and NOVA Southeastern University, who provide talented medical professionals to teach our paramedic interns during the 26

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program. Some of the various medical professionals may include pharmacologists, trauma surgeons, anesthesiology assistants, and nurses. The program was developed around a modular approach to emergency medicine where we cover specific body systems followed by the skills required for emergency treatment. Then we make the connection to the current clinical care guidelines (protocols). The program also includes a minimum of 240 hours of advanced life support (ALS) ride time on our busiest ALS units. We have field training officers (FTOs) evaluate each paramedic intern during their ride time. The FTOs are responsible for blending the program learning into the field experience. FTOs document paramedic intern progress and recommend moving forward or extending the program ride hours. This is done to ensure that our paramedics are confident and ready to meet the challenges of practicing emergency medicine in the field. FTOs and paramedic interns work with Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) in the field to treat and transport patients to the emergency department at Lakeland Regional Health (LRH). Our partners at PCFR and LRH provide feedback regarding our patient care and turn it over to their staff. The program then concludes with an interview panel consisting of our Medical Director, Rescue Captain(s), FTO, and the Rescue Chief. This panel interview determines a paramedic intern’s operational readiness by evaluating and reviewing the program

documentation, field experiences, and dialogue from the interview process. We also distribute a program evaluation to our paramedic interns and FTOs, providing the constructive feedback we need to make program adjustments each year. The Lakeland Fire Department has shared this program with other agencies that have adopted it for their organizations. We are proud of the program’s success and continue to fight to maintain the quality of each class.

Newest LFD Paramedics Congratulations to Lieutenant/Paramedic Jim Craw and Firefighter/Paramedic Zachary Tiebout! Both successfully passed their paramedic interviews today, Wednesday, Nov 10, with Dr. Banerjee and immediately begin practicing as standalone paramedics. Special thanks to Captain Damian Motsinger for leading the paramedic orientation as program manager and FTO’s Derek McBrayer and Jonathan McNally.

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An Emotional Farewell to Driver Engineer Ciancio By Jessica Coy, Public Relations Officer, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue

illsborough County Fire Rescue lost a courageous and honorable firefighter when Driver Engineer Giovanni Ciancio died in the line of duty while serving the residents of Hillsborough County. Ciancio, 55, was assigned to Station 15 in Palm River and was with HCFR for more than 19 years of faithful service. Ciancio passed away following complications related to COVID-19 contracted while at work in July of this year. Giovanni was honored with a 24-mile procession that included apparatus from multiple fire departments across the state, leading to a church filled with hundreds of friends, family, dignitaries, and uniformed personnel. Rest easy, brother. You are loved and missed.

Angel Tree Tradition Spreads Cheer for 21st Year By Mackenzie McClintock, PIO, South Walton Fire District

outh Walton Fire District is participating in the 21st year of its Angel Tree initiative, working together with Caring and Sharing of Walton County and Caring and Sharing of South Walton, to provide gifts for local children. The program began in 2000 and has grown to include nearly 400 names of children who qualify through SWFD’s Caring and Sharing partners as eligible to receive Christmas gifts. Their names are then transferred to an “Angel Card” and placed in a basket at South Walton Fire District’s Station 3 Headquarters to be chosen by a community member. Gift requests are also listed on the card, such as bikes, rollerblades, video games, or sports equipment, so South Walton shoppers have a direction for their Christmas giving. By the time the shopping deadline is reached, the District expects to collect truckloads of gifts, making sure no card is left unclaimed. The Angel Tree Program continues to be successful because of the community’s generosity. On behalf of the South Walton Fire District, we’d like to thank each person who has contributed and helped this program grow. We wish you an early Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

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St. Lucie County Combat Challenge Team Defends Title By Brenda Stokes, Public Information Officer, St. Lucie County Fire District

n early November the St. Lucie County Firefighter Combat Challenge team defended their 2020 World Championship title in their own backyard - and they won… earning them the title of 2021 World Champions! Prior to the World competition in downtown Fort Pierce, the team traveled to Salt Lake City, Utah in October to compete in the US Nationals- and won the 2021 National title.

On November 17, 2021, team members were presented the World and National trophies at a 3:00 PM Fire Board meeting. Each trophy is held by the winning team until the team is defeated, at which time the trophies will travel to the hometown of the new champion winner. The Firefighter Combat Challenge, as seen on ESPN for more than 15 years, has been

dubbed the “the toughest 2 minutes in sports”. Firefighters in full bunker gear race against each other and the clock on a course with a series of five challenges. Firefighters from around the world converged on downtown Fort Pierce to compete in the Firefighter Challenge World Championship. The five-day event was projected to have a $500,000 economic impact on St. Lucie County. Play Treasure Coast Sports, in partnership with the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners, St. Lucie County Office of Tourism, the St. Lucie County Fire District and the City of Fort Pierce worked with On Target to secure the 2021 World Championship. An estimated 200 women and men earned the right to compete in the Firefighter Challenge World Championship by qualifying from different Regional Sites across the country. With the Public Safety Complex at Indian River State College and the full support of Dr. Timothy Moore, the SLCFD Combat Challenge Team members have a world-class facility to train for success. “We are very proud of our challenge team; they are the catalyst promoting our initiative to ensure firefighter health and safety.” –Fire Chief Nate Spera.

Daytona Beach Recognizes Firefighters for Heroic Save By Sasha Staton, Public Information Officer, Daytona Beach Fire Department

n the evening of September 12, 2021, Driver/Engineer Jacob Otto and Driver/Engineer Scott Hughes were assigned as part of a detail providing medical coverage at a local stadium during a sporting event. Reports came in that a vehicle had lost control and spun out into a retention pond near the stadium with occupants trapped inside. DE Otto responded to the pond on the northeast corner identifying the vehicle in question. Instinctively he entered the murky water to assist the passengers, without the aid of dive or water rescue equipment. At this time the vehicle was mostly submerged, and he found the occupant trapped up against the rear windshield. He utilized a pocketknife to shatter the rear windshield and remove the occupant, sustaining injury to his left arm in the process. By this time DE Hughes had also entered the water and assisted him in swimming the victim to the shoreline. DE Otto and Hughes’ quick action, extraordinary bravery, and commitment goes above and beyond the normal performance of duties. Their actions are in keeping with the finest traditions of the fire service and reflect greatly upon themselves, the Daytona Beach Fire Department, and the City of Daytona Beach.

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November 2021

Newly Graduated Firefighter Completes Shift Renders Aid Off Duty on His Way Home By Ashley Gipson, Assistant Public Information Officer

Eagle Scout Plans to Equip Fire Stations with Bunker Gear Dryers By Lacy Martin, Marketing Media Manager

16 year old Andrew Wheeler, Junior at FPC who is currently in the Fire Leadership Program, presented his final Eagle Scout project to Flagler County Fire Chief Michael Tucker, City of Palm Coast Interim Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill and Flagler Beach Fire Chief Bobby Pace. Wheeler’s final project proposal is to construct bunker gear dryers for every fire station in Flagler County that needs one. To become an Eagle Scout, you must propose, plan and carry out an Eagle service project that benefits the community. In Wheeler’s case, he wants to build bunker dryers for our local fire stations. He presented his project to our local Fire Chiefs and get their buy in on his idea. All three were extremely thrilled with Wheeler’s proposal and are excited to have this equipment at their stations. Wheeler will conduct a series of several fundraisers in order to collect funds to purchase the supplies needed to make the dryers, consisting of PVC pipes and an electric powered blower. The need for these dryers is an integral part for fire stations. Currently, many stations do not have dryers to dry the gear after they have to be washed and decontaminated from a fire. “This is an outstanding project for a young man to complete. We are honored he chose the fire service to receive the benefit of his community service.” said Fire Chief Michael Tucker. “I am so pleased he is currently enrolled in our Fire Leadership program and a member of our local Scouts, it shows his true dedication to public safety and our residents of Flagler County.” Wheeler has been in the scouts since he was a young kid, attending meetings with his older brother, but officially joined in the first grade as a tiger. In order for Wheeler to become an Eagle Scout, which is the highest scout rank possible, he has to have an Eagle Scout Mentor, which is Flagler County Fire Rescue’s very own Lieutenant Drew Hardesty. “I am truly honored Andrew asked me to be his Eagle Scout mentor. As an Eagle Scout myself, I know how hard, yet rewarding this process can be and I am delighted he chose a project that will benefit local fire departments,” said Hardesty, Cubmaster for Pack 281. Fire Chief Tucker, Berryhill and Pace were all very pleased with Wheeler’s project and fully support his proposal and are looking forward to the execution of these dryers. 32

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Firefighter Jacob Perez joined Orange County Fire Rescue in November of 2020, as part of the department’s massive recruitment campaign, Go Beyond. As a non-cert, Firefighter Perez underwent ten months of rigorous training to earn the title of Orange County Fire Rescue Firefighter. Little did he know - all of his recent training would quickly be put to the test. Firefighter Jacob Perez became a part of Recruit Class 91, which graduated Thursday, September 2, 2021. Perez was assigned to Station 44 in Winter Garden and scheduled to report to duty two days later on Saturday, September 4. After completing his first 24-hour shift, Firefighter Perez clocked out Sunday morning and was traveling home when he came across a motor vehicle crash at Magnolia Pointe Blvd and State Road 50 in Clermont. “I could see the driver of the vehicle slumped over into the air bag,” Firefighter Jacob Perez said. “I immediately pulled over and ran to the car. I was asking the driver questions but his answer were slurred.” With just one shift under his belt, Firefighter Perez sprang into action. He was able to climb into the vehicle and manually stabilize the patient’s neck. This is important after significant trauma, as cervical spine injuries can cause permanent paralysis or even fatality. City of Clermont Fire Department units were on scene moments later. Firefighter Perez remained holding the patient’s head as Clermont firefighters began working to gain access to the patient. The driver was successfully extricated and transported as a trauma alert via AirCare. Another off-duty firefighter from St. Cloud was also on-scene providing assistance. The City of Clermont Fire Department issued a thank you to both off-duty firefighters for their assistance while awaiting responding units. Orange County Fire Chief James M. Fitzgerald also commended Firefighter Perez’s actions. “These are the type of individuals Orange County recruits,” he stated. “Firefighters who are committed to public safety, regardless of whether they are on or off duty. With just one day on the job, we’re proud of Firefighter Perez’s ability to put all of his training to work.”

Chili Cook-Off Winners By Madison Heid, Communications Coordinator

North Port Fire Rescue came out on top at the 21st Annual Morton’s Firehouse Chili Cook-Off in October! The group participates every year in this event, which benefits the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund. North Port’s fire team won first place, along with the People’s Choice Award. The joint station shared by Sarasota County Fire Rescue and North Port in the Wellen Park area came in third. Yes, it’s nice to help out a good cause, but victory is sweet. Nice job!

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

Palm Coast Hosts Hall of Terror for 20th Year By Lt. Patrick Juliano, Public Information Officer

FDNY FF Eugene Stolowski Presents to Firefighters By Elizabeth Graham, Fire & Life Safety Educator, PIO, Fire Inspector II

Guest speaker, Eugene Stolowski, FDNY spoke to firefighters on October 19, 2021 about the tragic events he experienced firsthand on January 23, 2005. Touted by the news media as “Black Sunday”, this incident became one of the darkest days in FDNY history. In the Bronx, six firefighters were battling a three-alarm fire. While searching for occupants, the fire and heat rapidly intensified forcing the trapped firefighters to jump out of a fourthfloor window to the ground below. All sustained critical, life threatening injuries including Eugene. Four of those firefighters died. We were honored to have Eugene come and speak to us and share his story and lessons from that day and would like to thank Firefighter William Billups of CFD and the Pinellas County Training Chiefs for organizing the weeklong trainings.

DBFD Stops by Four Year Old’s Birthday Party By Sasha Staton, PIO

When a Daytona fire engine saw that a neighbor of the fire station was having a birthday party for their four- year old, they decided to stop by and join in on the fun. It made the child’s day to see the firefighters attend her birthday and show her and her friends the fire truck.

This year marked the 20th year of the highly anticipated annual ‘Hall of Terror’ hosted by the Palm Coast Fire Department. Since 2001, the PCFD has taken pride in being the premier Halloween event for teens and adults in Palm Coast and this year was no different. For a week, Fire Station 21’s apparatus bay transforms into a walk-through haunted house, with this year’s 20th-anniversary theme featuring hits from previous years, when themes included alien invasions and Stephen King stories, among others. For three nights, the department hosted 3,100 guest who braved their way through the Halls of Terror. “What began as a few scary decorations at the fire station has certainly evolved into an all-out event that families in Palm Coast look forward to each year,” Chief Jerry Forte said. “We have been doing this for so long now that we are seeing kids who use to wait in line for the ‘Hall of Terror’ now coming with families of their own for some Halloween fun so it has gone full circle. It’s incredible.” Lt. Dan Driscoll, most affectionately known as the “Boo Master”, meticulously plans and orchestrates every scare of the Hall of Terror. Through his passion and efforts, the Palm Coast Fire Department delivers a theme park quality haunted house to the community. Last year’s Hall of Terror event was cancelled due to concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic. But, with vaccinations and testing readily available to the public, the event was back on again this year. “This is a long-standing tradition that Palm Coasters and their families look forward to and it was sorely missed in the community last year,” Mayor David Alfin said. “This event is a labor of love and I want to thank the entire Palm Coast Fire Department for their tremendous work in putting the Hall of Terror that is greatly enjoyed by our residents!” This year’s Hall of Terror event will began its three-night run on October 29th and concluded on Halloween night.

Daytona Beach Firefighters take Spooky Rescue Truck to Trunk-or-Treat By Sasha Staton, Public Information Officer

Clearwater Takes Delivery of Two New Engines By Rob Shaw, Public Information Officer

The Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department recently placed two new engines in service. Engine 49 and Engine 51 went on their first calls in September. They replaced engines that were 10-years old and had run thousands of calls. Both engines were built at Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, WI. The old engines go into reserve status to be used when front-line engines are out of service. 34

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Using the back of a rescue truck, the Daytona Beach Fire Department decorated it from top to bottom for the Halloween Trunk-or-Treat event at City Hall. The spooky rescue truck was a hit with the local children that attended the event.

Stearns Chosen as New Public Safety Director By Karen Clogston, Public Information Assistant

A new Public Safety director has been selected to lead Highlands County Fire Rescue and Emergency Management. After two rounds of interviews that included a total of nine candidates, County Administrator Randy Vosburg chose Ellison “Laney” Stearns, III as the new Public Safety director. “The selection process was tough because all of the candidates have impressive backgrounds,” Vosburg said. “I wanted to choose someone not only with great experience, but who is the right fit for our organization.” Stearns was confirmed by the Highlands County Board of County Commissioners at its regular board meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 21. He succeeded former Public Safety Director Marc Bashoor, who retired Sept. 30, and his first day on the job was Oct. 11. “I am very proud to have been selected for this position and to be part of the team here in Highlands County,” Stearns said. “I look forward to meeting everyone and continuing the growth of the department begun by members of Highlands County Fire Rescue and Emergency Management.” Stearns has had a successful career in public safety. He retired from the city of Plantation in 2018 as their fire chief, where he managed over 300 employees and a $16 million budget. He began his fire service career in Broward County in 1976 with the Peters Road Volunteer Fire Department and served 22 years with the Lauderhill Fire Department where he was Battalion Chief. Stearns joined the City of Plantation Fire Department in 1981, became Fire Marshal in 2001 and an executive officer in 2010. Most recently he served as the athletic director at American Heritage Schools, a prestigious private school in South Florida. He has been a football and track and field coach with the school for about 20 years.

Martin County Promotional Ceremony By Josh Jenkins, Community Risk Reduction Specialist

Martin County Fire Rescue held a promotional ceremony on October 21st to recognize the accomplishments of our very finest. Their hard work and sacrifice, and the support of their families were consistent themes as our senior leadership recognized and awarded each one and allowed them to say a few words. The new additions to our leadership are as follows: David Hays, Bureau Chief of Communications; Joseph Lobosco, District Chief; Thomas Hornbostel, District Chief; Daniel Jouver, Battalion Chief; Roy Friedrich, Training Captain; Dustin Reagle, Fire Captain; Joseph Sredniawa, Fire Captain; and Trevor Eve, Fire Captain. We were also proud to recognize Christian Cea, Firefighter Paramedic, on his 30 years of service. These men will inspire their brothers and sisters in the fire service to greater heights of performance, and their legacy will impact all the residents of Martin County as we continue to improve our efficiency and efficacy, in protecting lives and property.

Michelle Whitman Receives Florida CERT Distinguished Service Member of the Year Award Town of Davie’s District 1 Councilmember, Michelle Whitman was awarded the 2021 Florida Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Distinguished Service Award at the recently held Florida CERT Conference. Councilmember Whitman is one of 20 CERT volunteers nationwide to have ever received this award. Annually, the award is presented to a CERT volunteer for their outstanding contribution to the CERT program and community as an unpaid program manager, instructor, team leader, or general volunteer. Whitman developed a keen interest in the CERT program while completing her training in 2015. She was later appointed as the Davie CERT Team Leader in 2017 and continues to serve in this capacity. Throughout her tenure as team leader, she has assisted with more than 70 CERT members to be certified. “CERT relies on having community advocates who understand the benefit of this program which Councilmember Whitman has championed for many years,” Davie Fire Rescue Chief Julie Downey said. “She is one of the driving forces behind the ongoing success of the Davie CERT program which continues to be an alluring program for community members to participate in and be trained.” Whitman dedicated more than 350 hours earlier this year at the Town’s COVID-19 vaccination point of dispensing (POD) as a way to assist residents to receive their vaccinations. The CERT team collaboratively donated more than 900 hours of service at the POD.

Flagler County Hosts Traditional “Push In” Ceremony By Lacy Martin, Marketing Media Manager

Flagler County Fire Rescue hosted a traditional “push in” ceremony on October 29 at Station 62 located in Bunnell. “In the fire service, we try to stick with tradition to preserve the past,” said Fire Chief Michael Tucker. “Fire service was built around horse and carriage and back in the day they would come back from a call and the crews would push the apparatus back into the bay by hand.” The new rescue, housed at Station 62, cost $224,485, purchased from Ten-8 Fire and Safety. It is a 2021 Ford F450 gas powered Braun Chief XL Ambulance with state of-the-art features. Commissioner Andy Dance, Commissioner Greg Hansen, and City of Bunnell Manager Alvin Jackson, were in attendance alongside many Fire Rescue staff and Fire Chief Michael Tucker. “It was a pleasure to help design the ambulance that will aid in safely delivering emergency medical care to the citizens of Flagler County,” said Firefighter Kyle Lockwood. This tradition is symbolic to the fire service. “When we get a new apparatus, we honor traditions like this and all come together to push our new rescue into service,” said Tucker. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

Pinellas Park Firefighter Promoted By Suzanne Boisvert, Emergency Management Coordinator

Please join Pinellas Park Fire Department in congratulating Firefighter/EMT Chris (C.J.) Huffman on his recent promotion to the rank of Lieutenant. C.J. was hired in 2012 as a Firefighter/EMT and is a certified Truck Operator, Engine Operator and Squad Operator and served on the Honor Guard. He is on the Technical Rescue Team and is part of the department’s five-person Tactical Medical Team that responds with the police department’s Special Weapons and Tactics Team (SWAT) to provide urgent medical care to officers and victims. In 2019, the Tactical Medical Team was named the Fire Professionals Special Operations Team of the Year by Pinellas County for providing outstanding professional fire services to the community. C.J. grew up around firefighting – his late father, Pete Huffman was a Pinellas Park Firefighter/EMT for 16 years before retiring from the department 1997. As a teen, C.J. was a member and eventual captain of the Pinellas Park Fire Explorers Post #945. He helped lead the post to win three 1st place trophies and earn 2nd place overall in its first Fire Explorers Competition in 2007. Congratulations on your promotion Lt. CJ Huffman! Photo courtesy of Fireground 24 Photography.

Daytona Beach Promotes Three Driver/Engineers By Sasha Staton, Public Information Officer

Congratulations to Shaun Varley, Matthew Goldys, and Ashton Garrett on their promotion to the rank of Driver/Engineer for the Daytona Beach Fire Department.

Back to Back Champions, Back to Back Visits By Jessica Coy, Public Relations Officer

Thanks to the Hockey Hall of Fame and the Tampa Bay Lightning, the Stanley Cup was brought to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue’s Headquarters. We are so proud of the Tampa Bay teams and love to celebrate with our community. Our “Champa Bay” firetruck, Quint 9, was the perfect backdrop covered with the 2004, 2020, and 2021 Stanley Cup Champions, the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Flagler County Pinning Ceremony By Julie Murphy, MPIO

Flagler County Fire Rescue held a “Pinning Ceremony” on Monday for its hires since January 2020, and for the promotion of three of its own to lieutenant. “As firefighters we are called to be the people who stand in the gap for others when they themselves cannot,” said Fire Chief Michael Tucker. “Today is the day that we officially recognize them as being part of this noble profession and the Flagler County Fire Rescue family.” Since January 2020, the following 28 firefighters have been hired: Tyler Allesee, Xavier Awe, Breonna Banks, Ryan Bowling, Adrian Brands, Kevin Brunelle, Charles Cook, Joseph Davis, Nathan Edwards, Christopher Ellis, Ethan Epperson, Tracy Farmer, Michael Ginn, Christopher Gonzalez, Jaevon Jones, Nathaniel Karr, Jerod Krueger, Christopher Largent, Daniel Ledesma, Manuel Matute, Logan Phipps, Conlan Pottinger, Joshua Puttick, Jimmy Sanchez, Jaden Sellers, Dominick Senatro, Carson Sloan, and Roberto Zerbino. Jake Gonzalez, Jon Moscowitz, and Dylan Pontorno were promoted to the rank of lieutenant in July. Pontorno was hired by Flagler County in April 2018, while Gonzalez is a 7-year veteran, and Moscowitz has the most seniority here with 13 years under his Fire Rescue belt. Family and friends were invited to the private ceremony, as well as Fire Rescue comrades. “I’m proud to have all of these firefighters on the team,” Tucker said. “They have bright futures ahead of them, and Flagler County Fire Rescue is a better organization because of them. Ultimately, our whole community benefits.”

Daytona Crew Visits Daycare By Sasha Staton, Public Information Officer

Daytona Beach Firefighters visited a local daycare to meet with the children and teach them about important fire safety tips for them and their families for Fire Prevention Month.

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

November 2021

Flagler County Lieutenants Promoted to Battalion Chief By Lacy Martin, Marketing Media Manager

Two of Flagler County’s Lieutenants have been promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief, after a comprehensive series of four day scenarios and tests. Brady Barry and Daniel VanDeusen (listed alphabetically) were promoted of the 10 applicants who tested. “The position of Battalion Chief is one of the most critical in the fire service. As the individual responsible for management of shift operations, these men and women are key to the operational success of the department”, said Fire Chief Michael Tucker. “In choosing Chief Barry and Chief VanDeusen, we feel we have selected two individuals who have the knowledge, skills, and abilities to effectively lead the staff of FCFR. These two promotions are foundational to the future success of FCFR in serving the residents and visitors of Flagler County.” Beginning the week of September 27th, the department began its promotional assessment process which involved a four day series of extensive tests; one day of written exams, a full day of role play with actors and a diverse interview panel representing each level of employees.

Orange County Transitioning to PFAS-free Gear By Lisa McDonald, Public Relations and Outreach Specialist

PFAS, known as “forever chemicals” are used to prevent corrosion, and make products waterproof and stain-resistant. However, these chemicals have come under significant scrutiny by federal agencies for possible links to health conditions and there is strong indication limiting exposure to PFAS may be beneficial. As such, the Orange County Fire Rescue Department is advancing with the procurement of new bunker gear that is custom fit for each firefighter’s body type, compliant with all NFPA safety standards, and devoid of PFAS chemicals on the outer shell and inner lining. “The Orange County Fire Rescue Department has made a number of improvements to fire stations, fire apparatus, turnout gear, and policies to help ensure we limit exposures to possible carcinogens and improve the safety of our work environments. The transition to this new gear certainly falls in alignment with my vision and goal for the department to be forward leaning with Safety & Wellness,” said Fire Chief James Fitzgerald. The transition of bunker gear began with OCFRD’s recruit Class 91, which graduated in September of 2021, and will continue for all new hires and incumbents as gear reaches its end of service life.

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

n an ever evolving and demanding industry, riding the highs and lows to withstand the test of time, Marks Air, Inc. of Tampa, Florida, celebrated 50 years of being in business this year. Since the company’s founding in 1971, Gordon Marks, his family, and his employees have helped guide Marks Air to this successful benchmark. Gordon and his wife Judy are now retired and their daughter, Caroline, is now managing owner of the company. Marks Air, Inc. is now a certified woman owned business located in Tampa, Florida, providing high quality mobile air conditioning parts, service, system installation, and training developed by years of hands-on experience for motor vehicles of all descriptions, including cars, light to heavy duty trucks, buses, RV’s, emergency vehicles, and off-road equipment. Indeed, we have become highly regarded as an industry specialist in mobile climate control. The goal of the Marks Air family of employees is to be the best in service, customer satisfaction, and product knowledge. Striving toward that goal, our employees are constantly attending training classes, product updates, and customer relations seminars. According to many of our customers, we have reached that goal and, at Marks Air, we intend to maintain and exceed their level of confidence. We carry a comprehensive inventory of A/C systems and parts for light, medium, and heavyduty trucks, buses, specialty construction and

agricultural equipment, and first responder emergency vehicles. Our own signature KOOLTEMP™ replacement parts deliver the quality and confidence our customers have come to expect. We are also major distributors for Red Dot, Omega, Global, QUE Products, Sanden, SPAL, Sunair, T/CCI, Trans Air, and more. We pride ourselves in having wide product coverage and specialize in providing the right parts in stock, when you need them. As highly experienced mobile air conditioning specialists, we know the importance of having the proper tools. At Marks Air, we eagerly invite the more challenging jobs. Our service department is second to none and our employees are courteous, highly skilled technicians with thorough knowledge or our product lines. Our services range from simple maintenance and repair to the most sophisticated custom installations. We are the region’s premier A/C diagnostic and failure analysis facility, repairing A/C lines, evaporators, and condensers when necessary to keep you on the road. We also provide effective hands-on training, technical support, and EPA section 609 certification. At Marks Air, our customers matter, and we engage our 50 plus years of experience in every challenge to find the right solutions. Our KOOL-TEMP™ brand was born of that philosophy, and we promise to demonstrate that philosophy to every customer, every time.

advertisers index Advertiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page No. Bauer Compressors 954-746-2504 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Breathing Air Systems 352-629-7712 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17 Channel Innovations Corporation 352-694-7006 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 DAB Door 800-257-2016 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Database Financial Services, Inc. 877-624-3767 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 ETR, LLC 407-339-6737 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 Genesis Rescue Systems 850-566-5553 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Hall-Mark RTC 800-524-6072 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Life Scan Wellness Centers 813-876-0625 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33 MagneGrip 800-875-5440 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Minerva Bunker Gear Cleaners / Fire Soaps 888-928-6537 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Municipal Equipment, LLC 800-228-8448 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 NAFECO 800-628-6233 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39 Safe Air Corporation 800-798-8820. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6, 12 Team Equipment, Inc. 800-367-9054. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15, 37 Ten-8 Fire Equipment, Inc. 800-228-8368 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40 United Badges Insurance Services 850-841-9992 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 VFIS 800-233-1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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Wheeled Coach 800-342-0720 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Wildland Warehouse 866-945-3526 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

November 2021

PROFESSIONAL-GRADE ILLUMINATION

FIRE AND RESCUE Portable Scene Light II

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Stackable Flood Light #46000

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Vulcan® 180

Survivor®

LED Firefighting Lantern #44311

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Rechargeable LED Flashlight #78101

Right-Angle, SafetyRated Personal Light #90503

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175 LUMENS

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Microstream®

Vantage® II Helmet Light

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#69331 Fire Helmet Mount #69333 Industrial Hard Hat Mount

USB Rechargeable Pocket Light #66609 (Coyote)

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