March 2020 Florida Fire Service Magazine by ffca

THE PUBLICATION

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OF THE

FLORIDA FIRE CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION

March 2020 • VOLUME 28 NUMBER 3

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Thank you Fire Chief Jeff Parks and the Dunedin Fire Department!

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E-ONE 100’ Platform Cyclone II X Long Cab Cummins ISX12 500 HP Engine Allison 4000 EVS Transmission Hale Qmax 2000 GPM Pump UPF 300 Gallon Water Tank Onan 6KW Hydraulic Generator David Clark Intercom System Whelen Emergency Light Package

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Safety Vision Back Up and Side Camera System Severe Duty Dash Package 3M Opticom Breathing Air to the Tip Custom Tool Boards and Trays Class 1 ENFO IV System Class 1 Captain Pressure Governor Vista IV Display for V-MUX Electrical System Akron StreamMaster II Electric Monitor

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Thank you Fire Chief John Jurgle and Pompano Beach Fire Rescue!

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Horton 623 Ambulance Freightliner M2 Chassis Cummins L9 300 HP Engine Allison 3000 EVS Transmission Horton i4G Electrical System Horton HOPS Seat Belt System Ultraviolet Lamp in A/C System Duct

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3-Ply Intake Filter Whelen Exterior Lighting Package Drop Skirt Both Sides Stryker Power Load System Custom Aluminum Scorpion Coated Cab Center and Rear Console

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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 Donna Chason - Administrative Assistant Liz Aperauch - Administrative Assistant FFCA Board of Directors Darrel Donatto - President TBA - 1st Vice President Ty Silcox, MPA - 2nd Vice President John Miller - Immediate Past President Douglas Riley - Secretary/Treasurer Ryan H. Crawford - Northwest Region Director Carlos Aviles - Northeast Region Director Terry Wooldridge Jr. - East Central Region Director Julie Downey - Southeast Region Director Ian Kemp - West Central Region Director Michael Murphy - Southwest Region Director Wm. Ray Colburn - Executive Director & CEO Cindy Morgan - Foundation Chair Ronald Parrish, MPA, CFO, EFO - Senior Member

Evaluating the Probationary Building Bridges to Prevent

Line of Duty Deaths . . . . . . . . . .12 Are You Inspection Ready? . . . . . .16

FURTHERMORE Featured Vendor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Heroes and Sidekicks . . . . . . . . . .14 FFCA New Members . . . . . . . . . . .14

20 Years of Saving Lives . . . . . . . .18 2020 EVT Academy Coming Soon! . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21 New Cooking Show to Highlight

Help Needed to Create Antique Fire Apparatus Database . . . . . . . . .30 Joint Guidance for the Florida

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 March 2020, Volume 28, Number 3 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 2020 by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without written permission.

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Employee Loyalty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Polk County Adds RFID Technology .28

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

FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE

How Good Leaders Earn

First Responders . . . . . . . . . . . . .22

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

FEATURES

Fire Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 In brief . . . news from around the state . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . .42

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

obody likes to work for a phony. In previous decades, it was more common for employees to tolerate insincere and ineffective leaders. However, in today’s workplace younger workers are often less willing to work for bosses for whom they have little respect. As a leader, if you believe that instilling fear in your employees is a good thing you may be a tyrannical bully, but you are most certainly not an effective leader. Through your actions, you have failed to earn team loyalty. Loyalty is not something gained by virtue of the position you hold, loyalty is earned. To be a leader worthy of loyalty requires hard work. Good leaders do not see themselves as masters of the universe, but as inspirational servants, catalysts, teachers and team builders. Inspiring loyalty may require personal work, but it will be worth the effort when you have a team that will willingly follow you into battle. There are many ways to build a team with loyal subordinates, but there are six ways in which the best leaders inspire loyalty. 1. Trust: Constantly looking over the shoulders of your employees can create a sense of doubt. This is especially true if the leader has no good reason to doubt the expertise of a subordinate. Good leaders engender loyalty by trusting their people to do things right. In turn, subordinates will return that trust and work harder to meet the expectations of someone they trust. 2. Support for employee development: In the short-, mid- and long-term, employees need to feel as though their work, and by extension, their lives, have meaning. If employees do not

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have the opportunity for professional growth, they may begin to feel stagnant and resentful. Employees who are encouraged to stretch beyond what they thought was their capacity are sure to have deeply loyal feelings toward a leader who encourages their growth. 3. Leading by example: A leader is often expected to have more organizational responsibility than their subordinates, but that does not mean the leader is above pitching in to see that the work is completed. If you feel you are too good to dirty your hands alongside your team members, it will not take long for them to view their jobs as menial and unimportant. 4. Clarity: If you are not completely clear about the mission and your values, it becomes obvious that following you will lead nowhere. Lack of communication is always an organization killer. The majority of your team will want to do the right thing. It is the good leader who communicates the right thing and how to get there. 5. Personal relationships: Although there are professional boundaries between leaders and subordinates, there is still room to recognize that your subordinates are human and are faced with the trials and tribulations that transcend the work environment. Are you aware of the major milestones in the lives of your team members? Good leaders understand that showing empathy to their subordinates is an important step in developing loyalty. 6. Openness and honesty: Nothing inspires loyalty more than honesty. Open communication accomplishes two very

important goals: it creates confidence and trust, and helps create feelings of inclusion. Being part of a highly functioning team will discourage employees from leaving your organization. The greatest leaders are not revered because they demand loyalty. Rather they have created loyalty through their words and actions. E ri c S m it h With a combination of everyday care and personal commitment, a leader can • • Ba create an rr y U n i v e r sit y organization that is populated with employees who are devoted, hardworking, unwavering, and most importantly, fiercely loyal.

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developed international standards for preventing and counteracting sources of illness in firefighters. Now adopted as the standard in 17 European countries, the “Healthy Firefighters” project provides concise decontamination protocols which can improve firefighters’ health and well-being. Available online and from distributors, Responder Wipes is dedicated to ensuring first responders minimize their risk of developing cancer from exposure to toxins, carcinogens and contaminants in the line of duty. For details, please visit www.responderwipes.com.

he fire service is recognizing an epidemic facing every firefighter. According to the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), cancer is a leading cause of death for firefighters, with 68% of line of duty deaths in 2016 caused by cancer. This is due in large part to the carcinogens that are in soot particulates. A recent study by the University of Ottawa suggests the carcinogens that have been detected in firefighters’ urine is a result of dermal absorption rather than inhalation. Therefore, it becomes critical to minimize the amount of soot that penetrates bunker gear and to remove it from the skin as soon as possible, not hours later when they return to the firehouse. Beginning with conversations between a fire chief and a colleague in the fire service industry in 2014, Responder Wipes embarked on a mission to help reduce this deadly exposure. On-scene decontamination with wipes provides an easy, cost-effective solution. However, after testing out various wipes available on the market at the time, we found that nothing truly met the needs of the firefighters. We devoted time to researching and developing a product that would help remove the risk. In 2016, Responder Wipes was born. Responder Wipes are uniquely formulated wipes developed for firefighters by a firefighter to remove carcinogens and toxicants left on the skin after an event. Our wipes are uniquely formulated with micellar water, an innovative ingredient with cleansing compounds that dissolves dirt, oil, soot and other hydrocarbons. Micelles lift away toxins and contaminants and draw out impurities from pores while hydrating your skin more effectively than traditional cleansing wipes. Available in three sizes, including one the size of a hand-towel, all are durable enough to effectively clean the most permeable areas of the firefighter’s skin without tearing, shredding or balling up. They are effective at removing dirt, oil and soot from the face, ears, neck, jaw, throat, arms, underarms, wrists, hands and any other contaminated area after an event. Responder Wipes are applicable not only for structure fires, but car fires, dumpster fires and any other fires where products of combustion are present. Responder Wipes do not contain aloe or alcohol (also known as ethanol, ethyl alcohol, specialty denatured alcohol or labeled as SDA40B). Both are known penetration enhancers and there are studies that indicate alcohol and aloe can make the skin more permeable, which could allow you to absorb the toxins in soot which you are exposed to. Additionally, Responder Wipes are the only decontamination wipes recognized as a “Healthy Firefighters” approved product. “Healthy Firefighters – the Skellefteå Model” is the Swedish initiative which

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Please check us out on social media

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

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

@FlFireChiefs

March 2020

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ALLEN DURHAM, PRESIDENT/CEO OVER 17 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE WORKING WITH PUBLIC SAFETY 850.841.9992 | ADURHAM@UNITEDBADGES.COM

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EVALUATING THE PROBATIONARY EMPLOYEE By Gordon Graham, Co-founder, Lexipol

ello. Gordon Graham here again. Today we are continuing with some thoughts on getting and keeping good people in your public safety agency. In my last two articles, I covered recruitment and background investigations. Now, I want to tackle the subject of probation. But first, let me channel my inner Carnac the Magnificent. (If you are under age 40, you will have to look that up!) Here is my prognostication: Within the last month, you have heard these words in your public safety building: “How the heck did he/she ever get off probation?” This question usually follows some close call or actual tragedy, like a traffic collision, damaged government property, an embarrassing post on social media, inappropriate use of force, a lawsuit or a criminal filing against a member of your organization. How do people get off probation? Someone in your organization lets them off probation! And too often, the person you let off probation ends up causing your organization major problems. Before we go any further, let’s agree on a definition. Probation is the final and most important phase of the selection process and is to be used for evaluating the performance of an employee in the position to which he/she was appointed. So, let’s go back to the start of a public safety employee’s career. You have completed all the requisite steps in pre-hiring, and the

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applicant has been offered a job. The initial training—often at an academy, but sometimes not—is part of the probationary process. The training program that follows the academy is also part of the probationary process. And there is an additional period of time after this training where the supervisor and management team can observe the progress of the probationary employee to make sure he/she has the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to properly perform the work. This, too, is part of the probationary process. Each of these steps is an opportunity to fully evaluate the probationary employee. If they are not progressing appropriately, or if they are doing something that violates law or policy, it may be time to “reject” that person from probation. Please recognize that once the probationary employee gets off probation, it is much more difficult to separate the employee from the organization. If a rejected probationary employee chooses to challenge their separation formally, they have the burden of proof to show that they could do the job. However, once the employee is off probation, the burden of proof shifts to the employer to show that the employee cannot properly do the job. It is much more difficult to fire employees than it is to reject them while on probation. Unfortunately, some people slip through

the cracks, get off probation and then cause problems. What can we do to stop this? First, make sure that everyone on your supervisory and management team understands that probation is part of the hiring process—and if they have probationary employees who can’t or won’t do the job, they must get rid of them. Wait a minute. Carnac the Magnificent will make another prognostication. Have you heard these words in your building: “But we will be shorthanded if we get rid of him/her!” My response: “I would rather be shorthanded forever than to have this fool working in our organization.” Here is another common quote: “But we have a lot of money invested in this person already!” Cut your losses early on, boss, it will not get cheaper over time. And another common quote these days: “But we can’t get rid of him/her because he/she is a member of a protected class, and we need to increase the diversity of our workforce.” Please never think that you have to lower standards to increase diversity. There are a whole bunch of people of every race and sex and sexual orientation who would make excellent public safety personnel. To lower standards to increase diversity is an

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insult to every other member of that particular protected class. So back to the problem: Right now, some probationers are slipping through the cracks because no one in the organization is personally responsible for a given probationary employee. So here is a “control measure” for you to consider: Assign a senior leader to be personally responsible for each probationary employee. “Mary, John—you are one of my respected leaders in this organization. I am asking you to verify that [insert name] has the necessary knowledge, skills and abilities to do this complex job prior to their being released from probation.” This direct assignment of responsibility works, because when the probationary employee ends up causing a lot of problems, we know exactly who to look to and where to take the appropriate action. So, keep these things in mind in respect to probation. I look forward to visiting with you again in my next article, which will focus on the importance of solid performance evaluations. Until then, please take the time to work safely—and make sure those “sluggos” aren’t slipping through the probationary cracks. Gordon Graham is a 33-year veteran of law enforcement and the cofounder of Lexipol, where he serves on the current board of directors. Graham is a risk management expert and a practicing attorney who has presented a commonsense risk management approach to hundreds of thousands of public safety professionals around the world. Graham holds a master’s degree in Safety and Systems Management from University of Southern California and a Juris Doctorate from Western State University.

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Everyone Goes Home Florida Statewide Partnership representatives from l to r; Rick Best and Ben West â&#x20AC;&#x201C; National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, Larry Grubbs â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Florida Forest Service, and Melvin Stone, Florida Division of State Fire Marshal.

By Larry Grubbs, Safety Officer, Florida Forest Service

t turns out that wildland and structural firefighters are not all that different once you look past the yellow and blue shirts. Culture is the most critical piece to the adoption of safer practices across the fire service. Wildland fires are primitive and an

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ancient force of nature, incomparable to a structure fire. But when these wildfires burn, who is responding? Often it is the local fire department that arrives first on-scene and, as the number and scope of these fires grow, the line between structural and wildland

firefighting is becoming blurred. Increasingly, many of these fires can be found in the Wildland Urban Interface (WUI). Fires in the WUI are causing a onceuncommon meeting of structural and wildland firefighters who, despite having the

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same mission, share little in the way of tactics, equipment, crew structure or even vocabulary. “We are being thrown together in the WUI,” says Chief Tom Harbour, former National Director of Fire and Aviation Management for the U.S. Forest Service and engineer of the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s (NFFF) wildland approach. “Fifty years ago, we were sufficiently geographically separated that we rarely, if ever, ran into one another.” On October 1, 2018 the Florida Division of State Fire Marshal, Bureau of Fire Standards and Training (BFST) partnered with the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation’s (NFFF) Everyone Goes Home (EGH) program with a shared goal of reducing the number of preventable firefighter fatalities. BFST is the authority with jurisdiction to establish minimum standards for and approve EGH instructors in the State of Florida. BFST also serves as the centralpoint contact for the state to assure that the training and resources available through EGH and the NFFF are made readily and consistently available to firefighters in Florida. Shortly after the NFFF announced their new partnership with the Wildland Firefighter Foundation to launch Everyone Goes Home® In The Wildland, the Florida Forest Service (FFS) entered into a similar agreement with the NFFF, in a partnership with BFST here in Florida that was made official February 18, 2019. “We are excited to be the first state in the nation to enter into a partnership with our structural counterparts in a joint effort to ensure that all firefighters go home at the end of every shift,” said John Fish, FFS Forest Protection Bureau Chief. FFS is a leader in wildland firefighter health, safety and risk management. Wildland firefighters need additional skills to understand the language and tactics of their structural brothers and sisters who work alongside them in the community. “It is our deepest desire to bring about positive change in our agency’s culture with the Courage to be Safe, 16 Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives for the Wildland Firefighter,” said Fish.

Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

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By Joseph A. LaCognata, Chaplain, Fire Rescue Support

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ovies, books and comics have given us some larger-than-life heroes. Luke Skywalker. Captain America. Mario the Plumber. When the situation seems hopeless, these characters arrive on the scene to bring order out of chaos. They help, heal and save the world. First responders operate in this world as heroes. While it’s a title you reject, the truth is that’s how the rest of us look at you. You are bold, strong, confident. You are problemsolvers and risk-takers. You help, heal and save the world. Like every good hero, you have those that work alongside of you, those that fill the role of sidekick. Think for a moment h A. La C ogna ep about some wells t a Jo known heroes and sidekicks: Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee, Batman and Robin, Fir Kirk and Spock. rt eR o escue Supp Samwise carried Frodo

Katia Bordy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . City of Dania Beach Nick Brandt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hernando County Fire Rescue Ben Cassista . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Polk County Fire Rescue Francisco Diaz Perez. . . . . . . . . . . Monroe County Fire Rescue Kandice Dominguez-Oltz . . . . . Coral Springs Fire Department George McDonald . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Largo Fire Rescue Patrick McKeon . . . . . . . . . . . . “Medicount Management, Inc” Steve McKinley. . . . . . . . . . . . . Bluffton Township Fire District

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on his adventurous journey. Robin prevented Batman from becoming too dark in his ways. Spock balanced Kirk’s passion with logic. It's the sidekick who generally sees the big picture and helps keep the hero focused on the task at hand. It’s the sidekick who stays emotionally calm and helps the hero sort through their struggles. It’s the sidekick who brings out the depth of the hero’s character and helps us to see them for who they really are. For the first responder, I believe your family plays the role of sidekick. Your family provides you with support, perspective and commitment so you can be successful in your role as hero. They help balance your work and home life. They offer unconditional love and acceptance. While heroes are the ones in the spotlight, they wouldn’t be successful without the faithful, steadfast presence of their trusted partners. Sidekicks might not get noticed much, but the story wouldn’t be the same without them.

You can find out more about Chaplain Joe and Fire Rescue Support by visiting www.firerescuesupport.com.

Jeff McVay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Coastal Rescue Solutions Inc Rick Nickels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hydro-Stat Shannon Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Midway Fire District Timothy Tuten . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bluffton Township Fire District Jason Wilkins . . . . . . . . . . . Sarasota County Fire Department Tyler Williams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Bluffton Township Fire District

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By Trip Barrs, Fire Chief, Treasure Island Fire Rescue

s a firefighter, I often questioned the need for the many standards and thirdparty inspections that seemed to have no effect on how we conducted our daily operations on the streets. I also wondered why the administrators seemed to get all worked up about Insurance Services Office (ISO) inspections and how they affected the commercial insurance rates in our city. I would see the EMS chief investing many hours in ensuring that our state EMS inspections went smoothly, many times requiring us to adhere to the most trivial details of our policy that had no relevance to how we actually provided service. And don’t even get me started on accreditation through the Center for Public Safety Excellence (CEPSE). No one ever took the time to explain to those of us at the operational level of the organization how these requirements were anything more than repetitive busy work. Having now had the benefit of seeing these standards implemented as both a line firefighter and a chief officer, I see the value in them and would like to take a shot at helping others gain these valuable insights as well. Preparing for an ISO inspection requires compiling data from operations and response, vehicle maintenance, hydrant maintenance, water system capabilities, standards and training, and auto/mutual aid capabilities. These should be somewhat familiar to line firefighters and officers as they likely test hydrants, perform the training and have a working knowledge of how auto aid operates at the street level. What may not be readily apparent is the effect these activities have on the organizational structure of the fire department and other departments that support our operations. 16

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Both large and small fire departments can achieve maximum points in an ISO evaluation of their training by completing and documenting the required hours of officer, driver, facility, hazmat and company level training throughout the year. While the numbers in each of these “buckets” are important to fire administration, line personnel should look at these requirements as opportunities to hone their skills on a regular basis. My philosophy on fire department training likens our evolutions and drills to the practice that professional sports teams do to maintain cutting-edge proficiency. Viewing our multicompany operations and RIT drills as practice for game day may be a better way of looking at what we currently call “training.” We can’t expect our favorite NFL quarterback to execute a perfect pass play during a five-man defensive blitz if he hasn’t already run that same drill in practice hundreds of times. We should have the same thought process when it comes to such routine actions as obtaining a water supply or pulling a pre-connect. The only difference is that we never know when our game day will be. Take the opportunity to fill those ISO buckets with quality training that hones your skills as a professional firefighter, no matter how repetitive or routine the drill may be. Turning hydrants annually might be one of the most repetitive and boring tasks we do as firefighters. ISO requires fire departments to have such a program, so it is necessary for us to check our hydrants regularly, but this activity can also be used to enhance our knowledge of the water supply system in our jurisdictions. A successful ISO inspection requires providing detailed data on how a fire department obtains

its water supply for firefighting. Knowing what fire flows are available for our target hazards is important when faced at 3:00 am with that once-in-a-career large fire. In addition to physically exercising the hydrants, we have an opportunity to conduct area familiarization and learn of any anomalies in our water supply system. Do you know where the dead-end hydrants are in your first due area? Where are opportunities to obtain multiple water supplies from separate mains during a major fire? Who should the incident commander call at 3:00 am to have water pressure boosted when the hydrants are not delivering the needed supply? Assisting with compiling the water supply information for your department’s next ISO inspection would be a great way to improve your working knowledge of the water supply system and how the water department can help you at your next big fire. NFPA 1911 is the standard for the inspection, maintenance, testing, and retirement of inservice emergency vehicles, and is an important part of our ISO inspection requirements. We should all know how our fire apparatus operate and how to troubleshoot issues that occur in the field, but how many line firefighters and apparatus operators know the requirements for annual inspection of their rigs? If your fleet mechanics are not certified Emergency Vehicle Technicians, you may need to do some research at www.evtcc.org/tracks and enlighten them. If they are certified EVTs, they are a great source of information that will make you a better apparatus operator if you take the time to go through your apparatus maintenance records and ask questions about anything that you don’t fully understand. Like an ISO inspection, state EMS

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standards these inspections reinforce. Jumping through the required hoops, completing checklists and engaging in training that can at times seem repetitive should be part of our collective effort m “Trip” Ba illia rrs W to improve the quality of the fire service. Being inspection-ready every day will help us to meet any challenge that may confront us in the future. as s ur Re e Is Hopefully you now have a l a n d F ir e better insight into the reasons why you are asked to do these things and can pass that knowledge on to those who are not as enlightened as you. Tr e

Being an accredited agency also helps to ensure policies and procedures reflect the latest standards and do not become outdated, improving safety and efficiency for all members of the department. In addition to validating what your agency already does well, accreditation helps create a culture of continuous improvement and demonstrates to the community’s leaders that their fire department is deserving of their support, which benefits both labor and management. So, the next time you find yourself questioning how weekly, monthly or annual inspections relate to your ability to get some actual work done, consider how your department’s state of readiness is driven by the

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inspections can be stressful for both line and administrative staff since they can be both announced and unannounced. We have all likely received that email, text or phone call from a neighboring EMS chief warning us that there was a state inspector in our area for unannounced inspections. This is not the time to discover what the requirements are for the equipment carried, its operational testing and necessary documentation. A random audit of your EMS training and certification records can also be expected during an EMS inspection. Participating in the preparation for these inspections can make you a better EMS provider. Like the preparation that occurs for your ISO inspection, your daily operations should reflect the standards set for your state EMS inspection. Staff assigned to both ALS and BLS units should know the format and requirements used by state EMS inspectors. These are available on the Department of Health website at www.floridahealth.gov/licensing-andregulation/ems-system/ems-forms-anddocs.html and not only allow you to prepare in advance for unannounced inspections, but ensure that you are carrying the equipment required to best provide service to your customers. Adding the requirements found on these inspection checklists to your daily apparatus checkout routine is a great way to take some of the stress out of your next EMS inspection. Occasionally checking that your crew’s certification documentation is current and meets the state’s requirements is another way to prevent problems well before inspection time and improve your agency’s overall readiness. Becoming an accredited agency and maintaining accreditation status through CPSE is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process but will result in organization-wide growth and self-awareness. CPSE defines accreditation as a quality improvement model based on risk analysis and self-assessment. The process of evaluating your department’s policies and ability to provide a level of service that minimizes the risk of conflagration requires all levels of the department to understand both their abilities and limitations. Many times these limitations are due to budget constraints that are not clearly explained to the line personnel. Taking the time to understand your department’s standard of cover and life safety code requirements can have enormous benefits when developing pre-plans and company-level training scenarios. Knowledge of these accreditation requirements or participation in an accreditation process can also help prepare company officers for increased responsibilities and promotion.

3/18/20 11:03 AM

20 Years of Saving Lives By Lars White, Ret. Fire Chief, Ambassador, A Safe Haven for Newborns

Safe Haven for Newborns, Gloria M. Silverio Foundation, is a Florida 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that was established in 2000 and provides the statewide support for fire services, EMS, law enforcement, hospitals and DCF as the Florida Safe Haven Program and the Florida Surrendered Infant Law (FS.383.50). The organization has partnered statewide with many organizations in both the public and private sectors. We have over 300 statewide volunteers and wonderful partnerships such as the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association (FFCA) as well as fire service, EMS, law enforcement and hospitals. We do not charge for any of our services. Our Florida Safe Haven Program maintains a 24/7 multi-lingual helpline, which has assisted over 5,000 women in their time of need and crisis with an annual call volume of 2,000 callers. We have assisted 71 mothers who chose direct adoption, their anonymity not a concern, and helped 5 mothers to regain their parental rights. In addition, the foundation provides at no cost: • Safe Haven Surrendered Infant signage for all fire service, EMS, and hospitals • Web-based training for all fire service, EMS, hospitals, DCF, and law enforcement • Ongoing statewide public awareness and education • Community service app for high school students The Florida Safe Haven Program is recognized as a premier program in the nation and we have assisted other states and countries as well. Our mission is to eliminate the ultimate in infant abuse – abandonment – through education, awareness and direct assistance, and 18

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to save two lives: the life of the mother and of the newborn infant. The Florida Surrendered Infant Law (FS.383.50) provides a lawful way for a mother to anonymously and confidentially surrender her infant, from newborn up to seven days of age, at any 24-hour staffed fire or EMS station or hospital. The foundation was responsible for the change of the initial surrender period from up to three days to the current seven days in 2008. The law also includes a mechanism for the mother to regain parental rights when sought within 30 days. Florida Statistics The Florida Surrendered Infant law (383.50) has proven widely successful in both the number of surrendered infants as well as the significant decline of abandoned infants. The original legislators who enacted the Florida Surrendered Infant law would be extremely pleased with the outcomes today. The number of surrendered infants had increased from 151 in the first 10 years to 161 during the second 10 years, while illegal abandonments have

substantially declined from 47 the first 10 years to 17 during the second 10 years. These statewide statistics further demonstrate a successful law and safe haven program. • Fire and EMS stations and hospitals recognize that direct surrender provides the “very best” option for both the mother and newborn infant by providing or offering the mother immediate medical care and counseling as well as discovering vital medical information for the care of the newborn infant. • 318 mothers (312 in Florida, 5 in other states and one little one in the country of Honduras) wishing to remain anonymous (no names, identification or pictures are taken or provided) have lawfully surrendered their newborn infants with a staff member at hospitals, fire or EMS stations. The direct surrender method is the discrete and humane way for a mother wishing for her baby to have a future she could not provide. • Partnerships have been established with fire and EMS stations and hospitals throughout the state identifying them, with signage, as a Safe Haven facility. We truly appreciate the partnership with the FFCA, fire service, EMS and others each contributing to the amazing success of the Safe Haven Program in support of the Florida Surrendered Infant law. We encourage you to contact us for your training, Safe Haven signage, public awareness materials, media support or any other needs. We may be reached at www.asafehavenfornewborns.com or safehaven@asafehavenfornewborns.com

March 2020

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INVEST IN THE FUTURE! Foundation Silent Auction Items being accepted

More information at: auctria.com/auction/EDC2020SilentAuction Donated items due by July 1, 2020 Send to: Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association 221 Pinewood Drive, Tallahassee, FL 32308

Exhibit at Fire-Rescue EAST 2021 January 20-23 – Daytona Beach ffca.org/fre21exhibitorinformation 850-900-5180

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2020 EVT Academy Coming Soon! By Bill Alm, FFCA EVT Section Chair

he Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association 2020 EVT Academy is right around the corner. This year’s EVT training event will be moving to Ocala after spending nearly 20 years in Daytona Beach. This year we will be hosting EVT students in the Central Florida College Ewers Center May 11 - 15. This facility in Ocala offers the perfect environment for the EVT training classes being taught at this year’s academy. Classrooms are close together and the facilities have the most modern training aids to ensure our students have a rewarding educational experience. EVT testing will take place on Friday, May 15, and anyone interested in signing up is encouraged to go the FFCA website and register. Technicians are urged to sign up for classes as soon as possible to ensure availability. In addition to the great classroom facilities, the EVT Academy will be offering several hands-on classes that include Power Brake Familiarization and the Hale Pump Class, along with a range of EVT certification classes. This year’s annual EVT barbeque luncheon will be held at the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. The annual EVT banquet will take place at the Central Florida College, where we will present the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association’s annual EVT of the Year Award

during the event. For manufacturers and fire industry suppliers, there are many sponsorship opportunities to help support the EVT Academy and promote companies and products. The premier EVT of the Year Award sponsorship is available, and the vendor showcase at Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing still has both tabletop displays and vehicle space. There are also coffee break and banquet sponsorships. This is the perfect venue for suppliers to meet apparatus technicians, fire fleet supervisors and key technical support personnel from fire departments and emergency fleets from

around Florida and the US. Vendors interested in participating are encouraged to call the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association to reserve their sponsorship or vendor table today. The 2020 EVT Academy keynote speaker will be Chris Koop. Chris is a long-time member of the Florida EVT Association and is 30-year technician recently retired from the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Fleet Department. Chris brings a relevant presence to the academy; he is a familiar face to our Florida EVT community and is known around the country for his technical skills and fleet management experience. Last year the EVT Academy hosted students from 14 states, and there were 234 EVT tests administered on the final day after classes were completed. The EVT Training Academy has something to offer students from around the US, and Ocala provides an interesting location nestled among a number of fire industry manufacturers that include fireemergency apparatus, water/foam tanks, fire pumps and fire industry electronics. Make sure to sign up today and if you have any questions about what the 2020 EVT Academy has to offer, call the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association right away. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

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New Cooking Show to Highlight First Responders F

irefighters are well known for their heroism, community spirit and kindness. Many firefighters and other first responders are also well known for another attribute: their culinary skills. Eye on South Florida, a television production company located in South Florida, is looking for the world’s best firehouse chefs to feature in their new production, Cook’nWithFire. Firefighters live with each other for 24 hours at a time. They have to eat. A long-standing tradition in most firehouses worldwide is meals at the dinner table. Many of these meals, created by some amazing firehouse chefs, are legendary. Firehouse chefs, or those who know them, are asked to visit www.cooknwithfire.com, complete a profile about their department and

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submit a copy of their signature recipe. Eye on South Florida’s panel of professional chefs will review the recipe and, if selected, the department and the firehouse chef could be the subject of an upcoming episode of Cook’nWithFire. “This is not just another cooking show or firefighting drama,” said the show’s host and executive director, Deputy Chief Joel Gordon, who has more than 40 years in the American fire service in several departments, including both career and volunteer. “This is the real thing. The format of the show is uniquely different,” he explained. “We are going into real firehouses with real firefighters. Each episode will illustrate what firehouse life is really like, the similarities and the differences, from department to department. We are going to

focus on the firehouse chef and the signature recipe. Then we will sit with the firefighters as they enjoy the finished dish and comment on it! That may be the best part of the show.” “I have had the pleasure of sharing some amazing meals with these incredibly talented and dedicated individuals,” he continued. “From fighting fires and saving lives to conversations around the dinner table and even some firehouse shenanigans, we want the world to see what it’s really like, without all the Hollywood hype.” “One thing firefighters are not known for is being shy,” added Gordon. “Nominate yourselves or the chef in your firehouse. This is your opportunity to shine!” For more information email info@cooknwithfire.com.

March 2020

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Polk County Adding RFID Technology By Chris Jonckheer, Public Information Officer, Polk County Fire Rescue

olk County Fire Rescue will begin adding radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to its fleet, which will assist in inventory tracking and is projected to save about $20,000 to $30,000 a month. As Polk County Fire Rescue continues to upgrade the technology used throughout the division, partnering with Silent Partner Technologies to add and test a system that would greatly assist fire rescue’s logistics department in providing “real-time” tracking of the supplies on each of its trucks was a nobrainer. “Adding radio frequency identification as a control mechanism will add several positives to our fire rescue department,” commented Polk County Fire Rescue, Fire Chief Robert Weech. “Not only will it simplify and create greater accuracy from equipment and supplies tracking point of view, but it will also allow us to increase budgetary effectiveness with the potential to save taxpayer dollars. RFID technology is a long time coming to the fire rescue industry and I am happy to be part of applying it within Polk County Fire Rescue. Our logistics manager, Tera Knickerbocker, has done an outstanding job researching and implementing this project to vastly improve how our fire rescue team operates on a daily basis.” Costing approximately $4,000 to retrofit a single fire rescue unit will ultimately help contribute to a total savings of $20,000 to

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$30,000 per month in expired and wasted supplies across the division. This savings will be possible by allowing Polk County Fire Rescue’s logistics department the ability to scan and track every item that enters and leaves its place on the rescue unit, from lifesaving drugs to the equipment used to intubate patients. With this system in place, fire rescue units will be able to be sufficiently stocked in accordance with the frequency that each individual item is used. For example, if Narcan (naloxone) Nasal Spray, a medication with a 90-day shelf-life, is more frequently used on trucks servicing certain zones and less on other trucks, then the supply can be adjusted and customized. This will avoid product expiration and waste in those units that do not use the drug as often. RFID technology uses electromagnetic fields to automatically identify and track tags that are attached to objects. Each RFID tag consists of a tiny radio transponder: a radio receiver and transmitter. When scanned by either a hand-held reader or one of several strategically placed antennas in an apparatus, the tag transmits its digital data, which in this case is an identifying inventory number. This data is then sent to IntelliView, a specialized inventory program which tracts inventory numbers, offering a “real-time” view of both the truck’s and overall division’s inventory. Polk County Fire Rescue logistics personnel

will then be able to access complete inventory data from anywhere in the world with internet access via computer or smart phone. “This new program and process will provide the fire rescue division with stronger accountability and command of our assets, medications and equipment,” said Polk County Fire Rescue Logistics Manager Tera Knickerbocker. “As the science of firefighting and the knowledge of fire behaviors evolve, so do other aspects of fire service administration. RFID technology now gives us a way of advancing our system in accountability and tracking. This process will allow us to decrease costs, allowing better use of taxpayer dollars, as well as providing a new and improved way of accounting for our equipment, medications and overall inventory.”

February 2020

3/18/20 11:03 AM

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3/18/20 11:03 AM

Help Needed to Create an Antique Fire Apparatus Database T

he Florida Antique Bucket Brigade (FABB) would like to create a database of all the antique fire apparatus owned by Florida fire departments. We would use this list to share with other departments who might have a similar piece and may need to locate a part or contact another department about things they may have done or need to find for their apparatus. Please help us create this database by submitting your information such as name of department, make/model of the rig, manufactured year and any other information that someone might need to know. Any apparatus that is at least 25 years old is classified as an antique apparatus. Please include contact information and submit to Bob Romig, President FABB, 620 Portofino Dr, Poinciana, FL 34759, or email bobrfire17@aol.com or phone #863-427-4717. Thanks, and I’m looking forward to hearing from you all. Please visit our website at www.fabbfire.org.

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Bonita Springs Dedicates 9/11 Reflection Area By Nicole Hornerberger, Public Education Coordinator

On February 6, 2020, a windy Thursday, Bonita Springs Fire District dedicated our 9/11 Reflection Area to our Chairman of the Fire Board Steve Lohan and newly retired Fire Chief Joe Daigle. At this beautiful park in the heart of our revitalized downtown area, we have walking paths, native foliage and our centerpiece: an amazing mural painted by artist Laurent Dareau above a granite piece that previously topped a walkway between the twin towers before they fell. Chairman Lohan and Retired Chief Daigle’s devotion to Bonita Springs is signified in the reflection area at Bonita Springs Fire Station One. It is our intention to honor the first responders who lost their lives on that fateful day. We hope the area is utilized by the community as a space to reflect on the contributions and ultimate sacrifices of those who died on 9/11. Additionally, we hope when the community is here that they may reflect on the leadership and legacies left by the men to whom the park is dedicated.

Osceola Fire Rescue UAS Program Takes Off By Andrew Sullivan, Public Information Coordinator

Osceola County Fire Rescue & EMS joined the ranks of departments nationwide that are incorporating small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) technology into their response capabilities early last December. Starting initially with a smaller Mavic 2 Enterprise Dual drone, the department’s Public Information Coordinator Andrew Sullivan piloted the craft in an overwatch capacity over a structure fire in an abandoned hotel along Osceola County’s US-192 tourism corridor. Sullivan, who is an FAAlicensed UAS pilot, was able to provide on-scene incident command with realtime updates of operations, as well as thermal data on locations of hotspots remaining within the structure. The next addition to Osceola County’s fleet will include a larger Matrice 210 unit, with thermal imaging capabilities and a 30x optical zoom camera which will be ideal for identifying HAZMAT label data without endangering first responders. It is also planned to be able to broadcast high-definition live video from the drones using MutualLink, which can then be viewed on-scene and remotely, in real time, to provide instant situational updates for everything from structure and wildfires, to HAZMAT incidents, to urban search and rescue (USAR). Photo: Side by side comparison of high definition still provided by the drone from the scene versus thermal data, which reveals hotspots in the structure after visible flames had been knocked down. 38

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Polk County Fire Rescue Promotions By Chris Jonckheer, Public Information Officer

Polk County Fire Rescue Fire Chief Robert Weech announced on February 10, 2020, the promotion of Battalion Chiefs Ben Cassista and Shawn Smith to the rank of deputy chief. “I am extremely confident that both Chief Smith and Chief Cassista will represent the division with the highest levels of commitment and integrity,” commented Fire Chief Weech. “I am looking forward to working with them and seeing the contributions that each will make to this great agency.” Chief Cassista (left), who has been with the division since 2004, will be assuming the responsibilities of the deputy chief of planning. In addition to being a registered nurse, he holds a bachelor’s degree in public safety administration from St. Pete College and a fire officer 4 certification from the State of Florida. Prior to starting as a firefighter/EMT with Polk County, he served two years with the Auburndale Fire Department. Cassista has also held the positions of firefighter/paramedic, driver engineer/paramedic, lieutenant, captain and battalion chief at Polk County Fire Rescue. Chief Smith(left) started with the division in July of 2003. He will assume the responsibilities of the deputy chief of training. Along with a fire officer 2 certificate from the State of Florida, he holds an associate’s degree in fire safety from St. Pete College and a bachelor’s in fire administration from Columbia Southern University. Smith has also advanced through Polk County Fire Rescue’s ranks having been a firefighter/paramedic, driver engineer/paramedic, lieutenant, captain and battalion chief.

Ormond Beach’s New Command Vehicle Ormond Beach Fire Rescue Department has placed a new command vehicle in service. This Ford F-250 with a full pull-out command center will enhance the ability of the battalion chiefs to operate in the most effective manner on all emergency incidents. The new command vehicle was a joint effort between the fire department and city fleet services department. Fleet operations completed the necessary work to put this unit in service, including assembling all command components and emergency lighting to ensure fire rescue would have a state-of-the-art vehicle. Ormond Beach operates four fire stations over a 36-square-mile area, the department responds to about 8,500 calls annually. Fire Chief Sievers would like to thank fleet operations personnel for their dedication, and hard work, including Operations Manager Kevin Gray, mechanics Howard Rubright and Jimmy Vanlngen, and Jim Steet, courier. And special thanks to Garage Supervisor Danny Mcllrathy, who took this project under his wing. This vehicle was a team effort and will service the residents and visitors of Ormond Beach for many years to come.

March 2020

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Hillsborough County Using Newest Bunker Gear

Lake County Honors Fire Officers of the Year

By Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Public Relations

By Kate Jarocki, Public Communications Coordinator

Firefighters are showing their appreciation for the newest bunker gear that all crews now have at Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR). The new LION gear is more flexible, lighter when wet and tailored precisely to each firefighter’s measurements. HCFR has more than 1,000 firefighters on the street, so getting everyone measured and fitted was a time-consuming task, but well worth it. Tampa Bay television stations all turned out as crews demonstrated the differences. HCFR Captain Anita Blackmon noted: “I’m a small female, and all of my stuff was super big, and I’d fumble around.” She finds her gloves are finally a perfect fit, the arms more flexible and the gear lighter overall, allowing better movement. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneer-turned-HCFR-firefighter Adam Heyward demonstrated how the new gear perfectly covers his extra-large form. He said the kneepads fall in the right place to protect his knees as he crawls during a structure fire. “It’s a crucial part of our job,” said HCFR Deputy Chief Jason Dougherty. “It’s life safety. It’s what keeps our firefighters safe and allows them to perform the best they can.”

Three Lake County Fire Rescue personnel were among those honored for their dedication to service during the annual awards banquet recognizing police officers, firefighters and K9 officers who went above and beyond the line of duty during the past year. The event, which took place at Eustis Elks Lodge 1578, has been honoring first responders for 17 years. Lake County Fire Rescue Lt. Albert Howard, Lt. Brian Merkle and Lt. Ross Pinkerton were all recipients of the Firefighter of the Year award during the event held February 17, 2020. “These three lieutenants trained all our personnel in Rural Rescue Transport,” said Lake County Fire Chief Jim Dickerson. “This was a monumental task that took many, many hours to accomplish. As a result of their unselfishness and commitment to train our personnel in the proper procedures for transporting ill and injured patients, all 207 shift personnel are now certified.” As there were three award recipients at this year’s event, each will display the plaque at their station for four months.

Palm Beach County ALS Team Wins Florida Cup By Tara Cardoso, Community Education & Communications Team

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue’s Advanced Life Support Team is recognized as the number one team in the state, winning the prestigious Florida Cup! The team was recognized by Governor Ron Desantis at the Governor’s Annual Fire Service Recognition Awards at the state capitol in Tallahassee with a proclamation dedicated in their honor. The team has risen to the top in just the past two years. Congratulations to team leaders and team captains: Firefighter/Paramedic Ivonne Garcia, Firefighter/Paramedic Mike Redmond, Firefighter/Paramedic Kristy Rhemer and D/O Daniel McAndrews, and retired Captain Glenn Jordan as their coach and mentor. Here are the team’s 2019 notables: 1st place at Temple Terrace State EMS Challenge 1st place at the Bernie Tilson Boca Raton ALS Competition 2nd place at Randy Boaz Competition at Miami Dade College 2nd Place at First There Fire Care ALS Competition in Broward 3rd Place at the Panther Challenge at Palm Beach State College The ALS Competition Team also placed 3rd at Fire-Rescue EAST in January 2020.

Hillsborough County Helps Keep Fair Visitors Safe By Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Public Relations

On February 11, 2020, our Hillsborough County Fire Rescue chief and his command staff were on hand to help state officials “flip the switch” for the Florida State Fair. Florida cabinet members, including the attorney general and agriculture commissioner, were given the ceremonial honor of pulling the lever to turn on the lights to the fair’s giant Ferris wheel and other attractions. HCFR also provided firstaid stations and roving patrols of the fairgrounds throughout the fair’s twoweek run – all coordinated via our Mobile Command Center. The command vehicle also housed an on-site dispatch team. A network of cameras and communications with our first-aid stations and trucks along with our medics and techs worked to keep the fair safe.

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. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG

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Hillsborough County Welcomes SOCM Medics

East Manatee Fire Rescue Announces Award Winners

By Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Public Relations

The East Manatee Fire Rescue District honored several personnel during their fire commission meeting on February 24, 2020, as part of their annual awards and recognition program, according to Fire Chief Lee Whitehurst. Receiving service awards were Firefighter Joe Koehler and Inspector Nate Young for 5 years of service; Engineer Mike Hamilton and Lieutenant Derek LaPlante for 10 years of service; Engineer Daniel Lane, Engineer Jefferson Bagley and Lieutenant Eric Hoying for 15 years of service; Lieutenant Chad Gamble for 20 years of service and Inspector CeCe Hartsfield for 25 years of service. Certificates of Appreciation were presented to Firefighter Joe Koehler, Firefighter 2 1 Isaac Libby, Engineer Jacob Lilly, Engineer Craig Madsen, Lieutenant Luke Fay and Lieutenant James Darby for their exemplary work in their assigned areas of responsibility. 2019 Rookie of the Year was presented to Firefighter Jordon Rogers (see photo 1). 2019 Firefighter of the Year was given to Firefighter Joe Koehler (see photo 2). 2019 Officer of the Year was awarded to Captain 3 Matt Talaska (see photo 3.

On February 15, 2020, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue extended a big welcome to the latest group of special operations combat medics (SOCM) joining us from Ft. Bragg. Quality Management Chief Jeremy Fischler welcomed the group, letting them know what to expect as the SOCM medics will be spending 96 hours riding along with HCFR paramedics to complete their clinical field internship. SOCM medics must be able to sustain medical patients for up to 72 hours in hostile environments without conventional casualty evacuation assets or resupply. This program with us is one of their last stops prior to providing medical care in uncontrolled environments. HCFR is honored to have this team of military members train with our department.

Only Active Firefighter in the State of Florida’s Legislature Recognized for His Contributions By Tara Cardoso, Community Education & Communications Team

New Squad to Help Reduce Apparatus Wear and Tear By Anthony Gianantonio, Deputy Chief

State Representative Matt Willhite, also a Palm Beach County Fire Rescue captain and Local 2928 member, was named the Florida Professional Firefighter of the Year. Captain Willhite was presented with a State of Florida Resolution from the Governor. It reads that Representative Willhite was instrumental in “expanding protections for the first responders, including extended workers’ compensation coverage to first responders experiencing PTSD and providing cancer coverage for firefighters diagnosed with cancer as a direct result of their duties.” Captain Willhite is the only active-duty firefighter to serve in the Florida Legislature. Congratulations to Captain Willhite!

Volusia County Hosts During Presidential Visit By Steve Luciano, Battalion Chief

The Volusia County Fire Rescue Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) Station 17 in Daytona Beach hosted the United States Secret Service and stored the presidential motorcade in the station while President Donald Trump attended the Daytona 500. 40

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Palm Bay Fire Rescue has reintroduced a squad response from one of its busiest stations to help offset wear and tear from the increase in calls from Fire Station 1. From March 2019 to March 2020, Engine 1 had a response volume of 3,928 calls for service. Engine 21, which is the second response unit from Station 1, had a response volume of 1,452 calls for service. These numbers continue to increase annually with the increase in population density in the response district. A solution to reduce increased usage of Engine 1, which is a 2018 unit, was to bring back a squad vehicle to run on low-acuity and non-emergent calls – it will take on an estimated 2,000 calls for service. This reduces the call volume for the primary suppression unit and makes it available for both ALS calls needing paramedic intervention and fire calls which will need a suppression unit to intervene. In 2010, a rescue unit was decommissioned to increase staffing on an aerial platform. Over the past 10 years, the stations call volume has warranted the need for a squad unit to become reestablished.

March 2020

3/18/20 11:03 AM

Palm Bay Structure Fire By Anthony Gianantonio, Deputy Chief

Volusia County Car Fire By Lt. Kristi Campbell

The crew at Volusia County Fire Station 22, Oak Hill, responded with Tender Engine 22 to a car fire northbound on Interstate 95. The fire was quickly extinguished.

Volusia County Car Accident The crew from Volusia County Fire Rescue Station 15 responded to an accident involving two vehicles on International Speedway Boulevard in Daytona Beach. Two patients were entrapped in the vehicle, requiring extrication prior to their transport to the hospital with injuries. Daytona Beach Fire Department, Volusia County Emergency Medical Services and the Florida Highway Patrol were also on scene.

Palm Bay Fire Rescue crews worked a structure fire in a two-story residence in January. The fire was in an advanced stage when crews arrived. There was a lack of hydrants in the area which required responses from Brevard County and Malabar for additional water tenders. Crews had to be called out of the structure at one point due to a weak floor on the second floor. Exterior lines suppressed the flames and positive pressure ventilation exhausted the smoke from the building to a point where crews were able to safely regain interior control and extinguishment of the fire. A water shuttle operation ensured a constant source of water supply for fire control and overhaul.

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March 2020

3/18/20 11:03 AM

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TEN-8 FIRE EQUIPMENT NEW DELIVERIES BROWARD SHERIFF’S OFFICE FIRE RESCUE Thank you Fire Chief Joseph Fernandez. • • • • • •

Pierce Velocity® pumper Detroit Diesel DD13 engine, 525 hp Pierce PUC™ pump 750 gal tank Husky™ 3 foam system TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension

SEMINOLE COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT Thank you Chief Matthew Kinley. • • • • •

Pierce elliptical tanker Cummins L9 engine, 450 hp Waterous pump 3,000 gal tank Freightliner chassis

TAVARES FIRE DEPARTMENT Thank you Chief Keith Richard. • MSA G1 SCBAs

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