THE PUBLICATION
OF THE
FLORIDA FIRE CHIEFS’ ASSOCIATION
August 2019 • VOLUME 27 NUMBER 8
Thank you Fire Chief Scott Cassin, Suppression Division Chief Walter Lewellen, and the Pasco County Fire Department! • • • • • • •
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28” Extended Front Bumper Whelen Emergency Lighting Package Custom Tool Boards and Trays Safety Vision Backup and Side Camera System • Akron Stream Master II Electric Monitor • Advanced Aerial Control System • Breathing Air at Tip
Thank you Fire Chief Thomas R. Wood and Boca Raton Fire Rescue Services!
• • • • • •
Freightliner M2 4x2 4-Door Horton 623 Type 1 Ambulance Body 76” Head Room Cummins L9 270 HP Engine Allison 6-Speed EVS 3000 Automatic Transmission Polished Aluminum Wheels
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Front and Rear Stabilizer Bars VI Tech Body Mounts Stadco CP7 Generator Whelen All-LED Warning and Scene Light Package Max-Cool II Dual A/C Unit Horton 360 Camera System
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Service is the monthly publication of the Chiefs’ Association, provided to Florida Association (FFCA) members, by the Chiefs’ Association.
FROM THE SECTIONS Message from the FFCA President . . .6
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 Neal de Jesus, EFO - 1st Vice President Frank Babinec - 2nd Vice President John Miller - Immediate Past President Ty Silcox, MPA - Secretary/Treasurer Ryan H. Crawford - Northwest Region Director TBA - Northeast Region Director Terry Wooldridge Jr. - East Central Region Director Julie Downey - Southeast Region Director Douglas Riley - 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
6 FEATURES Integrity - An Essential Component of . .
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Good Leadership. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Problems Lying in Wait . . . . . . . . .10 ‘FIREBOY’ Named Orange County Honorary Firefighter . . . .16
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TRAINING is Everyone’s Responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
FURTHERMORE It’s all in the Name . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Who Rescues Heroes? . . . . . . . . . .12 Teamwork and Competitive Spirit
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Celebrated During Broward EMS Conference . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Editorial Submissions magazine@ffca.org (850) 900-5180
Moving On - Chief Dave Downey . .18 Tackling Fire Department Marketing... Wait, what? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Advertising Scott Leisen, Editor in Chief scott@ffca.org (386) 717-0055
Wow! What an Event What a Venue . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 FAPIO brings Federal Level Training
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.
40 Years . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Florida Fire Service August 2019, Volume 27, Number 8 USPS # 016-759
In brief . . . news from
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 author’s alone and do not imply an opinion on the part of the officers or the members of FFCA. Copyright 2019 by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association. All rights reserved. Materials may not be reproduced without written permission.
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to South Florida . . . . . . . . . . . . .24 Brake Performance and Safety - HOW GOOD IS GOOD ENOUGH? . .28 around the state . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Florida Incident Management Team Deployed to Oklahoma . . . . . . .38 Advertisers Index . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 Events Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38 FFCA New Members . . . . . . . . . . .38
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M
y sincerest thanks go out to every member of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association for allowing me the opportunity to serve as the association’s president for the next year. It is one of the highest honors of my career. I am earnestly committed to helping make the association and the fire service community better and safer, and I pledge my time and dedication to do just that. Under the direction and leadership of Ray Colburn, our Executive Director, and the guidance of our entire board of directors, the FFCA continues to grow in its influence and effectiveness as a leading organization in and advocate for the fire service. In alignment with
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the association’s new three-year strategic plan, the FFCA is continuing to expand its services to its members and to make its existing services better. One of the goals for our strategic plan is to continuously evaluate and improve our current educational and conference offerings. We Chief Bobby Halton talked about Safety in the Fire Service recently held our 2019 at the 2019 Executive Development Conference Executive Development Conference in Boca Raton, Florida. This year’s Under the leadership of Chief Frank Babinec, conference was better than ever; for those of and along with a team of exceptional you who were there, I am sure you would agree. individuals, the Safety and Health Conference is Attendance at the conference was up, we had growing in reputation and attendance. With the more vendor participation than ever, we were concerted efforts of Chief Babinec and his able to bring in some highly respected and team, as well as that of Ray and Ngoc, I am exceptional speakers, and the feedback from certain that this year’s Safety and Health our members and corporate sponsors was Conference will be better than ever and one extremely positive. Many thanks go to Ray and not to be missed. Please attend this conference, Ngoc for all of their hard work and attention to or send someone from your department, to detail in putting together and managing this support the FFCA as we continue to shift the great conference to make it a success. paradigms for safety and health in the fire In December, the FFCA will be hosting our service. Together, we can make the fire service Safety and Health Conference in Orlando. community safer and better.
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By Dr. Eric Smith, EFO, Assistant Professor of Public Administration, Barry University
O
ver the past few decades, much research has been conducted in the area of leadership. Although good leadership has many elements, one of the core elements is integrity. Integrity can be defined as always interacting with others in an ethical and honorable manner. It connotes a profound commitment to do the right thing for the right reason, regardless of the circumstances. Leaders who are centered with integrity are incorruptible and incapable of breaking the trust of those who rely on them. Choosing to do the right thing regardless of the consequences is the hallmark of integrity. Leaders with integrity strive for the highest ethical standards and expect the same behavior in others. They conduct themselves honorably in any situation that may arise. They treat every person with respect and fairness. They are straightforward and forthright, expressing themselves with clarity, so that others always understand what is being communicated. They approach their work with honesty and commitment. Their word is their bond. Why is integrity so important to good leaders? Good leaders build trust with the people they lead. The bonds of trust are strengthened when a leader demonstrates integrity by saying what he, or she, believes and feels. When a leader has integrity, those being led aren’t left to guess the leader’s true intentions. A lack of trust creates ambiguity, uncertainty and anxiety. Although there is not one single route to
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becoming a leader with integrity, there are steps you can take to guide your journey. Be a model for your team: It is critical to be consistent about your ethical standards. Look to provide facts, not smokescreens. Speak up, even when it may be risky to do so, and challenge any system that encourages or rewards dishonesty and unethical behavior. Be a model for ethical behavior: Make sure that you are consistent, open and clear with your ethical standards and expectations. Encourage your team to express concerns about questionable practices. Don’t be controlled by organizational politics: Being competent in your job is the most effective method of achieving personal success. Avoid being political by increasing your own awareness of politically motivated behavior. Start by taking a mental inventory of any organizational politics that are happening and ensure that you are not exhibiting those same behaviors. Then ensure you always share recognition. Be a team player, acknowledge subordinates for their talents and accomplishments. Be a risk taker and stand up for what you believe in: There is a direct correlation between risk, success and excellence. When standing up for what you believe in, approach any adversity with a positive attitude and always work to gain the support of your subordinates. Encourage others to speak up and let their viewpoints be known. Be a role model: If you demonstrate that you are a proud member of your organization and live its values, and explicitly articulate to
your subordinates why you are proud and why these things are important, they will soon follow your lead. Walk the talk, be an example of what you want your subordinates to be and ensure your performance reflects the standards you expect from them. Remember that people will not follow a leader they do not trust. Trust is earned through, among other things, integrity. Good leaders demonstrate integrity. This leads to gaining the confidence of their subordinates. Ultimately, these subordinates will then become dedicated employees, trusted friends and strong supporters of organizational goals.
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By Gordon Graham, Co-founder, Lexipol
Editor’s Note: This article series is designed to introduce you to the concept of real risk management—an approach that goes way beyond a safety program to encompass the 10 Families of Risk and to demonstrate how better understanding these risk families can help you anticipate and mitigate the risks in your own organization. Whether this is your first introduction to Gordon Graham and risk management, or if you’ve been following his innovative approach for years, this series has something for every public safety leader. We encourage you to follow along as we publish additional installments. Gordon Graham here, and again, thanks for taking the time to read this brief piece. In my last article I introduced you to the breadth and depth of “real risk management” and why this discipline is much more than the “safety stuff.” In this article, I want to further explain why too many government organizations— including the high-risk occupations involved in public safety in your communities—don’t take risk management seriously. When I say this in a live program, I often get 10
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some pushback: “What do you mean we don’t take it seriously?” My response to this is pretty simple: Let’s take a look at your city/county/state organizational chart. Where will I find risk management on your org chart? If risk management has its own box, I will be very surprised. And if it is near the top of the org chart, you can stop reading this piece right now because clearly your entity “gets it.” But too often I see risk management sharing a box with maintenance or human resources, someplace in the middle or lower levels of the organizational hierarchy. Here is a second test for you. Pick up your government phone directory and look for risk management. Again, if there is a dedicated risk manager in your entity, I will be surprised. And I guarantee you that you will have many more lawyers in your phone book than risk managers. Why am I boring you with this? Lawyers focus on fixing problems after they occur. Real risk managers focus on addressing problems before they occur. It is an entirely different way of thinking—a different bias, if you want to
look at it that way. It is the constant battle of spending time and money up front to prevent problems from occurring. The alternative is spending much more time and resources after problems occur. On my recommended reading list is a great book by two Harvard guys (Bazerman and Watkins), Predictable Surprises. The authors capture the essence of the problem with some thoughts on the shared traits of predictable surprises and why so many people in so many organizations ignore problems lying in wait. Another great work along similar lines is Margaret Heffernan’s Willful Blindness. She lays out in great detail why so many people in so many organizations are aware of problems, yet they do not act, and again and again ignore problems lying in wait. We can do so much to thwart bad outcomes if we are committed to real risk management. And maybe this is just me, but I want this transition to real risk management to occur prior to some disastrous event. Here is a definition that I will be referencing throughout this series of articles. Webster takes a stab at defining risk as “the possibility of meeting danger or suffering a harm or loss, or exposure to harm or loss.” As a follow then: Risk management is any activity that involves the evaluation of or comparison of risks and the development, selection and implementation of control measures that change outcomes. Or more simply stated, risk management is the process of looking into the future (short or long term), asking what can go wrong and then doing something to prevent it from going wrong. Remember RPM—Recognition, Prioritization, Mobilization. Last time, I gave you a brief overview of the 10 Families of Risk. In our next piece, I will tackle Family One, External Risks. Until then, please take a look at what we are trying to do at Lexipol to address the risks you face in public safety operations. Thanks for reading! Gordon Graham is a 33-year veteran of law enforcement and the co-founder 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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The Advantages of My Attendance at the FFCA Executive Development Conference?
It’s all in the name! By B. Trevor Nelson, MPA, BAS, RPM, Fire and Rescue Chief, Baker County Fire and Rescue Department
FFCA - A gathering of fire chiefs throughout the state of Florida. When such a distinguished group gathers, things will always be done at a higher level, such as the Opening Ceremony, Prayer Breakfast, Memorial Service, Annual Banquet, and Closing Ceremony. A great job was done by Boca Raton Fire Rescue and all the FFCA staff. Executive - By virtue of the name, this gathering consisted of high-level chiefs of varying-sized departments representing urban, suburban and rural areas being protected by paid, combination or volunteer departments. Development - Sessions included variety of topics to help chiefs continue to develop their skills and enhance their departments, including titles such as: • Excellence, How Do We Get There? • It’s all about Leadership in Today’s Fire Service • Learning about what is happening in Tallahassee during the Legislative Summit • The Truth about Trauma, how it affects our service mentally • Seven Rules of Hyman Rickover by Gordon Graham • Ten Incidents that Sparked Change • Best Practices and Innovation • Thinking Safety Differently in the Fire Service. Conference - One of the most important parts of the event was the opportunity to gather together in a group setting, such as the Safety and Health meeting with over 50 other like-minded professionals, with other chiefs in the 5 Bugle Roundtable, or informally around a table or over a meal discussing and networking with other fire service professionals. Also important was being able to join the Vigiles Societas to give back so other fire chiefs could have the same opportunity I had. For me, as the chief executive of one of the newest fire rescue departments in the state of Florida, the EDC was a great way to learn and connect with some of the greatest minds in our field. Old and new acquaintances grew
into greater friendships. If you are a fire service executive, or desire to be, this conference is the event you must attend! Thank you for the opportunity to attend and all those who contributed to the scholarship fund!
Scholarship Recipient
Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG
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By Joseph A. LaCognata, Chaplain, Fire Rescue Support
everal times a year I have the privilege of being part of the graduation ceremonies for those newly hired by Marion County Fire Rescue. These days are full of family and friends, speeches and awards. Near the end of the program, I have the opportunity to offer a prayer of benediction. But before I pray, I offer some words to the graduates. I congratulate them on their accomplishment. I thank them for their commitment to serve. I welcome them to the fire family.
And I tell them they are now among those we refer to as heroes. Hero. I know that’s a word you tend to brush aside. You don’t see yourself as a hero, but those around you do. A hero is a person who is admired for great or brave acts or fine qualities. Heroes are those who, in the face of danger and adversity, display courage and the will for self-sacrifice for some greater good of all humanity. As our heroes, you are the ones we call on when we are in need. But where do heroes turn
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when they need to be rescued? Who do you call on in your times of distress? King David, of Old Testament fame, is remembered as a true hero. He was a man’s man, a warrior with no equal. David’s military tactics are studied at West Point. David’s life experiences are recorded in the Psalms. In Psalm 18:37-38 we read of the intensity with which he fought his foes: “I pursued my enemies and overtook them; I did not turn back till they were destroyed. I crushed them so that they could not rise; they fell beneath my feet.” In Psalm 23:1-3 we read of the comfort he found in God: “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” And in Psalm 31:2 we read that this hero turned toward heaven when he was in need: “Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.” I believe there is One h A . La C ogn a greater than us that is se p ta Jo watching over us. He’s the One I pray to every day asking Him to keep you safe. He’s the One that brings skill to F ir t eR or escue Supp your hands and gives wisdom to your minds. And He’s the One that rescues heroes. You can find out more about Chaplain Joe and Fire Rescue Support by visiting www.firerescuesupport.com.
Order Today at: www.ffca.org/firefighter-memorial All proceeds benefit the Capitol Firefighter Memorial Monument Fund & Support Families of Fallen Firefighters to attend Florida Firefighter Memorial Events 12
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By Mike Jachles, Public Information Officer, Orange County Fire Rescue
E
ric Aach, 25, boasts a unique accomplishment. He’s made over 1,000 visits to fire stations around Orange County. Surely, there are nowhere near 1,000 fire stations in the county, but the Orange County resident has frequented many of the county’s stations, many times over, earning him the distinction as an honorary firefighter last month. Even more unique is the story of Eric and how his love for firefighting began and the journey it has taken. Shortly after Joel and Lori Aach moved from Louisville, Kentucky to Florida in 1995, their son Eric became sick. He had complex medical issues that took them to Johns Hopkins Hospital, where they documented that he was having over 300 seizures a day. He was diagnosed with LennoxGastaut syndrome – a rare, severe, pediatriconset seizure disorder – and a mitochondrial disease that has caused stroke-like regressions his entire life. Eric was also diagnosed with autism. His medical conditions resulted in many emergency calls to Eric’s house from Orange County Fire Rescue. In 2016, Eric underwent a complex brain surgery that involved shutting off his right frontal lobe and removing half of his right temporal lobe. A corpus callosum surgery was also done in an attempt to mitigate the severe seizures but was unsuccessful.
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Despite a guarded prognosis and progressive disease, Eric continues to defy the odds and persists with his funny personality and love for all things fire related. This fascination began when Eric’s medically fragile condition necessitated some accessory gear. He wore wristbands for his drooling, which were called fire bands. He had to wear braces on his legs
that became fire boots. He had to wear a helmet to protect him from seizures that was adorned with stickers of fire trucks. And, he always had to wear a fire department shirt. That’s when Eric first became Fireboy. By the time he was five, Lori recalls embarking on the fire station visits. Around 2003, there was a University of Central Florida
Eric, around age 5, at an unidentified fire station. He’s been to so many stations, his family has lost track.
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Station 30’s blackboard for the shift had Eric as the nozzleman.
Eric visits Fire Station 30 in this photo, sometime between 2009 - 2013, when Jesse was still a firefighter on the engine.
(UCF) psychology student working at the Princeton House Charter School, a school for children with autism. At the time, Eric was a student at the school. Though the psychology student wasn’t Eric’s teacher, the school was small enough that he saw Eric in passing, and with his mom at drop-off and pickup. Mom continued the weekly fire station visits with Eric over the years, and sometime around 2008, they knocked on the door at Orange County Fire Station 35. A rookie firefighter answered the door and greeted Lori and Eric. Lori was impressed with the way the rookie spoke to Eric, he communicated so well that he had Eric’s undivided attention. Ironically, this particular visit was during Autism Awareness Month. Lori posted on Facebook at the time, “Today I took Eric to the Firehouse that we usually go to on Mondays. Normally, he meets the firefighters. He fixates on the pumper for a short time and then we're out of there. But, today was different. Eric met a new young fireman named Jesse, who took Eric around and had such enthusiasm when talking about the trucks, etc. Believe it or not, my son was listening intently to everything Jesse was telling him. I told the other firefighter that I've never seen my son so attentive before but Jesse really knew how to talk to Eric respectfully, but in a simpler way for him to understand and stay interested.” That rookie firefighter was the UCF psychology student, Jesse Harris. On that day,
a bond was formed between Eric and Jesse, now a lieutenant. Through the years, the fire station visits continue, wherever the family is. They moved to Louisville in 1999 for a year and the visits continued there. Once back in Florida, they resumed. In May of this year, Jesse invited Eric and his mom to the Bad Boy Breakfast – a monthly fundraising breakfast among firefighters. Jesse floated the idea of making Eric an honorary firefighter to Lori, with the fire chief’s approval. Keeping it a surprise to Eric, Fire Chief James M. Fitzgerald signed off
Eric’s Honorary Firefighter certificate, signed by Chief James M. Fitzgerald.
on it and, on July 20, the presentation happened at Fire Station 30. Eric the Fireboy was made an Honorary Orange County Firefighter and was given the VIP treatment by the crews and some chiefs. He was presented with a certificate and helmet which, at last word, he was still wearing. “Despite his disabilities, it’s clear that Eric has the same passion as a firefighter – you can see it in the way he looks at the fire trucks. We just wanted him to be a part of the brotherhood we share,” Harris said. “If his life were different, he would have been a firefighter. He couldn’t get to live his dream and I can.”
Assistant Chief Lauraleigh Avery, right, presented Eric with his helmet and certificate on behalf of Fire Chief James M. Fitzgerald, as his parents, Joel and Lori, look on. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG
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By Joel Gordon, Deputy Chief, Plantation Fire Department
I
t was a warm summer evening in South Florida. The weather was just perfect for baseball. The game was almost over when suddenly the lights went dark, followed in an instant with a crack of thunder and a flash of lightning. As the lights came back up the damage was evident. Multiple people had been struck by lightning and panic ensued. However, amidst the chaos a team of three paramedics arrived and began bringing order to the hysteria while providing much needed patient care. This situation may sound like something ripped from the headlines. In fact, it was the final scenario for this year’s Chief Mike Haygood Broward Invitational Advanced Life Support (ALS) Competition, part of the 23rd Annual First There First Care EMS Conference, held at the Bonaventure Resort and Spa in Weston, Florida. Twenty-three teams from as far away as Tennessee competed in the grueling two-day event. In the end, Margate Fire Rescue was crowned this year’s champion. This year’s Student
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Division Champion was Palm Beach State College. The First There First Care Conference, which was held June 3-6, featured both an ALS and nursing competition, hands-on mini sessions, a tradeshow, Honor Guard Academy and a day-long symposium.
On Monday, nurses from several Broward County emergency departments were dealing with their own competition where they faced overdoses, emergency deliveries, psych patients and hysterical family members during the 4th Annual - K2 Emergency Nurses competition, which is the only one of its kind in the country. And the winner of this year’s nursing competition? Broward Health Medical Center. Amidst all this drama, other attendees participated in a variety of hands-on courses covering a wide range of EMS and nursing concepts including an Honor Guard Academy. And that was only the first three days. Thursday’s symposium was attended by nearly 500 firefighters, paramedics, nurses, EMTs and physicians from all over the country, and featured several high-profile speakers including The Eagles, a national consortium of EMS medical directors. Thursday’s conference also included the annual EMS awards.
Class of 2019: Lifetime Achievement Awards were presented to five members of Broward County’s EMS community: (front, l to r) Bruce Caruso, Julie Downey, Joel Gordon, Tammy Nugent, Andy Popick. (rear, Rodney Turpel, Frank Babinec).
One of a kind: Broward County’s K2 Emergency Nursing competition pushes emergency department nurses to their skill and knowledge limits.
The 2019 award recipients were: Dave Foster, Paramedic of the Year Lazaro Ojeda, Coral Springs EMT of the Year Alexandre O’Connor, Ft Lauderdale Elizabeth Jordan, Educator of the Year Dave Adams, Christopher Davis-Partridge, Ft Lauderdale Ed Murray, Public Educator of the Year Heath Meyer, Davie Mike Murphy, Innovator of the Year Jorge Gonzalez, Davie Private Provider of the Year Christian Martinez, Erik Paz Nursing Recognition Award Merri Goodman, Memorial Healthcare Systems Nursing Excellence Award Yana Gladyu, Broward Health North Outstanding Physician Award Dr. Kenneth Greenberg, University Hospital The Ralph Marrinson, Lifetime Achievement Award Dr Peter Antevy
Five members of South Florida’s Fire Rescue community were recognized for their lifelong contributions to EMS. This year’s Lifetime Achievement class members were Davie Fire Chief Julie Downey, Davie Battalion Chief Andy Popick, BSO Fire Rescue District Chief Bruce Caruso, BSO Fire Rescue Division Chief Tammy Nugent and Plantation Deputy Chief Joel Gordon. Attendees also had a chance to see the latest in EMS and emergency care innovation provided by more than 74 vendors and sponsors during the trade show. We hope to return to the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino, next year. Plans, activities and the speaker lineup for next year will all be published on the conference website at www.firsttherefirstcare.com. It can also be followed on Facebook @firsttherefirstcare, and on Twitter @1stthere1stcare.
Distinguished career: Dr. Peter Antevy (l) was recognized for his outstanding contributions to the EMS community with the Ralph Marrinson, Lifetime Achievement Award. Davie Fire Chief Julie Downey (r) helped present the award to their Medical Director.
Outstanding achievements: Dr Kenneth Greenberg of University Hospital was recognized for his commitment to Broward’s EMS Community.
A shining gem: Memorial Healthcare System representatives take a moment to pose for the camera during the very busy trade show. MHS was this year’s conference Emerald Sponsor. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG
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Moving On – Chief Dave Downey By Diosbani “Dio” Rodriguez, MA, Operations Division Chief, Miami Dade Fire Rescue Department
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fter 37 years in the fire service, Chief Dave Downey retired on May 17, 2019 after serving six years as the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Fire Chief. He was introduced to the fire service when he joined the Sunrise Fire Department Explorer Program in his hometown of Lauderhill, Florida, and eventually was hired as a firefighter/paramedic with Sunrise Fire-Rescue in 1982. In January of 1988, Chief Downey was hired as a firefighter/paramedic with the Metro-Dade Fire Department. He had a distinguished career with MDFR, getting promoted through each rank and in 2013 was appointed as Fire Chief of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Department. He contributed to the fire service at the local, state, national and international levels, and was involved in numerous Urban Search and Rescue deployments, committees and memberships. When asked about his legacy, he replied in humble fashion, “Honestly, I believe that is for others to decide. I hope, in a small part, that I’ll be remembered for my passion for the fire service and my love of MiamiDade Fire Rescue.” When asked, “What’s next?” Chief Downey simply replied, “There are no plans, but whatever I choose to do, it will involve giving back to our great fire service that has been so good to me.” We’re sure this will include assisting Fire Chief Julie Downey of Davie Fire Rescue. The MDFR family is grateful for Dave Downey’s true “service above self” and for his commitment, loyalty and unwavering service. We were lucky to have a humble but confident leader and we wish him much luck in his next chapter of life. Fire Chaplain Ragan Vandegriff said it best at this year’s Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Executive Development Conference, “…memories behind you, friends beside you, and dreams before you.” 18
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By Joel Gordon, Deputy Chief, Plantat
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s the fire chief you are ultimately responsible for managing all aspects of your organization. This includes ensuring the organization remains stable and solid, which in today’s world is no easy task. Budgets, political divisions and even competition all threaten what once was a very stable environment. So how do you establish your fire department as the best provider of emergency support services for your community? And, how do you keep stakeholders and customers alike satisfied that they are getting the best return on their investment from their fire department? These were the questions posed to the more than 40 attendees of the Fire Department Marketing, Emergency Services Leadership Institute (ESLI) class held at the Boca Raton Resort & Club in July 2019. Led by Florida Association of Public Information Officers (FAPIO) Chairperson Mike Jachles and past FAPIO Chair Joel Gordon, the group discussed the concepts of market position, market segmentation and stakeholder/customer relations. The two-day program was led off with an overview by Chief Neal DeJesus discussing the issues of competition and how to entrench the department within the community as a method of resisting competitive challenges. The participants were presented with a challenge: Identify key issues that will impact fire service delivery in their communities over 20
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Sage advice: Chief Neil DeJesus (c) provided overview and guidance during the ESLI, Fire Service Marketing class.
the next five years. Then they were asked how they would address them. While the Four “Ps” of traditional marketing – Product, Price, Packaging, and Placement – do not fit the government service model, modifying them to Purpose, Productivity, Practicality and Perception allowed those attending to analyze some of these challenges and establish a process for addressing them. The class was then broken into small groups, each selected a topic from one of the many presented and worked through the marketing process. The end objective was to identify a target audience and make a presentation to that audience about their topic.
As part of the two-day exercise, attendees were also given an overview of media relations and tips for how to properly conduct media interviews. A discussion about the use and pitfalls of social media was also held. The class was honored to have one of the conference speakers, Chief Dennis Rubin, sit in for a large portion of the program. In the end, those who participated had an opportunity to look at real-world issues affecting the fire service and how applying marketing concepts can not only shield their departments from outside competition, but establish themselves as an invaluable asset within their communities.
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puty Chief, Plantation Fire Department
More than 40 ESLI candidates attended the ESLI Marketing held during the 2019 EDC class in Boca Raton.
The class worked in small groups to develop a marketing plan addressing key issues and then presented to their target market. Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG
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Wow! What an Event - What a Venue By Debbie Colburn, Ladies Program Coordinator
The 2019 Executive Development Conference’s Ladies Program was,once again,a highlight event.What a grand time we had reconnecting with old friends while making and welcoming new ones. The FFCALadies enjoyed several days offun-filled activities along with plenty oftime to enjoy the spectacularBoca Raton Resort and Club with all its amenities. The Boca Resortwas,hands-down,one ofoursummerconference’s bestvenues to date. The history,architecture,grounds,rooms,food,spa and otheramenities were positively memorable.And,to top it all off,the staff,from the first greeting to final parting,was exceptional. The Ladies Program’s official kick-offbegan Saturday afternoon as we boarded a bus and headed to the Town ofPalm Beach for“The Best ofPalm Beach Tour.”Longtime resident Leslie Diverof Island Living Tours provided us with a fun and informative tour highlighting the town’s colorful history,world class architecture and the “low-down”on some of its residents – past and present,famous and infamous – from Henry Flaglerto Donald Trump and manyin between.Quite a unique place to live ifyou happen to be in that top 1/10th of1% ofthe rich and famous. Next event on the Ladies agenda was ourCraft Event,brought to us by our“Queen of Crafts”,Debbie Greek.Once again,she provided an extremely organized,well thoughtout, fun and creative event,where each ofus were able to create and take home a unique creation ofourveryown.This yearwe decorated frosted wine bottles and wine glasses with a variety of materials and bling.Adding lights to the inside of ourbottles added a special final touch.Abig thanks to Debbie forall herhard work and detailed effort she puts into this event.She is amazing! Ourlast event ofthe conference was ournotorious “White Elephant Exchange and 22
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Brunch.”Talk about an event!We kicked off this eventwith a most stunning buffet,the room and set-up were simply lovely – almost too lovely to eat.Of course,we managed,and the food was delicious.Additionally,thanks in part to oursponsors,we thoroughly enjoyed a Bellini and Mimosa bar.Justwhatwe needed to top-off ourtanks in anticipation of the race forthe perfect gift. Fun,laughs and finagling were the highlight of the day,as the “relocating”of gifts from person to person to person was fueled bya passion forthe chase.What a great time! And nowwe want to give a big shout out to those who helped make these Ladies events possible.Danny Bennett of Bennett Fire Products,along with Tom and Mary Weber- We THANKYOU foryourcontinued generous support and encouragement.We also want to thankISO fortheirparticipation in making these events successful. And last,but not least,thankyou Ray Colburn foryourardent support and recognition ofthe importance ofthis program.
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FAPIO brings Federal Level Training to South Florida By Joel Gordon, Deputy Chief, Plantation Fire Department
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nless you’re living under a rock, you are aware that South Florida will once again be hosting the Super Bowl in 2020. Without question, the Super Bowl is one of, if not the largest single sporting events in the world. When the NFL comes to town it brings with it a limelight that shines on the host city. Amidst all the hype and hoopla there are many concerns of public interest. This is where a well-prepared and welltrained team of public information officers (PIO) can make all the difference. Leaning on past experiences with prior Super Bowls, the Florida Association of Public Information Officers (FAPIO) and the State PIO Deployment team have taken a lead role in preparing PIOs from across the state for the big event. FAPIO’s cadre of instructors have been traveling the state providing basic and intermediate PIO classes to existing and potential PIOs in preparation for the five-day advanced PIO class offered through FEMA’s Emergency Management Institute (EMI). The EMI staff graciously brought a team of nationally recognized, rock star PIO instructors to South Florida during the week of July 22 through 26 for five days of the most grueling, toughest and challenging training for PIOs anywhere. The class of more than 40 PIOs, mostly
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from South and Central Florida, drew on their experiences and training as they faced fires, floods, tornadoes, and even terrorism, while learning how to work within a Joint Information Center (JIC) to “Get the right information, to the right people, at the right time, so they can make the right decisions.” The groups learned to work as teams and how to manage media and public
information during a high-pressure crisis. By Friday the attendees were exhausted and drained but fulfilled and much better prepared. Along the way they made some important contacts and established friendships that will last a lifetime. FAPIO wants to thank the EMI staff, specifically Phil Politano and Tom Olshanski, for bringing this class to our backyard.
Sound check: Plantation Fire Department PIO, Aston Bright “Green County PIO” sets up the press conference during the full scale, Advanced PIO, JIC exercise.
40 YEARS A
s most of you know, after 40 years of service, at the 2019 Boca Raton Conference, I stepped down as Chaplain for the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association. I could never frame into words my deep appreciation for your kindness to, and acceptance of, my family and me during these years. What a wonderful privilege to serve with 40 Presidents/Chiefs at 40 conferences as well as the many other convocations and meetings during these 40 years as your chaplain. The executive directors, starting with Larry Scovotto through Ray Colburn, (and their wives Linda and Debbie), our wonderful office staff, the diligent officers, directors and YOU THE MEMBERS have made this a memorable journey in the fire service that Pat and I will never forget! After 40 years we retired from our ministry at First Baptist in Orlando and have moved to Acworth, Georgia (just north of Atlanta on I-75), to be with family, and especially our grandchildren. At this past 2019 Executive Development Conference in Boca Raton you recognized us with more honors than we could have imagined…from the rocking chair to the Don Bouwer Servant Leader Legacy Award and the Proclamation proclaiming me as “Chaplain Emeritus” …what a celebration! You will forever be in our hearts, minds and prayers! I leave you in great hands with my gifted successor Rick Spence, a wonderful friend and outstanding chaplain. So….may our Lord in Heaven Bless and Keep you…may He make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you, and give you guidance and success in all your endeavors as you seek His wisdom. Thanks for the Memories behind us…The Friends beside us…and the Dreams before us…God be with you ’til we meet again. Blessings…. Dr. Ragan Vandegriff Chaplain Emeritus
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Brake Performance and Safety HOW GOOD IS GOOD ENOUGH? By John Campo, Director of Training and Technical Services, Power Brake, LLC
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he nightmare: guiding 50,000 pounds down the road on the way to an emergency when the unimaginable happens – suddenly, and seemingly out of nowhere, a person stumbles and falls directly in front of your fire truck. Without even a second to think about it, you instinctively and immediately slam the brake pedal to the floor. That’s all you can do. The rest is left to fate, or is it? On May 6, 2017, a similar scenario befell Palm Tran bus operator Thomas Guthy while driving his route in West Palm Beach, Florida, when a woman stumbled into the street right in front of his moving bus. He had but one option. Was it enough to avert disaster?
For video, search YouTube “Video News Release 10/27/17”
There was a happy ending to this story. The driver received welldeserved accolades and an official commendation for saving a life as the result of his fast reaction time. As for the mechanics who install and maintain the brakes, it was nothing more just another day at the office. A braking cycle of total stopping distance begins with a decision to slow or stop a vehicle, followed by the reaction time to stepping on the brake pedal. As in this real-life example, reaction is critical but braking distance, what happens AFTER the driver steps on the pedal, can literally be the difference between life and death.
Most brake technicians know when a vehicle’s brakes are performing well. They take the unit on a test drive and make a series of stops at varying speeds. By and large, this assessment is a subjective value judgment of pass or fail. Exactly where does the brake technician draw the line for when the vehicle passes or fails a brake test? Is this determination his or her opinion or is there some sort of number that quantifies braking performance? 28
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In fact, there are several numbers or values that define minimum standards for the stopping ability of any vehicle. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulation §393.52* specifies that any vehicle must be capable of “developing a braking force at least equal to the percentage of its gross weight.” This is also known as braking force or “brake efficiency”, which translates to distance (in feet) of deceleration to a stop from a speed of 20 mph. *NOTE – These stopping-distance requirements are the same values affirmed in National Fire Prevention Association regulations, NFPA-1911.
Most trucks, with a GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) greater than 10,000 lbs. must stop in 35 ft. or less at 20 mph. There are several sophisticated performance-based brake testers (PBBT) of choice, ranging from fixed, in-ground roller dynamometers costing hundreds of thousands of dollars to much less pricey hand-held and/or in-vehicle units. An affordable, userfriendly PBBT used in many fleet garages is the Vericom Computer. Using this intelligent tool, the Vericom VC4000PC operator easily measures the Accelerometer Computer precise brake performance of any vehicle, thereby documenting brake performance. In addition to validating that any vehicle is braking within federal requirements, it is a valuable diagnostic tool that makes certain no vehicle is put into service that does NOT meet minimum performance standards, thereby helping to ensure safety. The Vericom Computer is a powerful machine that instantly provides data of the vehicle being tested under the conditions it is being tested in. As opposed to a dynamometer, the Vericom tests the actual vehicle’s performance, rather than calculating values derived from weighing the vehicle and measuring rolling-resistance. Performance reports can be instantly printed out or downloaded and electronically attached to the vehicle’s work order in the shop’s maintenance system. Just how to achieve superior stopping performance is a fascinating subject involving physics, engineering, materials and mechanics. Look for future articles covering these topics.
PROUDLY SERVICING FLORIDA FOR OVER 5 YEARS NFPA 1851 COMPLIANT THIRD PARTY VERIFIED FACILITY CLEANING AND INSPECTIONS DECONTAMINATION John Campo has worked in the field of braking for more than forty years. He is an ASE Certified Technician and brake instructor at FFCA’s National EVT Training Academy. He is a member of the American Public Transportation Association Brake and Chassis Working Group and is currently the Director of Technical Services for Power Brake, LLC of Tampa, Florida. Email john@powerbrake1.com.
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By Scott H. Chappell, US&R/Haz-Mat Program Coordinator, Division of State Fire Marshal
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all of the specific training needs of all of the districts, stations and firefighters, just as there is no way for the folks conducting training at the station and district level to fully understand the training needs of the entire department. To meet the training needs of a department, personnel from every level must be actively engaged. It is not someone else’s job to train us – training . Chapp ott H ell is everyone’s Sc responsibility. As we all identify and conduct the training that is io a needed and best n M of S ir e F t a t e suited for our audience based on our level in the organization, the department, and everyone in it, improves – as does our ability to quickly deliver emergency services to the public we serve. Di
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is up for the challenges that they may face, it is the district (battalion) chiefs who should focus this training to meet the specific needs of that district. Here the district chief may take the concepts and skills that are taught by the training division and apply them to the specific target hazards of that district. Additionally, district training should focus on building the teamwork and interactions that occur between neighboring stations and mutual aid departments as they work together on common goals. Coordinated by the lieutenant, station-level training focuses on the individual firefighters and the skills they need to utilize the equipment on their apparatus and at their station. Firefighters should be trained not just on the knowledge and skills required to perform their job, but on the ability to put these skills to use to accomplish goals in an emergency scene. Looking at training from the bottom up, station-level training should teach our firefighters how to do what needs to be done and teambuilding at the company level. District-level training coordinates these efforts and trains to specific response requirements within a district. Training divisions create the training framework to ensure all firefighters have the same base knowledge and that the department’s districtand station-level trainings are in line with the department goals and objectives. It is important to note that there is no way for the training division to know or address
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raining is everyone’s responsibility and is one of the most important activities we can do. If we are not actively running emergency calls, we should be taking action to prepare ourselves, our crew and our department to be better responders for the emergencies that we run. That does not mean that we need to be training every second we are not running calls. What that does mean is that we should constantly work to do what we do better. Fire department training divisions exist to identify and address the training needs of a department. Everything from the various NFPA and ISO training requirements to the high frequency/low risk and low frequency/high risk activities that we expect our rescuers to perform. The training division will identify and prioritize training to meet the current and future needs of the department while ensuring that all newly hired personnel are trained on what is expected from them as they begin their careers. Additionally, it is the training division’s job to make sure there is a qualified applicant pool as opportunities for promotion present themselves. An effective training division not only produces entry-level firefighters but continues to develop personnel and facilitate a highly competitive promotional process where fully prepared applicants challenge each other as the best of the best are promoted. While training divisions provide department-wide training to ensure everyone
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BSFR Conducts First-Ever Joint Retirement
Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Welcomes New Fire Chief
By Michael B. Kane, Battalion Chief
By Elizabeth Graham, Fire and Life Safety Educator, PIO, Fire Inspector
On Friday June 21, 2019, the Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services made departmental landmark history when they conducted the simultaneous retirement of husband and wife company officers. While the agency has seen more frequent retirements as attrition of senior members continues, the agency has never before experienced a time when a married couple retired together. For their final tour, Captain Colleen McMahon and Lieutenant Jeffrey McMahon rode side-by-side on board Rescue 37 during a ceremonial expression of commitment; not only to the agency they’ve served more than half their lives, but more so to each other. Colleen and Jeff met in the department and began their courtship some 25 years ago, but they have been on the job much longer than that. Colleen has served thirty years, and Jeff, thirty-three. While throughout their careers they have responded to the same incidents and worked in the same battalion, neither of them had ever worked together on the same apparatus. That is until now. As the rescue unit rolled backwards into the bay for the final time, a small contingent of their firefighting family was waiting on the apparatus floor to greet them. Both Jeff and Colleen stepped off the truck smiling to a flurry of clapping hands. It was clearly apparent that each were content about bringing their career to the end, but what was even more apparent was the joy they expressed at sharing the moment with each other. They would be again side-by-side, in their ‘Class A’ attire for the last time the following morning during their formal retirement ceremony. When asked how he felt about ending his service career together with his wife, Jeffrey replied, “We actually have a permanent open calendar because there’s no more schedule,” referring to the traditional 24-hours-on and 48-hours-off firefighter schedule. Now a thing of the past for the firefighting duo who have no specific plans for their future. When questioned about what he thought about retiring the husband and wife duo in his command, Lauderdale Lakes District Fire Chief Ken Kronheim said, “Literally everything comes full circle, it’s always an honor for command staff to be able to send a retiree home, happy, healthy and, most importantly, safe to their families.” True indeed.
East Lake Chief Awarded CFO Credential By Claudia Faiola, Fire and Life Safety Educator
The Center for Public Safety Excellence’s Commission on Professional Credentialing (CPC) has given Fire Chief Tom Jamison the Chief Fire Officer (CFO) designation. CPC credentialing is a professional designation model that recognizes career excellence, professional development and technical competence. Chief Jamison has over 27 years of experience in the Fire and EMS field, and has served as the Fire Chief for East Lake Fire Rescue since 2011. 32
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Palm Harbor Fire Rescue recently held a changing of the guard ceremony on July 10, 2019, to officially retire Fire Chief Craig Maciuba after 35 years of dedicated service, and to introduce and welcome the newly appointed Chief of Department, Scott Sanford. Fire Chief Maciuba served the citizens of Palm Harbor with over 35 years of volunteer and career firefighting. At one time, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue, formerly known as OPC (Ozona, Palm Harbor & Crystal Beach), was primarily a volunteer department. Maciuba served in many capacities and also had the opportunity to work alongside his brother, Keith Maciuba. During the ceremony, Keith Maciuba, the second senior-most firefighter at PHFR, handed his brother the department flag for the last time. Chief Maciuba then passed the flag on to incoming Chief of Department Scott Sanford to signify the end and beginning of their careers as fire chief. Chief Sanford has been a member of Palm Harbor Fire Rescue since 2000 and worked his way up through the ranks. He served on the executive board of Local 2980 for 10 years, was a pension board trustee, a member of the department’s extrication team and was promoted to Deputy Chief of Operations in October 2018.
Lakeland FOCUS Scholarship Award By Janel Vasallo, Public Relations and Information Manager
The Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) has selected two recipients for its 2019-2020 Fire-Service Opportunity and Career for Under-served Students (FOCUS) Scholarship. The scholarship program has been offered by LFD since 2014 and is intended to provide the opportunity at a successful career in the fire service to deserving students who may have not had the opportunity otherwise, due to financial hardship. The two selected candidates are Jessica Olaez and David Vasquez, both residents of Polk County. The fire service has provided many firefighters with a successful career and enriching experiences. It is the department’s hope that through this program the same can be afforded to even more potential firefighters. Applications are currently being accepted through May of 2020, for the upcoming 2020-2021 award. The sponsorship on behalf of the Lakeland Fire Department Provides: • Paid tuition to Ridge Career Center’s Fire Standard Program • Paid books and materials necessary for required course work • Paid uniforms required for fire standards program • Direct mentorships by active duty LFD firefighters and administration • Paid exam fees for all exams The entire package is valued at over $3,500 of financial support, in addition to the priceless mentorship from active-duty members of the Lakeland Fire Department. The scholarship program was born from the department’s desire to help those in need in its community, while at the same time addressing the need to develop a workforce that is more representative of its community.
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Jacksonville Opens Station, Breaks Ground on Another
East Lake Donates $1,500 to Local Family
By John Bracey, Community Affairs Officer
By Claudia Faiola, Fire and Life Safety Educator
During the last week of June, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department broke ground on Fire Station 61 and opened Fire Station 73. On Tuesday, June 25, 2019, Interim Director/Fire Chief Keith Powers joined elected officials in grabbing a golden shovel and ceremoniously digging into the soil on which Station 61 will stand early next year. Three days later, on a Friday morning, Powers used oversized, gold-handled scissors alongside Station 73’s Captain Kenny Keene and elected officials as they cut through a bright red ribbon stretched across one of the new station’s emergency vehicle exits as part of the facility’s official opening. Both stations will primarily serve Jacksonville’s southwestern region, and they will quicken the average response times of fire and rescue apparatus in their respective territories by several minutes. The addition of those fire stations will also significantly improve the ISO ratings, or levels of fire protection, in the geographical areas that are within five road-miles of each station. This improved fire protection often translates into less expensive property insurance premiums, according to Skip Starling, director of the National Fire Services Office. “Going from an ISO Class 10 to a Class 1 is the biggest change that can occur,” Starling said. “Typically, it is a 50 percent savings or more in insurance premiums. And that’s less money for the same level of coverage.” Powers shared the encouraging news about quicker response times and better ISO ratings at 61’s and 73’s events. Station 73 is located in the Cecil Commerce Center and will serve the communities off New World Avenue, 103rd Street, Normandy Boulevard and Chaffee Road South. Because of Fire Station 73, the approximately 3,200 homes that previously were an ISO Class 10 rating are now an ISO Class 1, which is the best protection possible. It also means that the approximately 75 businesses with an ISO Class 10 rating improved to a Class 1. Station 73’s site also includes the city’s backup 9-1-1 center, which is still under construction and expected to open in a few months. Station 61 is scheduled to open by late February. Its site is on Old Middleburg Road South next to the Argyle Branch Library. The station will protect Jacksonville’s Argyle/Oakleaf community. In addition to providing quicker response times in its territory, Station 61 will also improve fire protection levels and result in an upgrade of the ISO rating to a Class 1 for the approximate 5,700 homeowners and 100 businesses within five road-miles of the station. Both Engine 61 and Rescue 61 have operated out of temporary locations for several months. Grand Opening (L-R): Jacksonville City Council Members Randy White and Aaron Bowman join Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s Interim Director/Fire Chief Keith Powers and Station 73’s Capt. Kenny Keene in opening Fire Station 73 in late June. Ground Breaking (L-R): The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s Interim Director/Fire Chief Keith Powers joins Jacksonville City Council Members Randy White and Aaron Bowman and former Council Member Doyle Carter in officially breaking ground for Fire Station 61, which is scheduled to open in late February.
Thanks to all the support East Lake Fire Rescue received during their Annual 5k Run/Walk in 2018, East Lake Fire Rescue was able to donate $1,500 to the Trumbull family during the 3rd of July fundraiser event at the Varsity Club. Here's the family's story: While suffering from ongoing kidney issues that had been managed successfully for years, Chelsea Trumbull suddenly felt half her body go numb. She was rushed to the hospital, where she remains on dialysis permanently until she can receive a kidney transplant. Chelsea and her husband Kody now face ongoing medical bills while raising a 6year-old son and a 2-year-old daughter.
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Michael Long Awarded Fire Service Official of the Year By Melvin M. Stone, Assistant Director
On May 23, 2019, the Alarm Association of Florida (AAF) recognized District Chief Michael Long of the Division of State Fire Marshal with their annual Fire Service Official of the Year award for 2018. The award or outstanding lifetime career achievements in the fire services industry was presented at the AAF annual business conference held in Orlando, Florida. Our congratulations to Chief Long for his outstanding dedication to our country and the State of Florida. “District Chief Long is known statewide for his expertise in fire alarms and the codes governing them,” said Bureau Chief Casia Sinco, “and the State Fire Marshal is fortunate to have the benefit of Chief Long and his knowledge and leadership as a member of our team.” Mike Long said, "Receiving the “MVP” award for the Alarm Association Fire Prevention person of the year was a great honor. I am in my 30th year working with the State Fire Marshal’s office and it has been my goal to make this state, my community and the public a safer place through fire alarm awareness and education. I could not achieve this honor without the great people that I work with every day. I am very proud and humbled to be a part of such a great organization." Director Julius Halas of the Division of State Fire Marshal’s Office stated, “I am extremely proud of Chief Long for all of his contributions and high level of expertise which he has brought to the division during his many years of distinguished service.”
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.
Firefighters Reunite with Couple They Helped Save
Lake County Receives Pet Oxygen Mask Donation
By Ashley Papagni, Public Information Manager
By Tiffany Henderson, Lead Public Information Officer
Orlando firefighters reunited with an Orlando couple for the first time after their house caught fire two months ago. Orlando residents Fanny and Ciro Randazzo believe they’re lucky to be alive after a fire nearly destroyed their College Park home on May 8, 2019. The cause of the fire was due to a clothes dryer in the garage. The National Fire Protection Association states there are nearly 16,000 dryer fires a year, killing 13 people, injuring hundreds and causing $238 million in damage. According to the U.S. Fire Administration, there have been at least 41 Floridians killed in home fires so far this year. Orlando Fire Chief Richard Wales demonstrated how to properly clean lint from a dryer and provided other safety tips. Many of the firefighters who responded to the May 8 incident were present, as well as the ADT dispatcher from Tennessee who alerted our dispatch center. The couple was grateful and excited to thank our fire crews. ADT provided Orlando Fire department with $5,000 for future community outreach and education programs.
SWFD Fleet Maintenance/Logistics Building Update By Sammy Sanchez, Fire Marshal, Public Information Officer
The new South Walton Fire District Fleet Maintenance/ Logistic Building is still tracking to meet the end-of-August deadline. The 3-story 28,000 square foot fleet maintenance facility will enable SWFD to conduct maintenance and repairs of their own fire apparatus, which reduces repair cost and out-of-service time. The building will also provide room for administrative functions, storage, classroom training and allow for future expansion opportunities. This new facility is scheduled to be completed by the end of August 2019 and will be located directly behind the South Walton Fire District Headquarters at 911 North County Highway 393, Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Thank you to our SWFD Fire Board for your confidence, vision and desire to provide the best, not only for our SWFD men and women but also for the South Walton community we proudly serve.
Commissioner Sean Parks and Lake County Fire Rescue graciously accepted the Orlando Cat Cafe’s donation of two pet oxygen mask kits in recognition of National Pet Fire Safety Day. “Each year more than 500,000 pets are affected by house fires and our hope is that the donation of these masks will help save precious pet lives,” said Sandy Cagan, founder of the Cat Café, which, celebrated its 500th adoption on July 14.
Hillsborough County Trains for Wildland Fires By Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Public Relations
The California wildfires served as a national wakeup call to the incredible dangers of wildland fires and the importance of training for this eventuality. For several weeks, our crews have been working and training for wildland firefighting with the Florida Forest Service. Practice includes creating defensible fire lines to contain and stop wildfires. In one of several scenarios, brush trucks were unavailable or used all their water, so our crews practiced digging a fire line using hand tools to stop the fire in its tracks. Working in an area within the south county known as the Balm Boyette Scrub Preserve, our personnel also trained with fire shelters to use as a survival tool in the event of becoming trapped by a wildland blaze.
Hanson Awarded H.D. Crossnine Award By Nicole Chesser, Office of the Fire Chief
Greater Naples Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Shawn Hanson was awarded the Southeastern Association of Fire Chiefs’ H.D. Crossnine Award during their 91st Annual Leadership Conference held in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. The award commemorates the contributions of retired Memphis, Tennessee, Fire Marshal Deputy Chief Herbert D. Crossnine, who contributed greatly to the association’s efforts to develop fire safety standards in line with fire service values and the needs of communities. Deputy Chief Hanson was selected because of her exceptional performance in fire safety initiatives and community involvement. Pictured L-R: Fire Chief Kingman Schuldt, Deputy Chief Shawn Hanson, Fire Chief Eddie Phillips (retired). Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG
35
East Lake Fire Rescue Named District of the Year
Battalion Chiefs Train in Media Relations
By Claudia Faiola, Fire and Life Safety Educator
By Mike Jachles, Public Information Officer
East Lake Fire Rescue was named Florida’s 2019 District of the Year by the Florida Association of Special Districts (FASD). This award is presented to a district which works in a team effort to achieve and surpass all priority goals while staying within budget guidelines and meeting and/or exceeding expectations. East Lake Fire Rescue’s Fire Chief, Tom Jamison said of the award, “I could not be more proud of the members of the East Lake Fire District that helped us earn this recognition. I believe we truly are an excellent organization staffed with dedicated and motivated people who embrace our core values of Excellence, Leadership, Family and Respect.”
With an annual call volume exceeding 124,000 in one of the nation’s top-20 TV markets, Orange County Fire Rescue’s Public Information Office has expanded media training to include field battalion chiefs in order to enhance the working relationship with local media outlets and facilitate information delivery from the field. With three full-time public information officers (PIOs), a geography of 800 square miles and a daily call volume that can reach 600, it was important to strengthen the skills of the field battalions who are permitted to speak on-camera at incidents that do not rise to the level of an on-scene PIO response. Shift-specific training was conducted in June for 18 of the field battalion chiefs. The one-day training was developed by the FFCA PIO Section and is a hybrid curriculum that includes the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Public Information Officer Awareness (G289) certificate and relevant topics like Florida Public Records Law and social media awareness, as well as a practical on-camera interview scenario. In June, PIO training was also conducted for eight newly promoted battalion chiefs. That group received the two-day, FEMA Basic PIO (G290) certificate. The class was video-conferenced with participants from South Florida in a joint-instructor delivery of the classroom session. The training also gave the chiefs the perspective on how the PIO functions behind-the-scenes through social media, which they had little awareness of prior to the training. Based on feedback from the classes and continued interest,
Orange City Fire Department News By Robyn Warmuth, Executive Assistant
The Orange City Fire Department congratulates Fire Marshal Robert Scott on his successful completion of the police academy. All his hard work, long hours and dedication have paid off. As of this year, he is cross-trained and has become a reserve officer with our police department. He is currently in FTO training and, once complete, he will work a minimum 24 hours of patrol per month with OCPD. All of this while still performing his fire marshal duties on a full-time basis. We are proud of his great accomplishment and his continued efforts to make Orange City a safe place for all our residents and visitors. The Orange City Fire Department also welcomes Firefighter/EMT Frederik Jooste to our fire department family! Pictured L-R: Battalion Chief Michael Kyp, Firefighter/EMT Frederik Jooste, Deputy Chief Samuel Pilcher
MDA Children Get the Honorary Fire Department Tour By Tara Cardoso, Community Education & Communications Team
Volusia County Holds Recognition Ceremony By Kate Lind
Volusia County Fire Rescue held its recognition ceremony recently honoring those members who have received promotions, awards or are newly retired. The event was held in the courtroom of the historic courthouse in DeLand, Florida, and attended by staff and families. EMT of the year: Lt. Lesley Crandall and Paramedic of the year: Firefighter Charles Matt. Promotion of the following to Battalion Chief: Matthew Smitherman, Steven Huber and Jeremy Smith.
36
FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE
August 2019
It’s a dream come true for these kids! Gearing up for the annual Muscular Dystrophy Boot Drive, two little boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy from Palm Beach County visited the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Training Complex for the royal treatment. Five-yearold Noah and nine-year-old Ryan became “Honorary Firefighters” for the day, learning from the award-winning Palm Beach County Fire Rescue Extrication Team, the Punishers, how the Jaws of Life are used to save lives. The kids and parents sprayed water hoses with Engine 30 and got to meet Deputy Chief Kimberly Hude to receive their plaques and customized fire rescue badges! It’s always rewarding for the firefighters to be able to meet the families behind the battle against muscular dystrophy.
Call 1-800-210-0263 or email: CS@MYDFSFL.COM.. No Fee - Free Consultations
2019 Safety & Health Conference B Resort & Spa, Lake Buena Vista, FL December 2-4, 2019
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Emergency Vehicle Repair 321-228-7691 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
By Tara Cardoso, Community Education & Communications Team Palm Beach County Fire Rescue
T
he Region 7 All Hazards Incident Management Team (AHIMT) was deployed on a historic mission to help the Cherokee Nation with disaster assistance. The Cherokee Nation covers 7,000 square miles in northeast Oklahoma and suffered back-to-back tornados while the Arkansas River reached well beyond flood stage. The AHIMT dealt with all kinds of issues: coal ash from the power plant, heavy metal retention ponds on the brink of flooding, emergency evacuations of neighborhoods and neighboring towns, swiftwater rescues, contaminated water issues, oil spills, a measles outbreak and vector species issues. While search and rescue operations were being performed, it was discovered that radio communications were nonexistent, and teams were running rescue missions via airboats and zodiac boats day and night with only cell phone communications. The team’s Communications Unit Leader (COML) Captain Kevin Kimberly was able to order a portable radio VHF tower, and then set up and program the team’s radios to reestablish communications for safety. Search and rescue missions and hazard mitigation were coordinated through District Chief Jose Gonzalez, the team’s Operations Section Chief
(OSC). Numerous other safety concerns were identified and mitigated by the Safety Officer (SOFR), Deputy Chief Doug McGlynn. Another historical event involved the state of Florida deploying a liaison (LOFR) from Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM) to have a direct reach back to Florida for any assistance. Planning Section Chief (PSC) Captain Adam Taft was able to establish Incident Action Plans (IAPs.) The Finance Section Chief (FSC) D/O Jason Ruffing, along with Logistics Section Chief (LSC) Chris Cox (Division Chief of EM for Sunrise Fire), was able to establish a streamlined ordering process to begin effectively tracking items for better financial reconciliation. Social media messaging and news interviews were established and constantly updated to keep the Cherokee citizens informed of the ongoing rescues and services provided and health concerns regarding flood safety. At the end of the deployment, the AHIMT was tasked with developing and delivering just-in-time training to Cherokee Nation staff to develop Preliminary Damage Assessment Teams (PDATs) to assist with the final steps for FEMA recovery. #MissionAccomplished
ETR, LLC 407-339-6737 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19 Hall-Mark RTC 800-524-6072 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Life Scan Wellness Centers 813-876-0625 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Minerva Bunker Gear Cleaners / Fire Soaps 888-928-6537 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Municipal Equipment, LLC 800-228-8448 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 NAFECO 800-628-6233 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Power Brake 813-623-1333 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 Star & Shield Insurance 866-942-9822 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Team Equipment, Inc. 800-367-9054 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Ten-8 Fire Equipment, Inc. 800-228-8368 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40 VFIS 800-233-1957 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27 Wheeled Coach 800-342-0720 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Please check us out on social media
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Robert Bessler. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Citrus County Fire Rescue James Blanton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . SCPS Heather Crary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Martin County Fire Rescue Jason Fair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte County Fire & EMS Services Jason Liska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lake County Fire Rescue Thomas Quinn . . . . . . . . . . . . City of Port Richey Fire Department
38
FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE
August 2019
Michael Regnier . . . . . . . . . . . . Sarasota County Fire Department Jeffrey Rouse . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Miami Dade Fire Rescue Nate Schwessinger . . . . . . . . . . Purchase Point Equipment Supply Michael Seneca . . . . . . . . . . Charlotte County Fire & EMS Services Timothy Sirois . . . . . . . . . . . . City of Port Richey Fire Department Forest Willis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Nassau County Fire Recue
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