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The Florida/Georgia Edition
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APRIL/M AY, 2 0 2 5
SCOTTUPMDE HUDSON, FL - On Friday, April 4th at 4:38 P.M., Pasco County Fire dispatched Engine 20 and Tanker 20 for an outside fire at the Ramm Recycling Plant on County Line Rd. While en route, a large black loom up could be seen for miles. -
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1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
April/May, 2025 FLORIDA
ADVERTISER INDEX Comoanv
Paae
A r m o r T u ff F lo o rin g
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A T V & U T V S a f e t y T r a in in g
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B a c k s to p U S A
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STEVE CLARK S C O n LAPRADE
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C e n tr a l A la b a m a T r a in in g
Lanai Fire in Heritage Pines Community in Hudson
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F IR E 2 0 2 5
F lo z e D o lly
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K im te k C o rp .
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M E C O F ire
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R a y m o n d J a m e s & A s s o c ia te s
HUDSON, F L- On February 14th, Pasco County Fire was dis patched for a structure on Heritage Point Drive. On arrival, they found an extinguished fire in the lanai of the dwelling. The homeowner, a retired out-of-state firefighter, used his garden hose to knock down the fire prior to the arrival of En gine 39 and Rescue 39.
W orking Vehicle Fire Spreads to Residence in Navarre NAVARRE, FL - At approxi mately 4:44 A.M. on April 6th, the Holley-Navarre Fire District was dispatched to the 3200 block o f Se cret Isle Way for a reported vehicle fire. The 911 caller advised that a B M W was on fire in the driveway o f the residence. D ue to the v eh icle’ s close proximity to the home and the risk o f fire extension. C h ief Lew is up graded the response to include a mutual aid response. U pon arrival, units found the original vehicle fully involved, with the fire having extended to tw o additional vehicles parked in
Jump t o f il e #040625100
the driveway. The fire also spread to the exterior o f the residence. Crew s quickly initiated fire sup pression operations to prevent fur ther extension into the home. Navarre Beach Ladder 49 as sisted at the scene, while Midway Engine 37 and Truck 36 answered several calls in Holley-Navarre's district. There were no injuries re ported.
- STEVE CLARK
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SCOn LAPRADE CORPORATE INFORMATION 1st R espond er N ew s (ISSN 1525-1683) - F lorida/Georgia edition - Vol. 2 No. 2 - is published bi-monthly, 6 tim es a
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HUDSON, FL - At approximately 9:30 P.M. on February 25th, Pasco and Hernando Fire responded to a three-car motor ve hicle accident at the busy intersection of US 19 (Commercial Way) and County Line Rd. FD rescues transported victims to area hospitals. It appears one of the autos ran the red light, crashing into the other two.
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April/M ay, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
FLORIDA
Pasco County Scrapyard Goes Up in Flames HUDSON, FL - On Friday, April 4th at 4:38 P.M., Pasco County Fire dispatched Engine 20 and Tanker 20 for an outside fire at the Ramm R ecy cling Plant on County Line Rd. While en route, a large black loom up could be seen for miles. Engine 20 re ported a large c o l umn o f smoke, and Bat 1 and Engine 39 were added to the run. On ar rival, Engine 20 had a large scrap pile on fire with an enormous amount o f black smoke and fire. Engine 39 arrived on scene, tagged a hydrant out on the street and laid in to Engine 20. The fire was very difficult to control with hand lines, so Ladder 9 was called at 5:14 PM. Within moments, there was another call for the Tower Ladder (Truck 1) to the scene. At this time with the pile still burning and smoke seen for miles away, additional com pa nies were called to assist. Once the two trucks arrived and went to work using the ladder pipes, the fire was starting to get knocked down. It took about 45 minutes to bring the pile under control. Some companies stayed on scene until around 10:00 PM. making sure it was all under con trol and pick up o f the lines was run. A ccording to officials, the fire may have been caused by a lithium battery in the pile.
SCOn LAPRADE
A few lines run prior to Ladder 9 and Truck 1.
- SCOTT LAPRADE
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GRAPHIC DESIGN/MARKETING 1st Responder N ews’ graphics team a division of:
MmdPLEiiI. b n
ture fire. At approximately 11:05 p.m. a mayday was
sistant Chief Scott Glass responded to a residential fire.
transmitted for a wall collapse. Firefighter M arcelo
As members were setting up a water supply a vehicle
Garcia and another firefighter were immediately res
ran over the hose popping a coupling, causing 3 fire
cued and transported to the M emorial Hermann-
fighters to fall to the ground. Assistant Chief Glass sus
Texas M edical Center. Firefighter Garcia passed
tained serious head injuries and was airlifted to
away from the injuries he sustained in the collapse.
Northwest Texas Healthcare System in Amarillo. He
The other firefighter has since been released.
firefighters were at the scene o f a com m ercial struc
passed away on Sunday, October 20,2024.
CORRESPONDENTS
will work with you on your advertisement free o f charge. Addition ally, w e offer a com plete marketing department for all o f your printed needs. Whether they are posters, or
Incident Date: November 6, 2024 Death Date: November 6,2024 Fire Department: Houston Fire Department Initial Summary: On Wednesday, N ovem ber 6, 2024,
Texas: Scott Glass, 43 Rank: Assistant Chief Incident Date: October 17, 2024 Death Date: October 20,2024 Fire Department: Perryton Fire and EMS Initial Summary: On Thursday, October 17, 2024, A s
[ c z j f j aj j a,j ^ 9 U (Jsw
Connecticut: Robert "Sharky" Sharkevich, Sr., 66 Rank: Engineer Incident Date: October 22, 2024 Death Date: October 22,2024 Fire Department: Wethersfield Volunteer Fire Department
Battalion Chief John Walsh was in command o f a house
Initial Summary: On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, Engi
fire when he collapsed. He was immediately transported
neer Robert "Sharky”Sharkevich, Sr., was battling a
to the hospital where he passed away. The cause o f his
brush fire on Lamentation Mountain in Berlin, CT, when
death has yet to be determined.
the Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) he was operating rolled over a steep, rocky incline. He was pronounced deceased at the scene. Three other firefighters were taken to local hospitals with non life-threatening in juries.
California: Garret Miller, 44 Rank: Fire Captain Incident Date: October 8, 2024 Death Date: October 21,2024 Fire Department: Barstow Fire Protection District Initial Summary: On Tuesday, October 8, 2024, Fire
845-534-7500 ext. 214 •(fax) 845-534-0055
Pennsylvania: Stephen Michael Pavetti, 58 Rank: 3rd Assistant Chief Incident Date: November 20,2024 Death Date: November 21, 2024 Fire Department: Kiski Township Fire Department #1 Initial Summary: On Wednesday, November 20, 2024, starting at 5:33 pm., Assistant Chief Stephen Michael Pavetti responded to multiple calls for trees and wires down, with the last call at 8:03 p.m. After the calls were completed, Assistant Chief Pavetti and others from the department returned to the station, cleaned the appara
Captain Garret Miller was on duty at Fire Station 366
tus, and put it back in service. They then had dinner to
when he suffered a medical emergency. He was immedi
gether at the station. At approximately 3:30 p.m. the
ately transported to the hospital where he remained for
next day, Thursday, November 21,2024, Assistant Chief
two weeks until his passing from a cardiovascular event.
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Pennsylvania: John Walsh, 60 Rank: Battalion Chief Incident Date: November 20,2024 Death Date: November 20, 2024 Fire Department: Pittsburgh Bureau o f Fire Initial Summary: On Wednesday, November 20, 2024,
Pavetti was found unresponsive at his home where he was pronounced deceased from a cardiac event.
Texas: Marcelo Garcia, III, 42 Rank: Firefighter
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April/M ay, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
FLORIDA
Working Fire Claims Recreational Vehicle in Ocala OCALA, FL - On March 24th, Ocala Fire Rescue responded to a recreational vehicle (RV) fire in the 200 block o f NW 9th Street at ap proximately 4:55 p.m. Engine 1 and 5, Ladder 3, Tower 1, Rescue 3, Battalion Chiefs 11 and 22, and a Safety Officer responded. As fire units ap proached the scene, a column o f black smoke was visible. Upon arrival, the crews were con fronted with an RV engulfed in flames; the fire, spreading to a neighboring tree. The crew deployed multiple lines to combat and extinguish the fires affecting both the RV and the tree. Their response ensured that the fire was brought under control, pre venting further spread and potential damage to surrounding properties. Fortunately, the RV was unoc cupied at the time o f the fire, result ing in no injuries. The cause o f the fire remains under investigation. The Prevention Division, Ocala Police Department, and Marion County Fire Rescue also responded. OCALA FIRE RESCUE
- OCALA FIRE RESCUE
Brush Fire Spreads to Mobile Home in Midway MIDWAY, FL - A brush fire broke out on the evening o f March 22nd, prompting a multi-agency re sponse as it spread to an abandoned mobile home. At approximately 10:24 p.m., Midway Fire D is trict’ s Engine 37, Truck 36, and Battal ion 35 were dis patched to the intersection o f East Bay Boulevard and Rusty Lane after re ports o f a fire within the wooded area. Upon arrival, crews found the fire had spread approxi mately 200-feet into the woods. As the flames intensified, the blaze reached an abandoned single wide mobile home, engulfing the structure. The incident was quickly upgraded, bringing in additional re sources, including Engine 35, Flolley-Navarre Engine 41, Brush 41, and Battalion 45. The Florida Forestry Service also responded to assist in containing the fire. Firefighters battled the flames and managed to contain the fire after it consumed approximately half an acre o f land. Unfortunately, the m o bile home was completely de stroyed. Despite the severity o f the fire, no injuries were reported. The cause o f the fire remains under investiga tion. STEVE CLARK
- STEVE CLARK
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
April/May, 2025
PAGE 9 FLORIDA
DRILLS/TRAINING To see your Drills in the newspaper upload them on our website www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com
OCALA FIRE RESCUE
Rush Hour Crash Clocks All 1-75 Northbound Traffic in Ocala OCALA, FL - On March 5th, a multi-vehicle accident occurred on 1-75 Northbound near mile marker 351 at approximately 4:49 p.m., af fecting traffic flow and requiring a coordinated emergency response during rush hour. Engine 4, Rescue 4, Battalion Chief 11, and a Safety Officer were promptly dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, crews discovered four vehicles with varying degrees o f damage, blocking all three lanes o f Northbound traffic. A Florida Flighway Patrol officer was already present, assisting with the initial as sessment. Incident Details: Vehicle #1: A silver pick-up truck sustained moderate front-end damage and a minor fuel leak. The driver remained inside the vehicle. Vehicle #2: A black sedan with heavy rear-end damage and some front-end damage. It was p osi tioned against the guardrail. It car ried three occupants: two adults and one minor. Vehicle #3: A maroon SUV ex perienced moderate rear and front damage. Inside were three occu pants: one adult and two minors.
Jump t o f il e #030625100
Vehicle #4: A gold SUV was found on its roof. The driver was the only occupant, and there was no entrapment reported. Ocala Fire Rescue, alongside the Florida Flighway Patrol, Road Rangers, the Ocala Police Depart ment, and Marion County Fire Res cue, managed the scene and ensure the safety o f all involved. A total o f six individuals re quired transportation to the hospi tal. The driver o f Vehicle #1 and the minor from Vehicle #2 were trans ported as trauma alerts. The other individuals, including one adult from Vehicle #2 and all three occu pants o f Vehicle #3, were taken for further medical evaluation. The accident led to traffic dis ruptions for approximately 90 min utes as crews worked to clear the roadway. Thanks to the collabora tion o f all responding agencies, the traffic flow has since been restored, and the roadway is now clear.
CIRONE PHOTOS
In House Training recently held a S-231 Engine Boss class at the Bay Shore Training Center in Bradenton. Students from around the state participated in this 2-day class. The first day is spent in the classroom working through scenarios. On the second day, students are put in the hot seat using sand table exercises. Students will open Engine Boss Task books, working their way to get carded as an Engine Boss.
- OCALA FIRE RESCUE
OUR CALENDAR IS EXPANDING We Need Your Help! P ost an e ve n t in y o u r area at w w w
1 rh n
rn m
SCOTT LAPRADE
On March 24th, 2 members from the Pasco Fire Community Service came out to do a hands-on CPR/Dfib class to about 50 residents of the Heritage Pines 55-and-over community. The class came about after I, myself had performed CPR on a 64-year-old male whom I was golfing with back on September 29, 2024. The golfer survived a massive heart attack known as the "widow maker" and left the hospital after staying just 2 days. A few people in the community said that because of what happened, they wanted to learn from this valuable life lesson themselves and wanted to take the course. I was able to set it up with the General Manager and get this done. We will continue to do more of this here in the remote future.
PAGE 10
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
April/May, 2025
FLORIDA
Open House Held for Grand Opening of Pasco County Station 3 HUDSON, FL - The first alarm to come in for the area o f Hudson was on July 28, 1964. The Fire D e partment came about with 10 men ready to give their time and energy along with the Hudson Community Club the Fire Department began. The first fire truck was purchased for this area for $1,000, and with local businesses and donated work, the truck was equipped. The next thing needed was a place to hold the truck and with the help o f many in the area, the first o f many bricks were laid by Mr. Carl Mattix. This was completed by the early part o f 1965. Carl and his brothers, Mar vin, Stephen and Gary, were just a few o f the first volunteers. Excerpts from the book “ H is tory o f Fire Departments in Pasco County FI”indicated that this new part o f the county needed more. A second piece was needed, and the Hudson Marina gave a station wagon equipped with a stretcher, oxygen and first aid supplies. They now had their first rescue unit for
the West Pasco County. Months went by and they expanded the fleet o f trucks to four, with the addition o f two brush trucks. On Friday, March 21st, the Pasco Fire Department held an open house for Station 3 on State Rd 52, commemorating 50 years of the Fire Department with family, friends and dignitaries. A new white Emergency One Engine was placed in service within this past year and is painted white to cele brate the 50 year anniversary o f Pasco Fire Rescue. In the first years, the engines were white. There is a special emblem on En gine 3 with a 50 year celebration. On the side o f the engine are patches (stickers), noting all o f the former fire departments within Pasco County.
SCOTT LAPRADE
Chief of Dept. Ryan Guynn opens up the ceremony.
- SCOTT LAPRADE
SCOTT LAPRADE
The ribbon cutting.
SCOTT LAPRADE
Patches of the different areas of Pasco County.
SCOTT LAPRADE
Engine 3, the only white apparatus from the original.
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
April/May, 2025
PAGE 11
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PAGE 12
April/May, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
FLORIDA —
STEVE CLARK
Midway Fire D istrict Pinning Ceremony
SWFD
GULF BREEZE, FL- On March 17th, Midway Fire District's An thony Kolokouris was promoted to the rank of Captain. His wife, Shelby, proudly pinned his new badge as his family watched. Chief Shannon Stone praised Captain Kolokouris for his dedication and hard work in earning this position. Captain Kolokouris joined the district in December 2016, and was promoted to Lieutenant/Driver in 2021. He brings a strong work ethic and serves as a mentor to the district’s newest firefighters, helping to shape the future of the depart ment. (L to R): Midway Chief Shannon Stone, Captain An thony Kolokouris and Deputy Chief Rick Barberi.
South Walton Fire District and SEASIDE® Partner to Provide Professional Lifeguard Services
DRILLS/TRAINING To see your Drills in the newspaper upload them on our website www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com
SEASIDE, FL - The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) and SEASIDE'S’ are proud to announce their partnership to provide profes sional beach lifeguard services for SEASIDE'S’ homeowners and va cation guests beginning March 11, 2025. The contractual agreement for services was finalized follow ing discussions between the two enti ties about the critical need for en hancing beach safety within SEASIDE'S’ after the closure o f the Van Ness Butler Regional Beach A ccess in 2024. “ The closure unfortunately cre ated a three-mile gap between our lifeguard towers in Seagrove Beach and Grayton Beach,”said SWFD Fire Chief Ryan Crawford. “SEA SIDE'S’ has stepped up to provide its residents and visitors with life-
JlIMPTO FILE#031725112
3 guard protection, which allows us to more effectively prevent and re spond to emergencies in an area with a historically high call v o l ume.” The beach will be staffed daily, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., during the 2025 Beach Safety Season, which in cludes extended hours during peak times. “Our goal is to provide peace o f mind for everyone who enjoys our beaches, knowing that profes sional lifeguards are on duty to keep them safe," said Kevin Boyle, Seaside Community Development Corp. General Manager. "I have the utmost respect for Beach Safety Director David Vaughan, Fire
C hief Ryan Crawford, and Fire Marshal Sammy Sanchez for their unwavering dedication to protect ing our community. Their leader ship has been instrumental in making this agreement possible, and we are grateful for their part nership. We also applaud Alys Beach, Rosemary Beach, Sandestin, and others for paving the way with similar agreements, setting a strong precedent for proactive beach safety measures across our region.” SWFD and SEASIDE'S’en courage those visiting the beach to swim near a lifeguard and follow the beach flag warning system. For more beach safety information, fol low SWFD on social media or visit www.swfd.org.
- MACKENZIE MCCLINTOCK
Submitting photos and press releases is EASY! Register at www.1rbn.com to begin posting directly. SCOTT LAPRADE
On February 23rd, Clearwater Station 45 welcomed Go Team Therapy Dogs to become familiarized with fire apparatus. The dogs, all with the handlers, were introduced the the sounds and lights of fire apparatus. The instructor also made them aware to keep the dogs away from the hot exhaust pipes on the side.
Prefer emails? Email your press release and photos directly to Lindsey@1strespondernews.com
Why do you do it? C haplain’s Corner Didymus McHugh
So why is it that you do what you do? Years ago, I asked my father why he joined the fire service. My father was working two full time job s and made time for the fire service. He told me that he needed to do something to get him away from his wife. I would later think o f why I joined the fire service and realized that for me, it was a way to get to know my father. Yes, later I joined EMS so that I could help people who may have been getting closer to their end o f life. I have heard people who said that emergency responders joined so that they could get in the news paper. I will admit that some emer gency responders find a way to be in the headlines or trying to control organizations, because they want to be in control or their personality had to be fed at all time. I learned, from my uncles who raised me, I was a firefighter to help people. I was not into it to be in the paper or for any glory. I did the work and that was it. I have seen many who wanted to be paid for their fire service but the people that I respect were the unpaid professionals, who shared their experience and knowledge. I know and have met many people that shared their knowledge for free. One o f the things that stand out in my memories was when I was taking my Haz-Mat Technician course. We had a student sitting taking the course and they had a nu clear physicist teaching the chem istry part o f the course. The physicist went teaching the course but he was incorrect on his infor mation. A gentleman in the class kept correcting the instructor. You could see that the instructor did not like that he was corrected. He looked at the person correcting him and said "if you think you know more than I know, you get up here and you teach the class." When the man came up to the front, the in structor asked him who he thinks he was. The gentleman politely intro duced himself as having a doctorate in chemistry and he was able to rat tle o f chemical facts like me recit ing the alphabet. Did he join Haz-Mat to prove himself to an in structor? No, he found a place where he can use his expertise to help others.
I have noticed emergency re sponders who are in emergency serv ices for the rank. They tell you that you need to respect them because they have the horns, but they have no right to even talk with people be cause they have no subject matter knowledge or how to deal with any person. People go through some experi ences that make them humble. I know a person who survived a backdraft and now he teaches the fire service and stresses safety and the difference that fire gear can make. People do work many times for free because they want to help peo ple just for the sake o f assisting peo ple. As I was working with disasters and supervising people, I came across people who decided to bring a scrapbook with them to show how important they were. These people were sent home because it was obvi ous that they did not have the heart to help people but to build their re sume. There are many people who are in emergency services to build their resumes also but the people who are really respected are those who give from their hearts. One o f the people that I respect and that is respected by so many people gives from himself and shares his knowledge. The one thing that gets me is when someone is asked to speak. They may say that they don't really know that much about the subject matter but they are really the subject matter expert. I always find it amaz ing that the people that have humility may really be the smartest person in the room. I love the story that a friend con veyed to me. He was at a party with his cousin, a beautiful woman that could pass for a model. A gentleman was expressing a challenge that he was having with a particular Apple product. The woman expressed that she may be able to assist and the man dismissed her as just a pretty dumb woman. Do you think that he was surprised when he found out that she was in charge o f the think tank for Apple? So doing a reality check, why do you do what you do? Is it to be a ser vant or do you do it so that others will serve you? You can still serve others and enjoy yourself. I think we know a person that was here to serve His fellow man to the point o f the supreme sacrifice. If you don't know Him and want to, I can help with the introduction.
PAGE 13
April/May, 2025
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April/May, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
FLORIDA
I follicle News
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Winter Garden recently placed a 2024 Pierce Enforcer PUC 1500/750 in service as Engine 23.
Coral Springs - Parkland Fire Rescue's newest apparatus, a 2024 Pierce Impel PUC 1500/1000/30F, has been assigned to Station 109.
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District Fire Department, formerly Reedy Creek, recently placed this 2024 International/Pierce Air & Light Unit in service at Station 2.
Tamarac has received a 2024 Pierce Enforcer 75' quint, which has been assigned to Quint 15. This rig has a 2000-GPM pump, a 470-gallon water tank, and 30-gallons of foam.
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In March, the brand-new Palm Bay Fire Rescue Engine 9 arrived at Station 5 for its Coconut Creek recently placed a 2023 Pierce Saber 75' quint in service. The new official "supermodel" photo shoot. Already in service, Engine 9 is now helping to Truck 94 has a 1250-GPM pump and can carry 470-gallons of water and 30-gallons protect the rapidly expanding southeastern sections of Palm Bay. Over the past 18 of foam. months, the city’s growth has led to a dramatic increase in emergency calls, which has increased the need for Palm Bay Fire Rescue's services. This new engine is equipped with state-of-the-art tools to better support our firefighters. Some of the new gear includes personal thermal imagers, a brand-new Stryker LifePak 35, the latest video laryngoscopes, e-Hydraulic Hurst tools, and much more. With this addi tion, the team is better equipped to meet the needs of the growing community.
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
PAGE 15
April/May, 2025
FLORIDA
Mona Pants Foundation and U.S. First Responders Association Donates Life Saving Pet Masks to A ll Seminole County Fire Department Stations SEMINOLE COUNTY, FL (March 4, 2025) - Seminole County Fire Department recently received a donation from the non profit Mona Pants Foundation for life saving pet-specific oxygen masks. Thanks to the generosity of their dedicated supporters, first responders can now have more pet oxygen masks, which aide pets in emergencies such as fire or acci dents. This will not only be saving the lives o f pets but also providing peace o f mind to their owners. In addition, the U.S. First Re sponders Association donated an additional pet mask per every sta tion at the Seminole County Fire Department (20 in total). “We utilize pet masks on scene quite frequently,” said Training Lieutenant Joshua Marzolf who helped facilitate the do nation. “ We do have pet oxygen masks, but we are always needing
more and are very thankful for the generous donations do our first re sponders to help save our Semi nole County pets.” “ At Mona Pants Foundation, we firmly believe that every pet deserves the same level o f care and compassion as their human counterparts. Pets are cherished members of our families,” said Keli Hogan o f the Mona Pants Foundation. “ Our dedication to this mission is rooted in the count less heartwarming stories we have received describing how these masks have played a pivotal role in saving the lives o f pets caught in dire situations."
IM IN O L E
- DOREEN OVERSTREET SEMINOLE COUNTY FIRE DEPT.
Lt. Josh Marzolf, Engineer/Paramedic Michael Juachon, Lt. Jeremey Saunders and Engineer Austin Colburn pictured with a donated pet oxygen mask and therapy dog Winston.
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April/May, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
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April/M ay, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
FLORIDA
Working Travel Trailer Fire Knocked Down in Holley-Navarre HOLLEY-NAVARRE, FL - At 12:40 A.M. on April 5th, the H ol ley-Navarre Fire District was dis patched to the 7500 block o f Blackjack Circle in response to reports o f a structure fire. The Santa Rosa County Emergency C o m m u n ic a tio n s Center (E.C.C.) re ceived multiple 911 calls indicating a working fire with possible entrapment. Upon arrival. Chief Lewis re ported a fully involved travel trailer engulfed in flames. The intensity of the fire had caused it to extend to a nearby box truck. Additionally, sev eral propane cylinders were identi fied in close proximity to the burning trailer, posing a further haz ard to personnel on scene. □Crews initiated fire suppres sion operations and successfully knocked down the fire. A thorough search o f the area revealed no vic tims. The Florida State Fire Mar shal’ s Office was notified for investigation.
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April/May, 2025
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April/May, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
When the Smoke Cleared: A M urder M ystery in Malden www.fire-police-ems.com Price: $15.99
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This is a soft covered book measuring six inches by nine inches, with 394 pages. It is a true crime story told by the author, who at the time it occurred (July, 2000), was the Comm anding O fficer o f the Massachusetts State Police D e tective Unit. It is the story o f an arson fire which took place in a community room o f a condo com plex in Malden, MA. The fire was set to hide a murder o f a teenage girl who was lured into that room. In an effort to detract from the crime, her body was kidnapped to another state where she was buried in a shallow grave after being de capitated. M ost o f the book ad dresses the crime scene, the investigation, the finding o f the re mains, arrest and custody o f the al leged murderer and the detailed case o f prosecution. M ost o f the book takes the reader through the relentless quest to build the case beyond a reasonable doubt to con vict the defendant. I must impress upon the reader that this book is an education about what it takes to plan, research and collect evidence to convince a jury to vote guilty. The prosecutor worked relent lessly to build this case with a host o f witnesses to say the least. There are eight black and white photos supplied by the family o f the girl and her siblings. If you are inter ested in law and order, you w ill want to read this book. It is a story which brought her family together to a loving ending. The author has such an extensive bio that space w ould not permit all o f it to be in cluded here.
SEMINOLE COUNTY FIRE DEPT.
FF/Paramedic Jackson Vasey works with FF/Paramedic Matt Humphrey on a Mobile Simulation exercise.
Seminole County Fire Department Deploys Mobile Simulation Lab to Provide Enhanced On-Site EMS Training and Education for Crews SEMINOLE COUNTY, FL (March 10, 2025) - The Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) re cently began fielding a Mobile Sim ulation Lab to provide department crews with enhanced in-depth EMS (Emergency Medical Services) train ing and re-certification opportunities right at their fire stations. The Lab, converted from a re tired rescue chassis, leverages simu lation and monitoring technology to provide firefighters with hands-on training opportunities beyond what they might receive in a traditional classroom setting. The back o f the Lab is laid out as an in-service rescue unit, where crews can practice life saving techniques on one o f three ad vanced EMS manikins while training
staff watch from the cab via six em bedded cameras. Instructors can also provide live voice feedback to crews in the lab space and record footage from the lab’ s cameras for future training purposes. The Mobile Simulation Lab’ s in chassis vehicular nature allows it to be deployed at individual fire stations throughout the County, giving crews the opportunity to take advantage o f its enhanced training capabilities without having to incur extended out-of-service periods for off-site training at Seminole County’ s Train ing Center in Longwood. The depart
ment plans to train a cadre o f instruc tors on each shift how to operate the Lab, allowing it to be utilized as a teaching platform at any time. “ Last year alone, our crews con ducted nearly 17,000 hours o f EMS training,”said SCFD Fire Chief Matt Kinley. “ EMS training is extremely important as many o f our calls are medical related. This Mobile Simu lation Lab unit uses technology to provide our crews with a robust plat form for training and education be yond our existing capabilities, in a flexible package that allows us to maximize its benefit while minimiz ing potential strains on our re sources.”
- DOREEN OVERSTREET
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Hillsborough County Station 31, located in Town N County, operates with this 2022 Piece Saber 2000/750 pumper. This is an ALS Engine Company.
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April/May, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
Orange County Fire Rescue recently put a 2024 E-One Typhoon 1500/300/30A/95' Platform in service at Truck 54. The 2005 E-One Cyclone II 2000/300/114' Bronto Aerial previously assigned to this busy company has been retired.
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Truck 54's former rig.
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April/May, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
1IRILLS/TRAININIG If you have photos you would like to see in our Drills feature, please upload them on our website www lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com .
Fire Alarms IAN fire departments have what is commonly referred to as “smells and bells” calls. The term refers to basic calls that may involve frequent flyers such as local restaurants. Firefighters may also use the term “routine” although arguably no call is rou tine; complacency being the subject for another day. What ever these basic calls mean to your district one thing is certain and that is these calls will typi cally involve a fire alarm as the initiating device and the reason for boarding an apparatus. Therefore, firefighters must have at least a rudimentary under standing of fire alarms and fire alarm systems. As with most re quired fire service knowledge and skills, instructors must first start with the basics and build up on how to apply that information. NFPA 72 and 25 govern fire alarm systems while 110 and 111 oversee the power supply. To start each fire alarm system has to have a fire alarm control unit (FACU). This would be the brain of the system that moni tors, controls and responds to disruptions. Obviously, the FACU is generally operating nor mally but there are three other conditions that can occur. The first is “alarm” which is an im mediate threat to life, property and assignment. An alarm con dition may be the result of a heat/smoke detector or a drop in water pressure. The second is a “trouble” condition which is in reference to an issue with the FACU itself as opposed to smoke condition such as a break in the circuitry. The last is a “su pervisory” condition which indi cates an issue with the system and/or any component parts. Su pervisory mode can include other systems such as kitchen suppression or fire pumps be cause a FACU may control more than just fire alarms. An example of supervisory is when a FACU responds to a valve being stuck shut. When a FACU has supervisory functionality, it may need to be temporarily shutdown in order to conduct any system testing. For example, weekly testing of a fire pump in accordance with NFPA 25 would require taking the FACU out of service while that
test is being conducted. Also, most alarm systems have a test mode that allows it to function while testing or even construc tion is taking place. In the case of the latter, it is always wise to let an emergency dispatcher know the situation prior to noti fying firefighters. A fire alarm starts with initiation of device or circuit that signals the FACU into trouble or super visory mode. There are multiple types of initiating devices such as fire, smoke, carbon monox ide, heat detectors (including rate of rise heat detectors), pres sure devices and water flow de vices. Also included are any manual devices such as a pull station. In a conventional system any of these devices will short circuit so that no other device in that “zone” can be activated thus leading firefighters to a general area. On the other hand, an addressable system sends a binary code (either a 0 or 1) that results in identifying a specific device. This is an important aspect be cause when firefighters arrive at a location they want to quickly identify where a problem may be. Although it depends on the SOPs of the department fire fighters should always advise residents or commercial man agers to NOT reset an alarm sys tem for this reason i.e. because it makes identifying an issue all that more cumbersome. Fire fighters would rather search a specific zone or floor as op posed to an entire building. Moving on to how alarm sys tems are powered? Obviously, there has to be not only a reliable primary source but also a reli able backup - we are talking about emergency situations after all. Typically, the primary power source is the local utility while backup sources are often an engine driven generator or acid/lead battery. Back up sources have to provide enough power for anywhere from 5-15 minutes in alarm and a full 24 hours in standby. This goes for not only the system as a whole but some components as well. Emergency lights for example generally have a button that when pressed indicate the bat tery backup is operating suffi
fore possible to be a proprietary and central depending on the functionality of the monitoring system.
ciently. Once a fire alarm signal is sent to the FACU how are occupants notified that the alarm is acti vated? That can be either by sound, voice or a visual cue. Vi sually, flashing lights are the most common but jurisdictional building codes (usually at the state level) determine the num ber, placement and type of noti fication device. Relative to sounds the volume level must be 15 decibels above average ambi ent sound and 5 decibels above the maximum sound. It is a good idea for firefighters and safety personnel to test fire alarms to make sure all occupants can hear/see the notification devices. One last note on notifiers is the type of sound. Temporal 3 is a three-tone sound (heard here: https://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=TfN5mpLdmys) that indi cates evacuation is necessary whereas temporal 4 (heard here:https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BziW_vCC-aA ) is a four-tone sound that indicates carbon monoxide. The last part of alarm systems discussed here would be the monitoring of any FACU. NFPA 1221 standardizes the installa tion, maintenance and use of emergency services communi cations systems. In short this is all about who is monitoring any issues with the alarm system. This may be a public emergency system which is usually a munic ipality such as a police or fire station or even a private com pany. In both cases the on-site FACU acts as a transmitter that sends a signal that ends at the monitoring station which may be on site or operated remotely. In most cases both of these have 24-hour coverage which is obvi ously advantageous since the proper assistance can be dis patched to a given location. To add to the definition of a mon itoring station the term “propri etary” means it is owned by the same entity as the alarm prop erty. College campuses are an example of this since most have a public safety building that is part of the campus property and staffed 24/7 to respond to any calls. Lastly, a central service station provides not only moni toring but also record keeping and periodic testing. It is there
Instructors must not only em phasize some of the alarm ba sics in accordance with the NFPA standards but also im press upon firefighters to famil iarize themselves with their departments SOPs to make sure when arriving at a location due to an alarm drop that they can properly evaluate an alarm issue and put in place a solution. Here are some basic steps upon ar rival: 1) Contact the property manager/owner and ask about when the alarm went off and if there is any construction or other activi ties that may cause an alarm to
trip. 2) Find the FACU to silence and subsequently the zone and/or device in question. 3) Either reset the alarm or ad vise the property manager/owner to contact the alarm company used to reset the alarm. One last note would be that fire fighters would need to know enough about alarm systems to be able to identify a potentially dangerous situation presently and in the future. Although typi cally it is not in the prevue and training for firefighters to sanc tion a home or business owner it is their responsibility to call a municipal fire code compliance officer with reasonable suspi cions of a violation. - JOSEPH CEA
JOSEPH CEA
Fire alarm control panel (facu)
Typical manual pull station
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
April/May, 2025
PAGE 25
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April/May, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
Mother & Son Tragically Burned in Paulding County Kitchen Fire PAULDING COUNTY, GA (March 28, 2025) - Paulding County Sheriff’ s Office, Paulding County Fire & Rescue, and Metro EMS responded to a structure fire at 161 Wiley Drive last Saturday, March 22nd, where a 26-year-old mother and her 2-year-old son sus tained third-degree bums over much of their bodies during a cooking ac cident. Emergency personnel arrived on the scene within minutes o f dis patch, finding two patients already in the front yard, and immediately initiated life-saving medical assis tance. The mother was transported to Cobb WellStar Hospital Bum Unit, while her young son was taken to Augusta Doctors’Hospital Bum Unit. Both have since undergone multiple medical procedures and surgeries. They remain hospitalized in very serious condition, but thank fully, are alive.
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aP 1 Sk Following an exhaustive inves tigation, Paulding County Fire in vestigators have determined that the fire was accidental, originating from a cooking accident. “Our thoughts are with the vic tims and their family as they begin the long road to recovery,” said Chief Garrett Bmbaker. “We urge all residents to exercise caution in the kitchen and ensure fire safety measures are in place to prevent tragedies like this.” Paulding County Fire & Rescue reminds the public to stay vigilant when cooking and to have easy ac cess to a fully charged, working fire extinguisher that has not expired ac cording to the manufacturer's guide lines.
- STEVE MAPES
PATCH OF THE MONTH
compensates correspondents for their article & photograph submissions.
Contact Lindsey TODAY fo r more inform ation! Lindsev@1 stresnondernews.com
845-534-7500 ext. 212
If you have photos you would like to see in our “ Patch o f the month “ feature please upload them on our website, www.lstResponderNews.com or email them to Lindsey@lstResponderNews.com.
Bob Long
“ I t o o k m y s u it t o t h e d r y c l e a n e r b u t t h e y w a n t e d t o c h a r g e EUGENE WEBER JR.
This patch belongs to Atlanta Fire Rescue Department Station 8, located in Fulton and DeKalb County, GA.
m e f o r t y - f i v e d o l la r s , s o I g a v e it t o t h e c h a r it y s h o p n e x t d o o r . T h e y c le a n e d a n d p r e s s e d it a n d p u t it in t h e w i n d o w . I b o u g h t it b a c k f o r f i f t e e n d o l l a r s ! ”
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
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April/May, 2025
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April/May, 2025
1st Responder Newspaper - FL/GA
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