M Focus on: Public Safety
Fort Walton Beach elected officials become firefighters for a day By MICHELLE BLOUNT | The Municipal
In Florida, the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department invited the city’s elected officials and the media to be “firefighters for a day.” Every two to four years, the department will host this type of event, with the first having been held in 2013. COVID derailed the next session that the department had prepared to do; however, last November proved to be the charm, and the department held its third program in the past 10 years. According to Fort Walton Beach Fire Chief Ken Perkins, the department has decided to hold the event every few years because of the change in elected city council members and other city staff; he also stressed the importance of keeping community leaders up to date on emerging life-saving technologies. “As a fire chief, I believe most people have a general understanding of the role fire departments play in their community,” Perkins noted. “However, when you take the time to truly explain and share hands-on examples of all the diverse services provided, especially the tools, equipment and required training to provide those services, it never fails to produce a ‘wow moment’ for the city resident or business owner.” According to Perkins, the event provides participants a small glimpse of what firefighters do every day, with lectures and hands-on drills. Participants learn how to wear firefighting gear, conduct searches in buildings for
LEFT: Fort Walton Beach firefighters run a burning building exercise with a city council member. (Photo provided)
34 THE MUNICIPAL | APRIL 2022
