Supporting Surfside

Members of the Coral Springs–Parkland Fire Department’s Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) Taskforce Team 2 were deployed to assist with the search, rescue and recovery efforts after the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers in the Town of Surfside. During a nearly four-week deployment, six team members worked day and night to bring closure to the families who lost loved ones. It was a difficult and arduous process, and we appreciate their service and sacrifice. For the first time, our state’s emergency response and deployment made mental health for firstresponders on scene, a priority. As a result the state utilized the resources of our Behavioral Health Access Program team leaders and clinicians. They were responsible for providing peer support and incident stress management for first responders. This type of support is crucial when responding to such devastating loss of life.

Firefighters honored for off-duty life-saving efforts

In April 2021, Coral Springs Fire Lieutenant Kandice Oltz and her family were at Whiskey Creek in Dania Beach relaxing and paddle boarding. Suddenly, Kandice heard a commotion and turned to see a man running from the water with his motionless three-year-old son, who had turned blue. Kandice was with her wife Jen, who is an Oakland Park Firefighter Paramedic. Kandice swiftly took the child and laid him down on the sand, while Jen, and an ER nurse who happened to be close by, assisted. Kandice pinched the boy's nose, blew one good breath into his mouth, and saw the chest rise. The ER nurse took over, providing breaths, while Kandice gave the tiny boy chest compressions. As the boy started to breathe and gag and get his color back, Kandice turned him on his side, and he threw up the water. Kandice immediately picked up the boy and started running towards the parking lot, where Hollywood Fire Rescue was waiting, and their crew took over from there. Kandice exchanged numbers with family and paramedics on scene and has checked on the little boy making sure he had no long-term deficits.

Kandice Oltz was recognized by the Coral Springs City Commission for her lifesaving actions on August 18, 2021.