Florida Fire Service Magazine - March 2024

Florida Fire Service is the monthly publication of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, provided to Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association (FFCA) members, by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association.

Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association

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Email: info@ffca.org • www.ffca.org

FFCA Staff

Ngoc Huynh- Executive Director

Denise Holley - Office Manager

Greta Hall - Marketing Communications Manager

FFCA Board of Directors

Harold Theus - President

Michael Choate - 1st Vice President

Trip Barrs - 2nd Vice President

Douglas Riley - Immediate Past President

Carlos Aviles - Secretary/Treasurer

Ryan H. Crawford - Northwest Region Director

Brady Rigdon - Northeast Region Director

Michael Johansmeyer - East Central Region Director

Chantal Botting - Southeast Region Director

Ian Kemp - West Central Region Director

Gregory DeWitt - Southwest Region Director

Ngoc Huynh- Executive Director

Leland Greek - Senior Member

Hope all is well!

The 2024 Legislative Session ended on March 8, with several bills passing that will benefit the men and women of our industry. Several of these bills have a significant impact on the wellbeing and safety of our firefighters. Bills passed contain appropriate leave time for firefighters seeking treatment for one of the covered cancers, blue light legislation for roadside safety, improved scene security so that it is illegal to harass our crews while working a scene, and stiffened penalties for exposing our firefighters to fentanyl. We were also able to stave off several bills that could have been particularly devasting to our Special Districts. I would like to thank Fire Chief Darrel Donatto for his tireless efforts in leading our Government Relations Committee along with other committee members:

•Eric Prutsman, Lead Lobbyist, Johnson and Blanton

•Chief Michael Choate, Immokalee Fire Control District

• Chief Carlos Aviles, St. Augustine Fire Department

• Chief Michael Johansmeyer, Lake Mary Fire Department

• Chief Greg DeWitt, Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District

• Chief Ty Silcox, Fernandina Beach Fire Department

• Chief Ben Rigney, West Manatee Fire and Rescue District

• Chief Brady Rigdon, Nassau County Fire Rescue

• Chief Eloy Ricardo, North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District

•Fire Marshal Jim Millican, Lealman Fire District

I believe moreover, your Government Relations Committee continued to develop great relationships with our Representatives and Senators. Many of them see the FFCA as a trusted body providing reliable information,expertise,andknowledge in guiding their decisions. The relationships we build with our legislative members play a valuable role during the session. You can see the full 2024 Legislative Recaponthe FFCA website.

On March 18, Ms. Greta Hall became a member of our FFCA staff family as our full-time MarketingCommunications Manager. Greta will be overseeing our print and digital marketing, public relations, social media, and membership communication. Welcome Greta!!

We will begin hosting our regional meetings throughout the state starting next month. Please make every effort to attend as we will be communicating valuable information to the membership. Those dates and locations are:

East Central Regional Meeting: April 11, 2024 11:30 a.m. – HiltonOrlando/Altamonte Springs, 350 Northlake Blvd, Altamonte Springs.

Northeast Regional Meeting: April 26, 2024 11:00 a.m. – Governor Charley E. Johns Conference Center, 1610 Temple Ave., Starke.

Southwest Regional Meeting: May 8, 2024 10:00 a.m. – Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, 75 Taylor Street, Punta Gorda.

West Central Regional Meeting: May 10, 2024 11:00 a.m. –AdventHealth Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel.

Northwest Regional Meeting: May 17, 2024 12:00 p.m. (Central Time) – South Walton Fire District, 911 North County Highway 393, Santa Rosa Beach.

Southeast Regional Meeting: June 11, 2024 11:00 a.m. – Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Hollywood, FL, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood.

Finally, have you registered for the Executive Development Conference? What are you waiting for?LET’S GO!! We are planning a great line up to teach and inspire. July 19-23, Tampa Marriot Waters Street. All the information is contained on the FFCA website. Take care and be safe. As always, thank you for allowing me to serve such a great association.

Harold Theus, Fire Chief FFCA President

The Unwritten Rules of the Fire Service

By Rick Spence (PART DEUX)

This is the second in a series of unwritten rules of the fire service. These are things that every firefighter should know, but they often do not know or remember. The first five rules I discussed were: your legacy starts today, don’t be lazy, educate yourself about the job, eat with your crew, and get your sleep. If you want more detail on those subjects, please look back to the February issue of the FFCA magazine. Here are rules 6-11:

6. If you find yourself in a room by yourself, find out where everyone else is and go there. There is a likelihood that something is going on that you should be a part of. It may be some instruction, new policy discussion, or a visit by a chief officer, and you should be part of it. Don’t let someone have to come and get you.

7. Ask questions. There is so much to learn for every new employee about the job and the department, even if you have previous experience from another fire department. I encouraged our new employees to keep a notepad in their pocket and write down questions they have about how we do things, whether it has to do with operations, equipment placement, strategy, or any question about anything you don’t know or understand. There is a huge learning curve for new firefighters, and it is difficult to remember everything, hence the notepad. The only stupid question is an unasked question.

8. Don’t talk too much. This is different than asking questions. Talking about yourself and your abilities/accomplishments is what this is referring to. No one likes an ologist (know it all) or a one-upper (I’ve done it before and did it better.) If you have some type of superhuman

quality or skill, it will become evident, and people will eventually ask you about it. Remember, we have two ears and one mouth, so we can listen twice as much as we talk. Also, an empty wagon makes a lot of noise.

9. Find an outlet to release the stress of the job. There are times when this job is extremely difficult, and you are involved in incidents that will stay in your mind for a long time. Over time, this will have very negative effects on every aspect of your life. Lifting weights, exercising, walking, reading (non-fire service books), quiet time, fishing, and family time are a few suggestions to ease the stress and pain that some of these incidents may cause you. These life altering events change us and that change will eventually impact our families. Make an intentional effort to effectively deal with the stress in a positive and productive manner.

10. Avoid toxic relationships. This may sound far-fetched, but there are some people in the fire service who do not love their job. I made every effort to keep our new recruits from having to work alongside them. But, because of things like overtime and shift trades, you will likely have to work with some miserable people. The best way to avoid becoming toxic as well, is to avoid long term contact with them. If they are negative on the job, then they

are probably negative off the job. If you are exposed to that negativity over a prolonged time, it will begin to seep into your character.

11. Find a good mentor. Like #10, except the opposite. Find people that are well respected within the department and seek their advice and input. They are well respected for a reason; they have done the job the right way for a long time and have earned the respect. These people are the true leaders within the department, whether they have rank or not. Next month, I will conclude this series with the last of the unwritten rules of the fire services. These rules should probably be written down or part of a new employee orientation program. Until they are, we will depend on word of mouth from generation to generation to pass these along. “Hard work always pays off; mere talk puts no bread on the table.” Proverbs 14:23.

Rick Spence retired as Assistant Chief from the Reedy Creek Fire Department after 30 years. Heis currently the Chaplain for the Florida FireChiefs’ Association, Central Florida FireChiefs’ Association,Reedy Creek Fire Department, Lake County FireDepartment, Clermont Fire Department, Maitland Fire Department, and the Florida Professional Firefighters. He serves asSergeant of Arms for the Florida Professional Firefighters and International Association of Firefighters. He was selected Florida Professional Firefighter of the Year in 2018. He has been married to his wife Alecia for over 30 years.

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Who are the Future Leaders of the Fire Service?

By Robert Collins

Arecent article in Fire Rescue 1 magazine provided the results of a survey which found who current Chief Officers considered as the most influential members of the fire service past or present. Most of the names mentioned in the article are well known throughout our industry and would not elicit much debate on the merits of their inclusion on that list. Names such as Chief Alan Brunacini, Assistant Chief Carl Holmes, and Dr. Lorie Moore- Merrell were a few that made the list. These individuals transformed the fire service by recognizing a need for the industry, turning the desire to meet that need into a passion and having the vision to actualize the solution.

As I read the article, I had two very strong reactions, one was the pride I felt as I realized how each of the individuals on that list had a positive impact on my career and the other was, are we doing enough now to recognize the next generation of leaders that will transform the fire service? Who are those individuals? What are they passionate about and how can we help transform the fire service into a better, safer industry in the future?

Fire Service Officers have a duty to the public, their charges and to the profession. The duty to the public is performed daily in the most difficult of circumstances. We protect lives, property, and the environment, responding to calls for assistance without hesitation as dangerous and difficult as it may seem, this comes naturally, and the practice is reinforced through hundreds of hours of training annually. What does not come as naturally is the ability to identify future leaders and support their efforts to transform your organization and possibly the fire service. I have been fortunate to work for three excellent fire departments. In each of those organizations I found individuals who carried the torch for health and safety, technology, tactics, data etc. In hindsight and with much more experience now, I’m certain those individuals did not receive the support they needed to make more of an impact on the organization and the industry.

Today I have a much different vantage point and I strive to seek

out those individuals, give them support needed, and encourage others regardless of rank to pursue their passions for making the fire service and their organization better and more prepared for the future. As a chief officer, when you recognize those individuals in your organization that have a desire, or skill set that can be beneficial, you must nurture it. Provide them with the support, listen to and value their opinions, and find a way to adopt or modify processes. This will not only benefit your organization but reinforces to others that their ideas, talent, and passions can make a difference today and in the future. I have heard many great leaders say, they do not have all the answers, but they surround themselves not with others who think as they do but others who share the same vision and passion. If our vision is to make the fire service, more professional, safer, and sustainable we must encourage our best and brightest who share those passions to continue to that work not only at the local level but on the national scale. We know that the top issues facing firefighters today are budgetary restraints, mental health, high call volume, cancer, and natural disasters. I’m sure if you’re

reading this article, you have someone in your organization who is passionate about these issues and have done their own research and may even be advocating for changes in your organization. Take the time to listen, collaborate with labor, administration both fire and government and attack the problems as a team. None of these issues can be solved in a vacuum and not one model will work for all fire departments. This is why its important to find the model that works best for your organization then share broadly so that other organizations can adopt, or at a minimum have new ideas for solving an issue. Where are the future leaders of the fire service? The future leaders of the fire service are already here, let’s embrace them, they need your support to become transformative leaders. The next Brunacini, Holmes, or Merrell.

Robert Collins is the Special Operations Chief with the Tampa Fire Rescue Department. He holds aMaster in Public Administration from Florida Gulf Coast University and has 28 years fire service experience. He is an IAFC Hazmat Committee member

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OBy Steve Gaston, Central Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Board of Directors

n March 14, 2024, the newly elected officers of the Central Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association (CFFCA)were installed. Chaplain Rick Spence conducted the swearing-in ceremony at the regularly scheduled general membership meeting of the CFFCA held at the Hilton–Orlando/Altamonte Springs.

Newly elected officers are Vice President Mike Peters – Longwood Fire Chief; District 2 Seminole County Director Mike Johansmeyer – Lake Mary Fire Chief; District 4 Lake County Director Mike Swanson – Eustis Fire Chief; and District 5 Director [Retirees] Matt McGrew. Congratulations are extended to these duly elected officers for their two-year terms of Office effective April 1st, 2024.

The CFFCA has a longstanding history

since its incorporation in 1964 and has proudly served the Central Florida fire-rescue ser vice for 60 years. The association spans the four-county areas of Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake with 25 member agencies and over 255 chief officers, including corporate partners. Under the leadership of President Jim Walls, association meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at the Hilton located in Altamonte Springs unless otherwise announced. For more information on the CFFCA please browse the website at www.cffca.us.

Pictured L-R:CFFCA Chaplain Rick Spence, CFFCA Vice President Mike Peters, District 2 Director Mike Johansmeyer, District 4 Director Mike Swanson, and District 5 Director Matt McGrew

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Animals in Confined Spaces: The Dangers of Ducklings in Drains

By Brandi Phillips

Throughout our state, the terms “Animal Technical Rescue” and “Large Animal Rescue” are used interchangeably. Large animals, most typically livestock, trapped in hazardous environments pose a significant threat to the safety of rescuers. It is certainly critical that teams consider how they will manage scenes involving overturned livestock trailers, large animals needing to be vertically lifted from a space, or safely extracted from mud and soil. However, little thought is given to the risks posed by rescues involving ducklings or

kittens – despite these species potentially creating far more frequent technical rescue calls compared to livestock.

Public information officers almost certainly love the days when they can publish a post on social media highlighting a smiling firefighter cupping their hands around a small, fuzzy critter that will win over the hearts of the community. Capitalizing on these opportunities is a great move – but are we always considering the threats appropriately? Many of these social media posts do not highlight use of atmospheric monitoring equipment, respiratory protection for rescuers, or plans for retrieval if the rescuer cannot self-rescue in an emergency.

Storm drains may appear relatively

innocuous and often do not inspire a high degree of vigilance. Fertilizers, roadway spills, nearby natural gas pipelines, and other toxins can all wash into these spaces, creating opportunities for unsafe oxygen levels, flammability, and toxicity. These hazards are invisible and without the presence of a noxious odor our senses are unable to detect the danger. Although Florida is an OSHA state, regulations for confined spaces (OSHA 1910.146) apply to the private sector; local and state workers are not covered by OSHA. Nonetheless, the regulations set forth are important for us to consider for our own protection. Correctly identifying confined spaces and adhering to appropriate safety practices may mean the difference between a great public relations story or a line of duty injury or death.

Small animals, including wildlife and companion animals, can find themselves trapped in crawl spaces under building, culverts, storm drains, and potentially sewers. These spaces share some critical elements identified in OSHA 1910.146:

1. They are able to be entered bodily to perform work.

2. They have limited access and egress.

3. They are not designed for continuous human occupancy.

4. They are likely to have one or more conditions that pose immediate danger to life and health of entrants, including potentially bad atmosphere and potential risk for engulfment.

In order to mitigate these hazards, standards set forth by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) call for continuous air quality monitoring and the use of

Brandi Phillips

fresh-air breathing apparatus when making entry where a potential for atmospheric hazards exist. Ventilation of the space is also a valuable tactic to remove hazardous air and introduce fresh air.

Members of the public are often ill-informed about atmospheric hazards associated with these spaces. In 2023, three Florida hunters lost their lives in Texas when one of their dogs fell into an open cistern in a field. One individual attempted a rescue of the dog, the other two attempted to rescue their companion, and ultimately all four were lost because of the presence of hydrogen sulfide gas. As public safety officials, it is critical that our teams demonstrate appropriate risk mitigation and use opportunities to educate members of the public so that tragedies like this can be prevented.

Other hazards besides bad atmosphere must not be overlooked. Wildlife and domestic animals alike pose bite, scratch, and zoonotic disease risk to rescuers. Making direct contact should be avoided whenever possible, with the use of extended reach tools or even humane traps being the preferred method of capture. Nets with long handles, baits and lures, and even webbing can be valuable tools in preventing rescuers from making entry and

minimizing direct contact with the animals. Even thick gloves and bunker gear are not impenetrable, and teeth and claws can leave behind infections – especially when coupled with contaminants that may be present in these environments.

Once an animal has been rescued, the team should consider decontamination based on the environment. Dawn dish soap may be used, but no tears baby shampoos may be less harsh on skin and eyes of the animal. Rinsing with copious amounts of water will help to minimize effects of exposure to contaminants from the environment. Fire departments should also establish relationships with local wildlife authorities, such as Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation and local animal services agencies to ensure appropriate relocation of the animal following the rescue if an owner is not present to claim the animal. Follow-up veterinary care is always recommended for animal patients following a rescue.

Tabletop confined space scenarios involving animal victims with your crews. Discuss what resources may have been underutilized in recent calls and how you can establish more robust SOGs to support safer responses. Identify community partners that may be contacted to support these missions. When an incident does

occur, make sure the public knows what your department is doing to accomplish the mission safely Quality education and communication leads to better outcomes for us all. For more information about animal technical rescue, visit www.ufvets.com" or contact brandikphillips@ufl.edu.

Did You Know: Code 542 for Animal Rescue in the National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) can help us better track responses for animal rescues. Share this code with your crews to help us get better data to monitor the frequency and type of calls associated with animal emergency response.

Brandi Phillips serves as the Animal Technical Rescue Branch Director for the University of Florida Veterinary Emergency Treatment Service. She is a member of the Florida State Animal Response Team (SART) and also serves as a Subject Matter Expert for NFPA 1006 and NFPA 2500. Phillips and her team provide animal technical rescue response within a two hour radius of Gainesville, no-cost consultation for responses throughout the state, and training for individuals and teams. Trainings are hosted semi-annually in partnership with the Florida State Fire College and Florida SART. For more information, visit https://responseteam.vetmed.ufl.edu

CFFCA Presents Distinguished Service Awards

By Steve Gaston, Central Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association Board of Directors

On March 14, 2024, President Jim Walls and Vice President Mike Peters presented the Central Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association (CFFCA) Distinguished Service Awards to the following agencies at the general membership meeting held at the Hilton–Orlando/Altamonte Springs:

• Lake Mary Fire Department –ISO Class 1 Status

•Lake Mary Fire Department –Ambulance Service Accreditation [CAAS]

•Kissimmee Fire Department –Fire Accreditation [CFAI]

• Seminole County Fire Department –Fire Accreditation [CFAI]

The distinguished service award is bestowed upon the agency and agency chief who have demonstrated a commitment of excellence in achieving a significant milestone for the communities their agency serves.

Congratulations to these agencies and their planning teams.

The CFFCA has a longstanding history since its incorporation in 1964 and has proudly served the Central Florida fire-rescue service for 60 years. The association spans the four-county areas of Orange, Seminole, Osceola, and Lake with 25 member agencies and over 255 chief officers, including corporate partners. Under the leadership of President Jim Walls, association meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at the Hilton located in Altamonte Springs unless otherwise announced. For more information on the CFFCA please browse the website at www.cffca.us.

Photos:

Top: Lake Mary Fire Chief Mike Johansmeyer and LMFD ISO and CAAS Planning Team

Middle: Kissimmee Fire Chief Jim Walls and KFD Accreditation Team

Bottom: Seminole County Fire Chief Matt Kinley and SCFD Accreditation Team

Lake MaryFire Department – ISO Class 1 Status, Ambulance Service Accreditation [CAAS]

Kissimmee Fire Department – Fire Accreditation [CFAI]

Seminole County FireDepartment – Fire Accreditation [CFAI]

Officer Development in the Fire Department

On January 22, 2024, the Pinellas County Training Group (PCTG) kicked off a weeklong training event for over 100 up-andcoming leaders representing twenty departments across four counties, illustrating a strong regional interest in advancing fire service leadership and operational excellence.

In the dynamic and challenging environment of fire services, officer development is pivotal for fostering effective leadership, resolving conflicts, enhancing resiliency, and strengthening command and control tactics.

This event underscored the importance of these themes.

It was an honor to have three keynote speakers, distinguished figures in the field:

FDNY Chief John Hodgens, Retired Fire Commissioner from Chicago, Tim Sampey, and Pasco Fire Chief Tony Perez. Each brought a wealth of experience and insights,

contributing to a multifaceted discussion about fire service leadership. Gaining insights from respected external viewpoints helps in shaping officers who are more well-rounded, encouraging the adoption of innovative concepts and diverse thought processes while maintaining the traditions and best practices of their own department.

Leadership in the Fire Service

A unified message among all the speakers was that leadership within the fire department is more than just ‘management.’ It involves inspiring and motivating teams, making critical decisions under pressure, and setting an example of courage, dedication, and integrity. The instructors and speakers spoke to the essence of effective leadership in both day-to-day and life-threatening situations. Local Fire Chiefs participated in a Round Table to answer questions and speak to the broader view of running a fire department. The content highlighted the need for leaders to be adaptable, empathetic, and continuously seeking improvement to guide their teams through the complexities of modern firefighting.

Conflict Resolution

Inevitably, conflicts that arise within highstress environments like fire departments. The instructors emphasized the significance of communication skills, understanding diverse perspectives, and fostering a culture of respect and inclusivity. They provided practical strategies for preemptively managing conflicts and mediating disputes when they occur, ensuring that internal conflicts do not impede the department’s primary mission of saving lives and property. A spontaneous role-playing activity surprised the students and illustrated how quickly scenarios can deteriorate. It underscores the necessity for officers to have prepared tactics to defuse tense situations.

Resiliency

The topic of resiliency, especially in a profession that routinely encounters traumatic situations, was brought into focus. The psychological impacts of firefighting were reiterated and the Training Chiefs and Dr Brandy Benson all stressed the importance of mental health resources, peer support, and resilience training. They urged

Tony Perez

Tim Sampey

John Hodgens

all participants to familiarize themselves with the mental health support services on offer, stressing that if a situation exceeds their expertise, their main duty is to direct individuals towards the right assistance.

Command and Control Tactics

The practical days are always well-received, and the event delved into the tactical aspects of fire ser vice operations, specifically command and control tactics. The speakers discussed the evolution of these tactics in response to the increasing complexity of fire incidents, technological advancements, and changes in urban infrastructure. They explored scenarios that demonstrated the application of command-and-control

principles in coordinating large-scale emergency responses, emphasizing the need for continuous learning and adaptation. Students watched experienced commanders handle a call before attempting to do so themselves. Sets and reps are crucial to create confidence and competence.

The PCTG 2024 Officer Development Event served as a critical platform for sharing knowledge, experiences, and strategies among fire service professionals. The insights from keynote speakers Chief Hodgens, Ret. Commissioner Sampey, and Chief Perez, combined with the local instructors and the engagement of over 100 attendees, underscore the collective commitment to

advancing leadership, conflict resolution, resiliency, and command and control tactics within the fire service. As the challenges faced by fire departments continue to evolve, so too must the approaches to leadership and operational excellence and the dedication to the profession by all involved is both inspiring and appreciated.

2023 Florida Fire Service Awards

Executive Fire Officer of the Year

Chantal Botting, Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue

Fire Marshal of the Year

Cheryl Edwards, Lakeland Fire Department

Fire Inspector of the Year Award

Shiela Doblas, Tamarac Fire Rescue

Fire Service Instructor of the Year Award

Francis “Frank” Ennist, Fire Chief, Retired

Honor Guard Outstanding Service Award

Steen Eriksson, Palm Beach County Fire Rescue

Hazmat Responder of the Year Award

Mike Bloski, Southern Manatee Fire Rescue

Search and Rescue Responder of the Year Award

Dave Carter,FortLauderdale Fire Rescue

Emergency Vehicle Technician of the Year

Curt Skinner, Tampa Fire Rescue Maintenance

2023 Fire-Rescue Vehicle Graphics Contest

Walton County Fire Rescue

Are Your Fire Department Policies and Procedures Impeding Your Leadership Effectiveness?

By Bruce Bjorge with info.lexipol.com/ffca

Leadership is all about setting expectations. As a fire service leader, you have goals and a vision for your department. To achieve your goals, you must set expectations for how your personnel will operate. And setting expectations starts with fire department policies and procedures.

I’ve met many fire service leaders who are reluctant to take on policy. It’s too expensive, they don’t have enough time, there are too many other projects. And even more common: They don’t enjoy working with policy, they doubt their ability to develop and manage policy effectively, and they don’t have anyone else on the department who they trust to do it.

These are all valid reasons to feel hesitant to begin a policy update project. But this is where leaders must be willing to push through. Rather than regarding policy as a standalone component that can be pushed aside, we need to realize that fire department policies and procedures underpin all aspects of the organization –resource deployment, strategic planning, new equipment purchases, everything. And to support all those aspects, policies and procedures must set the tone not just for what not to do, but what to do.

How Fire Department Policies and Procedures Affect Leadership

In case you’re not convinced that policy is so important, let’s consider how policies and procedures affect leadership at the company officer level.

A brand-new lieutenant is motivated, hard-working, and shows tremendous leadership promise. He keeps the rules firm and clearly communicates his expectations. But the department’s policies and procedures are woefully lacking –they’re old, don’t adequately address

the types of incidents the department goes to, and are at times vague and other times over-prescriptive.

Rather than supporting this new lieutenant and developing him as a leader, we are undermining him from the start. He can communicate his expectations to his crew, but without a department policy to back him up, he has little to point to when those expectations aren’t followed. Even worse, the officer may have to discipline a firefighter who made a decision or took an action that makes sense, but the policy (outdated and unaligned with practice) prescribes some other action.

This scenario shows the clear line from your department’s policies and procedures to leadership effectiveness at all levels of your organization.

From a supervisory standpoint, it’s critical that we distinguish in policy between the absolute, nonnegotiable things and where there can and should be a degree of latitude or tactical flexibility.For example, your department likely has a policy stating all personnel riding the apparatus must wear a seatbelt. That’s non-negotiable. But making policy or procedure too granular can backfire. My department had a standard operating guideline that said on every motor vehicle accident, the involved vehicle must be cribbed on all four corners. That sounded OK – until we responded to a call where the car was partly off the ground. Now, our revised policy specifies the vehicle must be stabilized so firefighters and occupants are safe. This is an improvement because it defines the desired outcome, not just the steps, and gives the responding crew discretion on how best to achieve that outcome.

The Impact of Policy on Morale

Let’s consider another reason why policy and procedure are so important. In the 2023 What Firefighters Want survey conducted by FireRescue1, 87% of firefighters said the scope of the job has expanded since they joined. I see this in my own fire district. We ask volunteers to master NFPA Fire Fighter 1 and 2, medical first responder (either EMT or paramedic), hazardous materials awareness and operations, traffic incident management, and active shooter operations – and that’s without even getting into special ops like swift water and high-angle rescue.

In most departments – career or volunteer –firefighters are task-saturated. In the survey mentioned above, nearly half said the expanded scope of work has negatively impacted their health and well-being, 62% said the expanded scope of work feels unsustainable from a training standpoint, and 60% said they are expected to do too much.

Why is this a policy issue? It’s not humanly possible to memorize how to do everything a firefighter will be called on to do. Firefighters instinctively know this, and it impacts their morale and their job-related stress. As leaders, we probably can’t reduce the scope of work. But we can ensure our fire department policies and procedures are up to snuff so when we reference them in the field, they guide us correctly. And that’s another key point: Our policies need to be easily accessible to firefighters, via an app or other digital format, and easily searchable. Providing these resources will help boost firefighter confidence and morale.

Getting Started

So, if you’re now convinced that policy is key to your leadership effectiveness, where do you start? Consider these steps:

1. First, be honest about your fire department policies and procedures. How old are they? Do they align with how your firefighters operate? Do they reflect national best practices? Would you be proud to show them to one of your peers? If your policies are junk, you need to act. Every day you operate like that is a day closer to a negative outcome –litigation, a line-of-duty death, injury to a community member, high-dollar losses. Just because it hasn’t happened yet is no guarantee the free ride will continue tomorrow

2. Once you acknowledge your policies need to be improved, get busy and put good people in place to work on the project. This is where Lexipol can help – we have a full-service Fire and Rescue Policies and Training solution that not only provides comprehensive, state-specific policy guidance as a starting point to develop your policies, but also includes personalized implementation guidance. So if you don’t have policy expertise on staff, it’s no problem. Whatever approach you take, please make sure policy is customized for your agency. It is not OK to call your neighbor and ask for a policy and pop it into your manual. You must make sure it fits your organization.

3. Prioritize your efforts. If the project feels overwhelming – if you’re ready to toss your current policy binder in the trash and start over – prioritize the policies and procedures that address high-risk, low-frequency operations or issues. There’s a low probability of an adverse outcome because of an improperly worn uniform. But failing to stop at a stoplight or stop sign can have disastrous consequences. But focusing on the high liability, high-risk policies and procedures first, you’ll have an immediate positive impact on your department operations.

Every single fire service organization has room to improve on policy. Even if you’re an accredited agency, there’s room for improvement, especially because the

accreditation process doesn’t tell you how to write policies for your department. This year, set a goal to review your policies, identify where you need to improve and get started. It’s an essential step in enhancing your leadership effectiveness.

And if you need help, reach out! (Remember, FFCA members get Lexipol discounts).

Bruce Bjorge’s fire service career includes more than 38 years of experience in command and training positions with career, combination, volunteer and military fire agencies. Currently, he is a Battalion Chief with the Western Taney County Fire District in Branson, Mo., and has also served as a company officer and Assistant Chief of Training. Bruce is also the Director for Fire Policy Sales at Lexipol. He formerly was the Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting (ARFF) Specialist for the University of Missouri Fire & Rescue Training Institute where he managed their Mobile ARFF and other live-fire training programs. He has also served as a Training Developer for Lexipol. He holds Training Officer certification from the International Society of Fire Service Instructors and is a graduate of the National Fire Academy’s Training Program Management course. Bruce has been an active instructor and evaluator for the past 28 years and is a regular presenter at state, regional and national conferences and training events.

Seminole County Earns CFAIInternational Accreditation Status

By Doreen Overstreet, Public Safety Information & Education Officer

Seminole County Fire Department(SCFD) is proud to announce it is now an Internationally Accredited Agency with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). To receive the accreditation, SCFD met or exceeded rigorous standards and criteria established through CFAI’s self-assessment and accreditation program.

SCFD is one of more than 300 agencies, including 29 in Florida and nine in Central Florida, with International Accredited Agency status through CFAI and the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. (CPSE).

Seminole County Fire Department now has three renowned accreditations: International Accredited Agency through CFAI,ISO Class 1 Rating through the Insurance Services Office, andCAAS Accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation ofAmbulance Services.

“This International Accredited Agency status

demonstrates the commitment of our Seminole County Fire Department to provide the highest quality of service to our community,” said Jay Zembower, Chairman of the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners. “The Commission on Fire Accreditation International’s process is a proactive mechanism that helps our Fire Department maintain excellence while upholding accountability and conducting self-assessments on an annual basis.”

“We initially began our accreditation journey back in 2013 and quickly realized the daunting task that was ahead of us. This latest process unfolded over a two-year period with four project leads and all 574 members of SCFD involved,” said Seminole County Fire Chief Matt Kinley. “We are proud of this achievement as anentire team– especially as it comes on the heels of our 50thanniversaryyear of proudly serving the citizens of Seminole County. This accreditation is a testament to the hard work and commitment we have and have had since 1974.”

On January 30, 2024, Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings, the Board of County Commissioners, and Fire Chief James M. Fitzgerald hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for the new 38-acre Stateof the-art Fire Training Center in East Orange County, Florida.

Once completed, the $52M state-of-theart Fire Training Center will

include a 30,000 square foot education building comprised of seven classrooms, an Incident Command Simulation room, two five-story drill towers, one three-story burn building, and several fire props. The campus will also have a Special Operations flank, which consists of a structural collapse building and training props for confined space, trench rescue, and vehicle machinery rescue.

This training facility will not only benefit the Orange County community by ensuring firefighters are operationally ready to respond to any emergency, but it will also serve as a regional asset by enabling both local and regional training with other jurisdictions, including fire departments and law enforcement.

“As Orange County continues to grow and evolve, it is essential that our public safety professionals have a training center capable of meeting the demands of the communities they serve - not only for today, but for years to come,” said Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings.

The vision for the training center is that it be credentialed under the Florida Bureau of Fire Standard and Training, which will enable Fire Rescue to conduct its own non-certified recruit program in-house, helping improve recruitment and retention.

“This is an exciting time for our department,” said the Fire Chief. “This new facility ensures first responders will have access to ongoing training opportunities, whether it be through interactive simulations, classroom lecture, or real-world application.”

The project is expected to be completed in late 2024 or early 2025.

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Office to Operations Fire Expo 2024

By Nicolas Morgado, Division Chief, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue

On February 29, 2024Miami-Dade Fire Rescue (MDFR) hosted theOffice to Operations Fire Expo 2024at their Training Facility. The purpose of the event was for MDFR's Professional Staff who ser ve

in various support functions to get away from their desks and to get up close and personal with Operations Personnel, apparatus, equipment, and see the ser vices available to the residents and visitors of

Miami-Dade County. During the Expo, there were opportunities for first-hand experience that included hands-on skill stations, demonstrations, dynamic and static displays.

By Corey Dobridnia, Public Information Officer, Walton County Sheriff’s Office

A Matter of Survival

Their hands are rough and weathered like a hardened dry piece of leather. But on this early Monday morning, there’s only a small trace of the normal oil and grime.

“The only reason they’re this clean is because it’s right after the weekend,” said David Poole. “Usually, the grease is up to our elbows.”

As he gestures to the midway point of his arm, there is an irony here. When envisioning a mechanic, it’s usually the lower extremities sticking out from the bottom of a vehicle or tip toes leaned over the engine compartment that come to mind.

Under the hood, Walton County Fire Rescue EVTs David Poole and William Riley aren’t just life-long friends; they are mechanics by pure way of survival. Growing up in the rural southeast, both men fixed things to be able to go… well… anywhere.

“If you couldn’t fix it, you were walking,” said Riley. “Turning wrenches just became a way of life.”

Emergency Vehicle Technicians, or EVTs for short, conduct maintenance on emergency apparatus within the fire ser vice. It’s a career field requiring a robust set of tools and, in a place like Walton County, the job itself also comes with a unique set of challenges.

In January 2024, one of Walton County Fire Rescue’s seven ambulances traveled more than 7,000 miles in just 30 days. Aside from the rural nature of the roads – dirt and gravel – WCFR services over 900 square miles by way of 12 stations housing 90 apparatus.

On this day, the two start out replacing the diesel sensor in a reserve fire engine. Their system is methodical. Both men move without saying much and have a way of anticipating what the other needs with just a nod.

Poole grabs a wrench and hands it to Riley as they troubleshoot a small space - squeezing a new diesel filter to its proper place. Somewhere you can only reach by getting grease up to your elbows.

Impacting the Bottom Line

In 2020, Walton County Fire Rescue didn’t have EVTs. In fact, before WCFR joined the Walton County Sheriff’s Office in 2017, the work was outsourced to local specialty shops.

“Preventative maintenance was farmed out everywhere else,” said WCFR Logistics Chief

Travis Cook. “We’ve saved more than $50,000 just by bringing it back in house - oil changes, filter swaps, etc.”

The logistics division of WCFR is still in its infant stages. But, in just a years’ time, Poole and Riley reduced the line item for apparatus expenditures under the Walton County Fire Rescue budget from 40% to just 10%.

“An oil change used to cost us $1600,” said Cook. “Now, we’re doing it in house for $400.”

The duo is trying their hand at keeping a tenured fleet efficient and cost effective. Even though, in the next three years, the agency plans to buy $6 million in apparatus.

“Like most fire departments, we will still be playing catch up,” said Cook. “But, with the help of these two, we are extending the life expectancy of our trucks.”

Poole and Riley travel across the county doing maintenance or helping when things break down. Sometimes playing the part of the first responders’, first responder.

“We take the shop to them,” Riley says as he points to an old ambulance that’s been converted into a Fleet Maintenance Vehicle, complete with tool boxes, used oil containers, cabinets for supplies, portable tables, and more.

The outfitted truck is a mechanics dream and has everything the two need to get the job done – which sometimes takes them on the road.

Well Oiled Machines

Their success in such a short amount of time proves the full scale of WCFR’s return on investment is yet to be realized. Poole marked two years in November of 2023 and Riley has a little less than six months on the job at WCFR.

Chief Cook has big plans for the logistics division which he plans to expand in 2025 with the addition of another fleet technician and the construction of a brick and mortar maintenance shop. His aspirations are also to build and outfit a new service truck for Poole and Riley.

“When they roll with the fleet maintenance truck to the stations and do the oil changes and other maintenance, the truck is back in service

in a little less than an hour,” said Cook. “It helps drive the overall mission of the agency forward.”

A mission that isn’t just focused on the bottom line but more importantly the service to the community.

“Keeping engines and ambulances on the road helps us sustain a quality of service to our residents,” said Cook. “Our transports and fire engines are crucial to our firefighters to provide lifesaving, emergency services to our community.”

Poole and Riley have both embraced the purpose behind what they do. Now, something they did once for survival, could have impact on someone else’s survival.

“Ambulances and trucks in ser vice mean firefighters and paramedics can do what they do best,” said Riley. “We do our jobs so they can do theirs.”

CFFCA Hosts Annual “Downtown in the Garden”

By Steve Gaston, CFFCA

Board of

Directors

The Annual CFFCA Social “Downtown in the Garden” was held in the historic downtown district of the City of Winter Garden on Saturday, February 17, 2024. Sixty-one were in attendance.

It started with a private reception at Pilar’s Loft at 5pm with a cash bar and an assortment of delicious hors d’oeuvres from Market to Table. At 7pm our group relocated downstairs to the historic Garden Theatre for a live stage production of “ALL SHOOK UP” a rendition of Elvis Presley. Pilar’s Loft, Market to Table, and the Garden Theatre’s warm hospitalities were an out-of-the-park home run for our group.

Thanks to our event co-sponsors: REV RTC, MECO, MES, and the Mental Hygiene Project, and a very special acknowledgment of Retired Chief Matt McGrew who made this event possible.

Fire Chief J. Nolan Sapp Retires

By Tiffany Wood, Public Information Officer/Public Educator

Fire Chief Sapp dedicated 46 years of his life to Public Safety He was appointed as interim Chief of the District in December 2020 and was later appointed as permanent Fire Chief in March 2021 after the Chairman was quoted saying “…the turnaround in the department was nothing short of miraculous.” Some of his most notable accomplishments during his tenure as Fire Chief are establishing a professional HR department for the district, completing a five-year strategic plan, obtaining a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity (COPCN) and state licensing to provide Advanced Life Support (ALS), and increasing the district’s impact fees that had not been raised since 2006.

Fire Chief Sapp has directed the Operations and Incident Command structure of many of the largest wildfires within Collier County, as well as the direct impact of Hurricanes Irma and Ian. He is the Collier County Coordinator as a component of the State of Florida State Emergency Response Plan through the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association.

Fire Chief Sapp began his career in Taylor County, Kentucky in 1978 where he worked as a firefighter and police officer. He left in 1991 and moved to Naples to begin a career with North Naples Fire District, rising through the ranks to Captain. He joined the Golden Gate Fire District in 2002 as the district’s first Deputy Chief of Operations. He was promoted to Assistant Chief of Operations in 2008 and the Assistant Chief of Administration duties were turned over to him in January 2011.

Welcome Probationary Firefighter/Paramedic Class

By Joseph Dorsette, Assistant Chief of Specialized Services

The Broward Sheriff’s Office Department of Fire Rescue welcomed 19 newly hired firefighter/paramedics. This group will begin their 10-week training regimen which will build on their knowledge, skills, and abilities as firefighters and paramedics. The Broward Sheriff’s Office is excited for these new members to begin a challenging yet rewarding career in public service.

Dixie County Fire Rescue Push-in Ceremony

By Matthew Ferguson, Administrative Chief

On February 28, 2024, Dixie County Fire Rescue held a push-in ceremony for its newest fire apparatus, Tanker 4. The apparatus is a Pierce BXT 3000gallon tanker that will be housed at the newly built station 4 that will be located on Chavous Road in Old Town, FL. The tanker will respond to fire scenes county-wide and will be a valuable addition to the Dixie County Fire Rescue fleet for many years to come. Dixie County Fire Rescue would like to extend a special thanks to Senator Corey Simon and Representative Jason Shoaf for their ongoing support in making appropriations projects like these possible.

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.

City of Sanford Welcomes New Hires

By Mark Seiferth, Deputy Fire Chief

The City of Sanford is pleased to welcome our two new firefighters: Sanchez-Parades and FF Gonzalez. They have completed their six-week orientation, and began shift work in late February.

We wish them best of luck and welcome them to the greatest career!

High Performance Leadership Seminar

By Steve Gaston, CFFCA Board of Directors

On February 2, 2024, the Central Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association hosted a one-day State CEU approved leadership seminar entitled “High Performance Leadership” at the Hilton – Altamonte Springs.

Eighteen fire rescue agencies were represented with 47 chief officers in attendance.

The seminar was presented by Retired Fire Chiefs Dave Downey and Kingman Schuldt of the Tenzinga Performance Management Group. The topics of discussion consisted of:

• What High Performance Leadership looks like and its Impact on the Organization

• Communicate and Institutionalize Goals

• Changing Organizational Behaviors

• Change Strategies

A very special THANK YOU is extended to our seminar co-sponsors: CORE, 1st Response Training Group, Fisher Safety, NAFECO, and Ten 8 Fire & Safety

Polk County Responds to Aircraft Crash

By Nathaniel Gale, Public Safety Information Officer

Polk County Fire Rescue suppression units responded to a downed aircraft on Lake Buffum Rd W in Fort Meade March 14, 2024.

PCFR’s off-duty Drone 1 unit arrived first on scene with additional crews arriving minutes later After a quick assignment, the crews located two selfextricated occupants and an experimental aircraft engulfed in flames.

PCFR crews worked quickly getting water on the fire and once it was under control transitioned to firefighting foam to completely extinguish the fuel-fed fire.

“Due to quick thinking by the pilot, serious injuries were avoided as the aircraft crashed into an open field without endangering any structures or people in the area,” said Fire Chief Hezedean A. Smith, D.M.

PCFR’s medical personal evaluated the aircraft’s occupants for injury. Neither occupant required medical transportation.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office notified the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board for investigation into the incident.

By Wendy Schaefer, Education & Awareness Manager, Sunshine 811

As Florida continues to grow in every way and top the charts in national construction activity, there is much to consider and plan for. For us at Sunshine 811, that means focusing on what’s underground, protecting our infrastructure, and preventing damage to this complex network.

April is Safe Digging Month. It’s an ideal time to work with and remind our enforcement partners – from fire departments to police and sheriffs to code enforcement – about their important role in ensuring compliance with Florida Statute 556 (a law created to protect our underground infrastructure and safeguard our citizens), including issuing citations to violators.

Impacts of Damages

Sixty-six times each day in Florida, an underground utility line is damaged. That’s 24,000 times per year that excavation activity damages buried power, water, gas, internet, and other utility lines across the state – costing billions of dollars and resulting in potential injuries or even worse.

Fire personnel have likely responded to incidents like these where crews or homeowners inadvertently damaged an underground line that caused service disruptions, road closures, evacuations, and serious injuries.

The reality is a majority of these damages come from two common violations: failing to contact 811 before digging (a state law) and failing to accurately mark underground utilities or mark them on time. Both carry fines of either $500 or $2,500 when gas facilities are involved. If a serious incident occurs to underground lines transporting gas, flammable, or toxic materials, those fines can be as high as $50,000.

Sunshine 811, a member of the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, is working to make Florida the safest place to dig. The organization connects excavators to utilities through a 24/7 online system and toll-free number so that buried lines can be appropriately marked. It also offers comprehensive educational resources on safe digging.

The organization’s goal is to preserve public safety, protect underground infrastructure, and prevent damages or disasters from occurring. To accomplish this, Sunshine 811 works with dozens of organizations and partners throughout the state, including enforcement entities, to ensure enforcement of Florida’s safe digging law.

New Enforcement Education Webinar

As part of this work, Sunshine 811 is launching a free enforcement education webinar. The webinar is designed to share more details on the law, violations, issuing citations, and more.

Members of Florida’s enforcement community are encouraged to visit

www.sunshine811.com/enforcement to view the webinar, available 24/7, and learn more about other important resources. This includes links to Chapter 556, Florida Statutes citation form template, and stages of a citation.

We’re proud to work alongside our enforcement partners. Together, we can help make Florida the safest place to dig.