Ok, so much for getting this out on time. Sleeping in for a change felt pretty good as it has been a long week. I hope everyone is doing well…
· Upcoming Tests---Yes there was an issue, no I can’t comment on rumors and I suggest let’s not all get caught up in it till the facts come out. The engineers test will be given first but not until we can get the PGD classes out of the way. Also, we want to make sure the “May” class can take the test. I truly have no idea when it will be announced, but that is the criteria, take your best guess. The Lt. Test Committee will have to be re-convened and the tester flown back to Jacksonville from Seattle to administer the committee process. I will be hand selecting the next 8 SME’s so no need to email to volunteer. This will take place sometime in March.
· The Quint---Will now become L 134. This solves two problems: needing another spare ladder in our fleet, and staffing issues with adding a fourth FF to E58. Lettering has been ordered and as soon as L34 can receive the training, we will place that unit in service. No changes to response other than a tanker or engine will not need to respond with L 134 on single shot car fires, fire alarms, etc. the “1” denotes at ladder that carries 500 gallons of water and a pump. Engine 58 will be getting a new engine sometime in August.
· RIT Training—for the Squads and Special Ops team is underway and will be completed in early March. Equipment purchasing continues but we are at about 95% complete on the equipment for the Squads.
· Bailout Kits---is moving through the process but it will realistically take about 3 to 4 months before we start receiving kits.
· Tower Ladder 9---someone was very happy to see them show up on scene. Last week a worker lost his ladder 80 feet up in the air. Thanks to TL 9, the man was able to get down safely. You will find a picture from a bystander at the bottom of this page.
· Jeff Cool FDNY---don’t forget to mark your calendar for one of the days he is coming. April 15th and 16th, he will be here speaking about his experience during Black Sunday. Two sessions a day for two days at the Union Hall. Try to catch one.
· Capt Ron Gore---the founding father of hazardous materials teams in the US was in town this week completing training at Station 21. For those who don’t know, JFRD was the first fire-based HazMat team in America. Capt. Gore was the one who led it and has been teaching every since hs retirement in the 1980’s.
· New Station Alerting systems---are being vetted now. Our units are 32 years old and can no longer be replaced. There is some pretty cool products out there for alerting stations. We’ll keep you informed as we move along.
· Mr. Coleman---we lost Mr. Coleman this week at TSF. His resignation has left a huge hole in our mechanic capabilties at TSF. Please have patience until we hire new folks and bring them on which will take a couple of weeks. It was a pleasure getting to know him.
· New Marine Division DVD---A huge thanks to Mike Peery and Tom Francis for putting together a new DVD about the Marine Division. The DVD was recently shown to top city officials about the wide range of calls and varrying weather they respond in. I’ll see if there is way to put this on Youtube for everyone to see. Well done!!!
I want to take the time to say thank you to everyone who comes to work and makes things better; both for the community we serve and each other. Long days, longer nights, and with all the vitriol we seem to garner in the press and blogs, its hard to stay positive. Keep your head up and be proud as what you do is noble; there is no higher calling than that of firefighter.
We that’s it for this short week in review. Not a whole lot going on other than a couple of 2nd alarms, many W3’s, mass-shootings and a couple thousand rescue runs. Please continue to look out for our new folks as they landed a job right in the middle of a very busy fire and EMS season. The arsonist is still out there so please be careful. Continue to have our folks in your thoughts and prayers as many are going through rough times.
I hope everyone gets to spend some time this weekened doing something for yourself. Me, I’ll be working on my bathroom remodel. I think people build houses quicker than I remodel one small room. If you listened to my wife, its been months. Come to think about it…she’s probably right. Imagine how I feel, my bathroom is the only quiet spot in this house!
As always, we thank you for what you do, why you do it, and for always showing why we are the Best Fire Rescue Department in the Country!
Very Respectuflly,
Kurtis R. Wilson
Chief of Operations
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department