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Caravan In Canal: Story and Photos by District Chief Curtis Rice. Posted on September 6^th , 2006

On August 24th @ 0712 hrs; RE42, R42, EMS4 and DC4 were dispatched to a van in the canal on Atlantic Avenue, just east of the Florida Turnpike. A construction worker had noticed the vehicle after sun rise. Upon arrival, units found a Dodge Caravan upside in the canal with two men trapped between the front and rear seats. There was approximately 12 inches of air between the water and the floor of the van. They had been in the van for over five hours. BC4 and R45 responded. Special OPS were dispatched. After working on the seats release, the rear seats were removed and the two men were freed. Special OPS was canceled prior to their arrival.
Water Main Break - Wellington: Story and Photos by District Chief Curtis Rice. Posted on August 25^th , 2006

On Friday, August 25th, a 12" water main broke under Forest Hill Blvd. in Wellington, compronmising water pressures for a 12 hour period. As the water main break was immediately adjacent to the Wellington Mall and Wellington Hospital, Fire Rescue Water Offfice personnel assisted the FOO in performing a fire protection risk assessment. While the mall and hospital were unaffected, water pressure was compromised to 340 homes, and 42 hydrants. As a result of these findings , dispatch protocols were modified during this 12 hour period, to increase resources available for any potential fire incident. Among other duties, Water Office personnel are charged with enforcing fire code compliance among 19 public and private water utilities, countywide.
Bumper Crash: Story and Photos by District Chief Curtis Rice. Posted on August 4^th , 2006

The Customer Service Team would like to recognize E19 as well as SPLOPS 19 for their exemplary efforts at a signal 4 last week that left a gaping hole in a resident's living room after a pick up truck was driven into the structure. The home was unoccupied at the time and nobody was seriously injured however, due to the fact that the resident was not home and could not be contacted,... the crews on scene empowered themselves to taking on the task of securing the home from the outside elements. Since it was a 9 foot intrusion on the corner of the structure that was left behind after having the vehicle removed by a tow truck, additional resources and expertise were requested by E19 to have SPLOPS 19 respond for some potential shoring and bracing considerations. The scene was quickly assessed and secured utilizing all on scene building materials that just happen to be in the resident's backyard. After that, 2X6's were put in place for the corner bracing and support columns while sheets of plywood were laid on top. Finally a blue tarp was erected in order to dry it in and protect the home from moisture and the rainy season's damage potential. Crews on scene demonstrated the necessary initiative that it took to identify and act upon the need to "go the extra mile" for the resident despite no homeowner or neighbor present at the time.

PBCFR crew members exercised the type of teamwork and craftsmanship that could only be expected from members of the local fire department in their pursuit to rise above and beyond for their community. It is through stories like these that focus on the need for empowering our people with the necessary means of delivering the level of customer service that clearly stretches beyond all expectations. The following on scene crew members will all receive Frequent Fire Miles as part of our new Employee Rewards and Recognition Program which can be found on our Customer Service Link under the "Divisions" tab of our department intranet homepage - Cpt Bob Grosbeck, DO David Buck, PM Dave Fulmer (who is also the Local2928 CSR), FF Tyson Ward, Don Kirkpatrick and Thomas Owens. We are currently working on a program that would allow crews to gain the necessary materials through a relationship partnered with the local home improvements centers throughout our response areas. Details are being worked on and we commend the crews of Station 19 for thinking outside the box and for not being afraid to remain out of service for the extra time it took to simply,.... "do the right thing"!
MDA Camp Story: Story and Photos by Scott Jurasz. Posted on August 1^st , 2006

From July 16th thru the 21st Palm Beach County Fire Rescue and IAFF Local 2928 sent three of it members to the annual MDA summer camp located in Brandon FL. Once again it was a great week for everyone that attended, the heat was high a few times but that meant more pool time for everyone. On Wednesday PBCFR and Local 2928 came up to the camp for V.I.P. day to cook lunch and hang out with the kids for the day.

This was a special year for camper Brian Bellows who had been attending camp since he was a child and now turning 21 years old this was his last year being able to attend camp. To honor brian PBCFR honor guard and pipes and drums came up to include brian in a presentation of colors ceremony. Brian is a student at the U of M and also a JROTC for the united states air force. During the colors ceremony honor guard memeber Jim Hernandez gave a great speech about brian and then presented him with the retired American flag from the camp.

This camp is something all of these kids look forward to each year, for one week it enables them to live normal lives and be their own person and be as independant as evindependent is. Muscular Dystrophy affects millions of children and adults worldwide,each year fire departments across the nation hit the streets on labor day weekend to fill the boot and raise money to help researchers find a cure. So when ya see your local fire department on the street corners this year that dollar you give goes towards sending kids to camp, paying for medical supplies and office visits. So remember on labor weekend drive slow when you see your firefighters in the streets help keep them safe and help fill the boot.
American Red Cross Award: Story and photos by Drew Rayburn. Posted on July 24^th , 2006

Station 31 B shift members were recognized and received the 5th annual American Red Cross Real Hero's Award for Animal Rescue during a recent breakfast ceremony at the Kravis Center in West Palm Beach. The award was given to the crews that helped Cy-Boy, the 32 year golden palomino, out of the mud on March 28th 2006.

(Original story)
Landing Strip Lounge Burns Again: Story and Photos by Lt. Mark V. Carr. Posted on July 12^th , 2006

Air Traffic Controllers at Palm Beach Int'l Airport had their interest piqued on the 4th of July when they noticed smoke and flames billowing from what used to be the Landing Strip Adult Entertainment Lounge at 383 N. Military Trail. Approaching aircraft conversed with the tower about the "landmark's" destruction as the flew through the smoke to land nearby. Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue responded with 4 engines, 2 rescues, a light & air unit, and several other units. Water was shuttled back and forth from a nearby hydrant allowing Military Trail to remain open to traffic during the fire.

Investigators with Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue's Bomb and Arson Squad were on scene immediately to determine the fire's cause and origin.
Truck Crash on Turnpike: Story and Photos by District Chief Curtis Rice. Posted on July 12^th , 2006

Units from the 3rd Battalion were dispatched to a reported Jack-knifed tractor-trailer with a rollover on the southbound Turnpike on July 6th. RE34 & R34 arrived to find a truck and trailer that were hauling guardrails off the roadway. It had jack-knifed and was tilted up on the drivers side. Three occupants were found outside the vehicle. All three were assessed and transported BLS to the hospital for further evaluation.
Early Morning Fire in the City of Lake Worth: Story and Photos by Drew Rayburn. Posted on July 11^th , 2006

June 30th 2006 - Station 31 crews responded to a commercial structure fire in the City of Lake Worth response zone. Station 31 units were the first on scene to find a single story abandoned quad-plex with heavy fire and smoke coming from the front of the structure and from the roof. The boys from 31 quickly knocked down the fire while checking for extension in the other unoccupied residences. A special congratulation goes out to probationary firefighter Ken Johnson for his first fire with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.

Units on scene RE31, R31, SO31, RE35, R35, RE36, DC9, EMS9
Palm Beach Int'l Airport Firefighters Adapt Structural Equipment to Aircraft Use: Story and Photos by Lt Mark Carr. Posted on July 6^th , 2006

Often taken for granted are the firefighters at our airports who constantly stand ready to respond in the event of an aircraft accident , fire or other emergency. Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue's Station 81 at Palm Beach Int'l Airport provides this service unnoticed by the many residents and visitors who pass through the airport on a daily basis. Station 81 staffs 4 Airport Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) trucks, an Advanced Life Support rescue truck, a large Tactical Command Unit, and several other vehicles from one station located in the center of the airport.

Recently, the airport firefighters received training aimed at adapting typical structural firefighting equipment to airport firefighting use. Staff Captain John Boike delivered the training which allowed the firefighters to use ground ladders to access and enter the main cabin door and a over-the-wing emergency exit from the outside of a Boeing 727 jetliner. Once inside the aircraft, crews searched in the dark for "victims" through heavy smoke using a thermal imaging camera (TIC). A TIC is a small hand-held camera that enables rescue crews to search for hot spots or victims in conditions with otherwise zero visibility. The drills were conducted at night to add to the challenge and to further test the firefighters' abilities.
Kickoff Day for the Construction Blitz: Story and Photos by Captain Don Delucia. Posted on June 27^th , 2006

Today, Monday June 26 marked the beginning of the firefighter construction project in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. The family that will be occupying the home on Wabasso Avenue in Westgate worked side-by-side with firefighters from throughout the County. All three television stations and the Palm Beach Post visited the site and focused on how firefighters were putting back into the community with this huge volunteer effort. They also enjoyed showing the two young children who were helping by hammering nails and shoveling dirt. Commissioner Koons was on hand to endorse the project and stated other lots would be made available from the County for home construction through Habitat for Humanity in the Westgate community.
Royal Palm Beach Brush Fire Challenges Firefighters: Story and Photos by Lt. Mark V. Carr. Posted on June 23^rd , 2006

In the middle of the afternoon on June 22nd, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue firefighters were alerted to a brush fire in a wooded area southwest of SR7 and Okeechobee Blvd. in Royal Palm Beach. The fire, adjacent to the developments of The Willows and Counterpoint Estates, drew large crowds of spectators due to the large columns of smoke which could be seen for miles. Firefighters from Station 28 in Royal Palm Beach, Stations 21 and 22 in Loxahatchee, Station 25 in Wellington and Station 34 east of Wellington, as well as several plow rigs from the Florida Division of Forestry fought the fire for several hours amidst sometimes gusting and changing winds. Fire-Rescue units staged in The Willows development to the west in order to protect nearby homes. No homes were damaged and the fire was contained to the wooded area.

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