Over the past year, the gun violence crisis has been of great concern to our community. While joining Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) on what I thought would be a routine ride-along, we responded to a call where a tragic shooting occurred that required ACFR’s services and skills. Privacy and HIPPA concerns keep me from providing any details about this incident. I will, however, reference the shooting incident in the story below. This was a reminder for me that on any given call our first responders may face dangerous, life-threatening situations. It was also a reminder that, along with law enforcement, fire rescue personnel are frequently called out to incidents involving shootings.
“Our men and women of fire service face an enormous task they have to be prepared for a wide variety of calls at any moment,” said Fire Chief Harold Theus, who praised the crews’ effectiveness around the county.
Each day, more than 310 firefighters, emergency medical technicians (EMT) and paramedics take turns staggering shifts across the county’s 16 fire stations.
The busiest location is Station 23, home to the county’s only tech rescue unit – a rescue of patients from environments or circumstances that pose uniquely high levels of risk that require the use of specialized techniques or equipment (such as rope rescue, structural collapses, confined space search and rescue, trench or vehicle machinery rescue).
Personnel is divided into nine-member crews that hold a brief meeting to divvy up station duties, or “chores,” for the day. Among the tasks are checking all sirens and lights, washing vehicles, cleaning the kitchen, and more.
Two calls already came in within the first hour of the shift.
But unlike in the cartoons, there’s no panic here. No red flashing lights are going off. Firefighters aren’t sliding down poles or running and tripping as they throw on their protective fire suits and boots.
“That’s us,” a crew member casually says, as everyone prepares to walk out the door.
When someone calls 911, a dispatcher at the combined communications center identifies the quickest available unit and signals it over the radio. Crews are given about 60 seconds to stop whatever they’re doing (eating, cleaning, showering, etc.) and to hop in their rescue unit. They put on their headphones and someone in the passenger seat helps the driver navigate by finding the best route.
For one call, they visited a doctor’s officer to provide care for an elderly woman having chest pains. While the patient said they felt fine, firefighters said her vitals were too faint and recommended she visit a nearby hospital for further evaluation. They didn’t want them to risk driving alone and suggested an ambulance ride.
Alachua County Fire Rescue transports roughly 35,000 patients annually to nearby hospitals. The out-of-pocket expenses associated with the trip differ by insurance. Those who struggle to cover the costs can work out payment plans with the county.
Station 23 averages about 15 to 20 calls per shift. But not all calls result in a crew arriving on scene.
During another service call, the team was told a young woman at a gas station was having a possible seizure or stroke. It turned out to be a false alarm, as an ambulance already arrived on the scene first to speak with the patient. The call for a rescue truck was waived off, or “canceled” just before arriving.
Once back at the station, a crew member prepared me for what seemed to be a daunting task. He said it was time for one of the most important decisions of the day: Deciding what to eat.
The crew traveled to a nearby Publix, knowing that if a call came in, they had to leave the items and bolt. Standing in the meat section, the crew took a quick vote for a protein-heavy lunch and dinner.
It’s unanimous - chicken salad sandwiches. Craisins are a must. More chicken will be used for dinner, they decided.
Once back at the station, they began to prepare their catering-size portions with a side of fruit. But just as they prepared to chow down, the call that involved the shooting came in.
Peer support
Following the tragic shooting, Station 23 was required to remain grounded for several hours. The crew was offered peer support counseling to discuss the situation.
The team huddled around the dinner table and reflected on the incident. Before being allowed back on the road, ACFR ensured the team members were okay, both mentally and physically, and offered further counseling, if needed.
They filled their downtime with other activities, including a grueling workout. The station has a basketball hoop, dumbbells and a weight bench to help keep the crew active and focused. No one slept.
They put on their fire suits, masks, oxygen tanks and took turns working out by dragging a nearly 200-pound sled with concrete blocks around the station property. Those not dragging the sled walked the lap either carried a heavy fire hose, a bench press bar or did squats and push-ups along the way.
As they made their rounds, another emergency call came in. They took off their suits, visibly sweating and breathing heavily, and jumped in the truck.
We arrived back at the station and sat down for dinner. It’s a feast of chicken breast, rice and quinoa. There was good-natured joking and ribbing among crew members. I experienced the workplace comradery that is so important to the functioning of the station.
They are a family.
And while every call brings its own set of challenges, most aren’t dire emergencies. Some may be routine car accidents or cats in trees. The personnel at Station 23, however, have seen a collection of tragic events throughout their careers. Sadly, not every day is viewed as a success, as some outcomes are more difficult to deal with than others.
But it’s the lives that are saved due to their efforts that team members say make the job rewarding, they say.
“WE GO TO AN EMERGENCY CALL NOT REALLY KNOWING WHAT WE ARE IN FOR,” SAID 20-YEAR VETERAN LT. NICK GIESE. “MOST OF THE TIME IT’S STRAIGHT FORWARD AND THE OUTCOME IS POSITIVE. OTHER TIMES, THE CALL CHALLENGES EVERY BIT OF OUR TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT. ULTIMATELY, IT’S BEING ABLE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM THAT’S BEEN PRESENTED THAT I GET THE MOST SATISFACTION FROM.”
Becoming a firefighter
There are several paths for people to become firefighters in Alachua County.
First, potential candidates must be at least 18 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. Hires can attend one of two local fire college programs at Florida State Fire College in Ocala or Gateway College in Lake City.
The 12-week program sometimes comes with an opportunity to get paid during training.
Capt. Jennifer DiSanto, who leads the county’s recruiting effort for Fire Rescue, said recruits who have single or no certifications in fire or as an EMT can sometimes have courses covered while earning a salary, with the starting salary around $39,900. Potential hires need to pass a firefighter’s ability test and the interview process.
Those with EMT and fire certifications earn $46,500, while those who have paramedic and fire certifications receive a bonus of $7,500 and start at $54,000.
There are other benefits to the work aside from pay.
Firefighters work full 24-hour shifts and then can take 48 hours off due to the physical and mental demands of the job. They still have the option to work overtime.
Last year, the county moved to a three-week Kelly Day schedule. Kelly days ensure that crew members will have a set day off, of their choosing, on their schedule throughout the year. The choice of days off is based on seniority.
“WITH OUR PAY STRUCTURE, BENEFITS, AND INNOVATIVE KELLY DAY, ALACHUA COUNTY FIRE RESCUE IS A GREAT PLACE TO BUILD A MEANINGFUL CAREER,” DISANTO SAID. “I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE INTERESTED IN LEARNING MORE TO CONTACT US.”
For more information about working for Alachua County Fire Rescue, contact Capt. Jennifer DiSanto at 352-278-8572 or ACFRrecruitment@alachuacounty.us.
By Andrew Caplan - Alachua County Public Information Officer