Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Online

9/11 Memorial Project

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue will begin the planning and building phase for a 9/11 Memorial to honor the 343 firefighters that lost their lives in the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. The 911 Memorial will be constructed around a steel beam from the World Trade Center.

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Cardiac Arrest Survivor Thanks Crew Members

Stratford Court Delivers Donation

PHFR's Extrication Team Places
High in Competition

      Earlier this month the Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Extrication Team competed in the 2011 North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge held in Myrtle Beach, SC.  The extensive off duty training, held mostly at recovery yards, proved to be worth the strain for team members Ryan Fisher, Mike Harvey, Josh Lovetere, Mike Ross, Matt Quinn, and Dan Zinge as they finished exceptionally well placing in the top three for all categories.  Their proficiency, care and treatment of patients, and rescue tool knowledge and use led them to finish in 2^nd Place in the 10-minute Rapid Pit, 3^rd Place in the 20-minute Unlimited, and a 3^rd Place Tie in the 20-minute Limited challenge.  

      The team finished 3^rd Place Overall in the North American Vehicle Rescue Challenge and 1st in the TERC USA National.  Members of the team also placed in the top two in all three individual categories bringing home recognition for 1^st Place in Technical Tool, 2^nd Place in Best Medic  and 2^nd Place for Best Incident Commander. 

       Congratulations to our Extrication Team. Job well done!

Florida Fire and Life Safety Educator of the Year
PHFR's Liz Monforti
 

PHFR’s Public Education/information Officer was officially recognized Wednesday, June 22, 2011 during a luncheon being held at this year’s conference held at the Marriot Hotel in West Palm Beach. Liz started working at Palm Harbor Fire Rescue on November 2, 2006.  She has been deeply involved with the fire department and the community of Palm Harbor since her arrival. Her nomination described Liz as very passionate, articulate, and a dedicated employee who has proven to be a leader in the Public Education arena.  She has successfully demonstrated the ability to create fire and life safety marketing campaigns, she has worked with both grant proposals and project fund raising and helped with growth of media relation and dissemination of information. Liz serves as both the Public Education Specialist and Public Information Officer for the Palm Harbor Fire Rescue. She creates and presents fire and life safety education and awareness programs to public and private businesses, groups and organizations. She serves as a Public Information Officer and spokesperson during daily emergency operations and as a liaison with the general public and media in a clear, concise, and professional manner. She researches, prepares, and submits grant applications and works closely with local and state Fire and Life Safety Educators. She is a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician.

Mrs. Monforti is active in numerous organizations and holds high rank in many, including: Pinellas County Suncoast Safe Kids: Vice Chair, Florida Safe Pools: Spokesperson, and Training Instructor, Florida Association of Fire and Life Safety Educators: Vice-Chair, Palm Harbor Kawanis, the North Pinellas Fire Explorers, and many more.

PHFR is proud to have Liz selected as the 2011 Fire and Life Safety Public Educator of the Year.

EMS Appreciation Week 2011

     As a prelude to EMS Appreciation Week, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue welcomed a special guest to the monthly Fire Commission Meeting held May 9, 2011.  On March 20, 2011 Cynthia Blackstone dialed 911 from her cell while at the grocery store requesting an EMS response to her home.  She had just spoken with her husband, Michael Blackstone, who was home complaining of shortness of breath.  Palm Harbor Fire Rescue’s Engine 66 A-Shift responded to the home.  Just 5 minutes and 26 seconds after being dispatched, the crew entered the garage to find Mr. Blackstone having severe difficulty breathing and chest pain.  They began immediate treatment which consisted of oxygen, taking his vital signs and connecting him to an EKG machine.  Four minutes after arrival Mr. Blackstone became unresponsive and his heart stopped beating.  CPR was started immediately followed by an electrical shock to his heart.  He was transported to Mease Countryside Hospital with care continuing by PHFR’s paramedics during this time.  According to his wife he remained in the hospital for more than a week’s care which included the new hypothermia treatment for cardiac arrest survivors.

     Mr. Blackstone contacted PHFR with the desire to meet and thank the crew personally.  At the start of the Fire Commission Meeting Chief of EMS, Bob Markford, gave an introduction to the commissioners of Mr. and Mrs. Blackstone explaining their story.  He then introduced the crew to the couple allowing them to offer gratitude that cannot be put into words.  In the e-mail received from Mr. Blackstone he jokingly referred to the demise of his favorite t-shirt that had been cut off by the crews.  He was given a t-shirt similar to the ones the firefighters will wear during EMS Appreciation Week.

E66A Crew:  FF/PM Matt Quinn, FF/PM Mark Harris, and Lt. Mike Sakal with Mike and Cynthia Blackstone  (photo to right)

The New National Terrorism Advisory System

The National Terrorism Advisory System, or NTAS, replaces the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). This new system will more effectively communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, government agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the private sector.

It recognizes that Americans all share responsibility for the nation’s security, and should always be aware of the heightened risk of terrorist attack in the United States and what they should do.

NTAS Alerts

After reviewing the available information, the Secretary of Homeland Security will decide, in coordination with other Federal entities, whether an NTAS Alert should be issued.
NTAS Alerts will only be issued when credible information is available.

These alerts will include a clear statement that there is an:
 

Imminent Threat:  Warns of a credible, specific, and impending terrorist threat against the United States

 or

Elevated Threat:  Warns of a credible terrorist threat against the United States
 

Using available information, the alerts will provide a concise summary of the potential threat, information about actions being taken to ensure public safety, and recommended steps that individuals, communities, businesses and governments can take to help prevent, mitigate or respond to the threat.

For more information on the new system Click Here for the complete document.

Dunkin Donuts Destroyed by Fire