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Welcome to Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Online.

Our Department protects a community of 60,000 residents living in a 20 square mile area and provides a wide range of services, including fire prevention/code enforcement, fire and life safety education, fire suppression, disaster preparedness and response, rescue, hazardous materials response, and first responder advanced life support. The department provides these services by staffing 3 ALS engine companies, 1 ALS 75' Ladder Truck, and 1 ALS heavy rescue squad from four fire/rescue stations.  Please look around our site, we hope it will help you learn more about our department and the members that are here for you everyday.


MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of Palm Harbor Fire Rescue is to provide the community with quality, responsive, and cost- effective life safety, health care, property conservation, and environmental preservation. This will be accomplished through response, prevention, and education using well-trained, competent personnel and well-maintained equipment and facilities while providing for the highest possible level of safety for ourselves, our team, and our community.


 

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Announces
Firefighter and Employee of the Year 2011


Firefighter of the Year
Lt. Jason Haynes

He received this award for his involvement
in the many facets of our department
operations including fire prevention duties. 
Jason is always on the lookout to share procedures and safety messages
throughout the department.


Employee of the Year
FF/PM Ashley White

Ashley has shown in front of her peers and
supervisors what hard work, dedication, and
a positive attitude can accomplish. Her
eagerness to be a self-starter without the
need for direction from a supervisor is an
asset to our department. She has spent
hours of her own time helping with public
events, picking things up, and countless hours towards small projects around the stations.


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.


Watch Promotional Video #1
Watch Promotional Video # 2
Click Here to See how YOU can Help


Cardiac Arrest Survivor Thanks Crew Members

At the monthly Board of Fire Commissioners meeting on July 11, 2011 Gordon Wysocki attended and spoke to the Commissioners on his life changing event that occurred on June 17, 2011.  Mr. Wysocki was having a CT Scan performed in Palm Harbor when he went into cardiac arrest.  The staff at the radiology center immediately called 911 and started CPR.  PHFR's Engine 68 C-Shift responded and on arrival began advanced life support care on Mr. Wysocki.  After 17 minutes Mr. Wysocki's heart began to beat again.  At the time the crew arrived at the hospital with Mr. Wysocki, he was responding to commands from the crew.  Mr. Wysocki personally thanked crew members Lt. Tom Greear and FF/PM Barry Prindle at the meeting.  Last week he stopped at the fire station and thanked the third member of the crew FF/EMT Mike Harvey who was unable to attend the meeting.

Stratford Court Delivers Donation

On Monday, July 11, 2011 Jim Westrich, manager of Stratford Court located at 45 Katherine Blvd, and his staff delivered a check for $4,253.00.  The donation was a result of the Third Annual Italian Bistro Night fundraiser held on May 15, 2011.  Jim and his staff spoke at the monthly Board of Fire Commissioners Meeting thanking the department for all they do, not only for Stratford Court, but for the community.

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 2nd Place in the 10-minute Rapid Pit, 3rd Place in the 20-minute Unlimited, and a 3rd Place Tie in the 20-minute Limited challenge.  

      The team finished 3rd 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 1st Place in Technical Tool, 2nd Place in Best Medic  and 2nd 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

Employees of the Dunkin Donuts at 33240 US 19 N called 911 at 3:35am to report a fire in the store.  On Station 65's arrival thick smoke was coming from inside.  Crew's attempted to enter and fight the fire from inside, but were forced out as the fire enveloped the attic space and broke through the roof.  Shortly after exiting the building the roof holding the A/C unit collapsed.  The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.  No injuries were reported.
Units Involved:
E65, E66, E56, T67, S65, D65 in Command
T53, D69, PH300, PH401, PH500, PH600, PH800, LK500, SS254, & SS502


2010 Annual Report Released


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