Congratulations!!!!!
PHFR Extrication Team Places 5th
  July 14, 2008:  Our Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Extrication Team has placed third in the rapid removal portion and 5th in the overall competition out of 32 world wide teams!!!  The following is from the team commander, District Chief Dan Zinge:  As a team and a department we would like to thank South Wales Fire Rescue Service for all of their support and for hosting such a great event.  Also, the team would like to extend a special thank you to SWFRS Station 24 Manager Steve Logan and the rest of Caerphilly Station for their kindness and friendship.  And a big thank you to everyone locally that assisted in making this trip possible.

           
 

PHFR Extrication Team to
Represent USA in World Challenge
 On April 17th 2008, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue received a letter from the Chairman of the World Rescue Organization (WRO) inviting Palm Harbor Fire Rescue to participate in the 2008 World Rescue Extrication Challenge.   This year’s event will be held in Cardiff, Wales UK on July 9th-12th.  The WRO is a worldwide organization that promotes rescuer training, safety, and new tool technology in addition to conducting extrication challenges all around the world.  This year 31 teams from 16 different countries will meet in Cardiff to determine the real world extrication champions.  With over 200 registered extrication teams in the United States, The WRO selected Palm Harbor Fire Rescue’s Extrication Team as the only team to represent the United States. ( http://www.worldrescue-wales.org.uk/ ) District Chief and Team Captain, Dan Zinge, introduced the team members, Firefighter/Paramedic Rodney Malpass, Firefighter/Paramedic Doug Zimmerman, Firefighter Rick Weschler, Firefighter Mike Harvey, and Firefighter/Paramedic Bill Fisher and expressed the honor the team felt when chosen to participate in such a prestigious event.

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Extrication Team Places
FIRST Again!!!

For the third time this year Palm Harbor Fire Rescue’s Extrication Team placed first overall at an extrication challenge.  The team’s latest win came at the 2006 TERC USA Nationals held earlier this month in Las Vegas.   Combined with their Florida Regional and TERC International wins, PHFR finished the extrication season undefeated.
In addition to the team’s placement honors, Palm Harbor also claimed two prestigious individual awards.  District Chief Dan Zinge won his third consecutive “best incident commander” award.  While FF/PM Rodney Malpass won his second “best Medic” award.
Overall, 2006 proved to be a defining year for Palm Harbor Fire Rescue’s Extrication Team.  The training and experience gained during the year has further established the high degree of expertise and professionalism that has become synonymous with Palm Harbor Fire Rescue.

         

                  

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Extrication Team Places
FIRST in International Competition!!!

Congratulations are due again to Palm Harbor Fire Rescue’s extrication team as they return from Canada after competing in the 2006 International Extrication Challenge and bringing home 1st Place Overall!  PHFR’s District Chief Dan Zinge also brings home his second award for Best Incident Commander.  Twenty eight teams from the US , Canada, Sweden, and the UK came to compete on September 20-22, 2006 in front of judges from as far away as Great Britain and South Africa.

 

                        

PHFR Extrication Team Takes 1st Place
in 2006 Southeast Regional Competition!

On June 1 & 2, 2006, the PHFR Extrication Team competed in a regional competition with 14 other teams from the SE United States.  The competition was held on the waterfront in Clearwater and hosted by the Suncoast Extrication Coalition.  The PHFR team placed 2nd in both the limited and unlimited scenarios, but placed first in the overall competition.
                  The team also received two other awards.  FF/PM Rodney Malpass was awarded the 'Best Medic' and District Chief Dan Zinge received the 'Best Incident Commander' award. 
 
   Malpass                       Zinge    

More Photos From SE Regional Competition 2006

PHFR Extrication Team
SECOND in THE 2005 National Competition!!
November - Palm Harbor Fire Rescue's Extrication Team participated in the 2005 National Extrication Challenge and Learning Symposium. They performed their extrication skills in two scenarios, one using heavy extrication equipment and the second a rapid extrication situation. In the end, the team scored fourth in the first scenario, third in the rapid scenario, and earned SECOND OVERALL. Teams from across the United States participated. In order to qualify to attend, the PHFR team won a regional challenge last year. Winning at the National event qualifies the team to go to the International Challenge next year. All of the skills learned and practiced for these events directly relate to our operations vehicle crashes here at home. The department congratulates the team on their accomplishment!!
 

 

Southeastern Regional
Extrication Challenge
2004
Palm Harbor Fire Rescue's Extrication Team participated with 16 other teams at the Southeast Regional Extrication Challenge in Gainesville Florida this week. Each team completes two vehicle accident scenarios.  One allows the use of unlimited tools which would include hand tools, pneumatic tools, and the hydraulics tools such as the "Jaws of Life".  The second scenario limits the teams to hand tools , pneumatics, and hand operated hydraulics tools.  This limited scenario requires the teams to maintain proficiency with hand tools. We are very happy to report that the team finished 2nd in the limited scenario, 6th in the limited, and 3rd OVERALL. The Department is very proud of our extrication team, which requires them to commit a significant amount of time  for training and continued practice.  It is clear that this preparation and the participation in this event transfers to the real situations and makes the department more effective in the street, where seconds count. Congratulations to the team for their participation and continued quest for extrication excellence.
   
Thanks to Sue and Dina from Palm Harbor Fire Rescue's Auxiliary "Fully Involved" for the excellent photos!!
Team Sponsors Receiving Plaques of Appreciation

World Extrication Challenge & Learning Symposium
Dallas, Texas. August 2003

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Extrication Team participated in the World Extrication Challenge and Learning Symposium in August 2003 This competition brings extrication teams from across the World together to show their skills in vehicle extrication.  The following are some pictures from the various events.
   
   

Southeastern Regional
Extrication Challenge
 May 2003

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Firefighters participated in the Southeastern Regional Extrication Challenge in Palm Beach County on May 22 and 23, 2003.  This competition brings extrication teams from across the southeast together to show their skills in vehicle extrication.  The teams also learn new techniques from other teams and have the opportunity to view new technologies in equipment.

 Below are some photos depicting the two day's activities.

 

 
   
   
Thanks to Sue from Palm Harbor Fire Rescue's Auxiliary "Fully Involved" for the excellent photos!!