FLORIDA FIRE SERVICE July 2017 30 Fire Service Tenure: 39 years Career Journey: A third generation firefighter, Rick began his career in Marion County, Florida, in 1978 and eventually Ocala Fire Rescue. Rick spent nine years in Ocala and served 15 years as an adjunct fire instructor at the Florida State Fire College. He then served with the Kennedy Space Center Fire Rescue Department and during his tenure at Kennedy Space Center, Rick was instrumental in the development and implementation of astronaut and space shuttle rescue procedures, and supported twenty-six space shuttle missions. In 1995, Rick accepted a position with the City of Titusville’s Fire and Emergency Services, and served as a Battalion Chief and Operations Chief. In 1999, Rick was promoted to Fire Chief for the City of Titusville, serving in that capacity for eight years. Rick accepted the position of South Walton’s Fire Chief/Administrator in April 2007. Chief Talbert served eleven years as a board member for the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association and was president of the Association in 2006/07. He has represented Florida in various capacities during his career, including: state and national mutual aid response for hurricanes, floods and wildfires; the International Association of Fire Chiefs’ Association’s national mutual aid project; and Florida’s Domestic Security initiatives. Chief Talbert was named Florida’s Fire Chief of the Year in 2009. Form of Government: The South Walton Fire District is an Independent Fire Taxing Control District that serves the southern portion of Walton County. The Fire Chief/Administrator serves a seven- member Board of Fire Commissioners who govern the affairs of the fire district. The Fire Commissioners are elected from designated precincts within the Fire District. Sources of Funding for Jurisdiction: The South Walton Fire District is primarily funded through the Ad Valorem Taxes. The Board of Fire Commissioners is authorized to levy up to one mill in taxes. Additional funding sources include Fire-based EMS transport, Public/Life Safety re-inspections, and community event management. Our Fire District boasts the second lowest millage rate of any Fire District in Florida. Population Served, including square miles covered: SWFD serves 84 square miles south of the Choctawhatchee Bay to the Gulf of Mexico, spanning west to the Okaloosa County line and east to the Bay County line. Our protection area includes twenty-six miles of beaches. Today, 180 personnel proudly provide our growing community with five fire stations, serving approximately 26,000 residents, with a seasonal population of 150-200,000 visitors during the beach season. Composition of Department: SWFD proudly serves our citizens and visitors with our Firefighter/Paramedics and EMTs, Sergeants, Lieutenants District Chiefs, Life Safety Division, Administrative staff, E-911 Communications staff, Emergency Vehicle Technician, and the Beach Safety/Surf Rescue Division (14 Lifeguard Towers). Department Equipment: Units: three engine companies including a Heavy Engine/Squad, one Quint, one Truck company, four fire-based EMS Rescues, one Non-Emergency Transport Van, 3,000 Gallon Tanker, one Brush Unit, TRT #105, MCI trailer, Air Trailer, Special Event EMS Cart, Personal Water Craft, and specialized ATV units that operate on our beaches. Call Summary: In 2016, the South Walton Fire District responded to 143 fires, 3,682 medicals and other related calls for service, totaling 5,477 alarms. Our call volume continues to surpass previous years. What is the most challenging issue facing your department today? Maintaining the same level of service our community expects as our community continues to grow. The increase in building growth and visitors is recognized and thus requires, and in many cases, demands additional resources. Describe your management style: I call it a participatory style of management. Once you create a vision or path for the team it is essential that communication, especially in the form of engagement and feedback, are critical to short- and long-term success. Regardless of rank, the more opportunities you create for your members to engage in the issues that are important to the growth and success of the organization, the more success you have in creating a culture of positive and meaningful traditions, passion, and ownership within the team. Talk with your members and do a lot of listening. They will absolutely amaze you with their pride, passion, and creativity. Does your department have a formal, long-range strategic plan? Yes. In July 2007, the South Walton Fire District implemented its first Strategic Plan outlining our mission, core values, and our vision for the next five years. The SWFD’s approach to keep our plan focused and relevant is to link it within our budget strategy and any goal or objective we set out to accomplish. To maintain our strategic focus, our members meet annually to address what has been accomplished and what is forecasted in the coming year. What challenges do you see facing the fire service today? One thing is for sure, operating and providing our services is not getting any easier. I think preparing our members to step up and lead is essential. There is a growing trend of apathy that exists in the fire service that leading and the additional responsibilities of other people, programs, and projects are for someone else. Encouraging others, helping them to explore opportunities to grow and showing them the direct correlation in these opportunities in relation to their career growth “story” is, in my opinion, paying it forward. I also think that keeping our members safe, on the job and when they complete their career, Meet Meetthe the Chief Chief Richard G. Talbert, Fire Chief/Administrator, South Walton Fire District July 2017 FFS.QXD 6/27/17 8:08 PM Page 30