Visit us at WWW.FFCA.ORG 37 Jonathan Beale & Matthew Warner Day By Janel Vasallo, MPH, Public Information/Education Officer The Lakeland Fire Department is very excited to share that two of its revered employees were recently by the City of Lakeland with a day in their honor. Lakeland Mayor and City Commissioners proclaimed March 6, 2017, as Jonathan Beale & Matthew Warner Day! They are the maintenance mechanic and supervisor, respectively, who are responsible for managing and performing all the work to restore Leaping Lena, the department’s original 1938 Pirsch Fire Truck. Commissioner Don Selvage proposed the proclamation to honor the two LFD maintenance mechanics to recognize their extensive work in making the restoration of Leaping Lena possible with minimal resources. Both Beale and Warner did the work rapidly at that, to ensure Leaping Lena would be ready for the department’s Centennial Celebration which took place late last year. Their work significantly impacted how the department has been able to celebrate its history and has lasting effects. The restored engine is now used for community events and parades and as a way to interact with the public outside of emergency events. Plantation Helping Volunteer Firefighters By Joel Gordon, Battalion Chief The Plantation Fire Department is a frequent stop for volunteer firefighters from around the world touring South Florida. Firefighters from Germany, Japan, England, and South America have visited Plantation to learn how a large, American volunteer department operates. But when Brigadier Commander Jorge Rios from Arequipo, Peru, stopped by for a visit he got more than he bargained for. Chief Rios and Chief Stearns chatted for some time about the differences and similarities between organizations, but when Chief Rios mentioned their difficulties in obtaining gear and equipment, Chief Stearns jumped into action. He immediately arranged for a large quantity of used Plantation gear to be transferred to the volunteer fire brigade in Arequipo. Paramedic Daniel Sologruen was assigned as the intermediary and liaison for Chief Rios. “The NFPA requires us to replace any firefighting gear that is more than ten years old,” explained Chief Stearns. “Some of our older gear is only slightly used or not used at all. They (Peru) do not have the same requirements.” Plantation’s Logistics team was able to organize and collect 35 sets of workable gear, including coats, pants, helmets, and boots. The lot also included dozens of Nomex hoods. After completing required Customs paperwork, the gear was boxed up and prepared for shipping. Representatives from the Peruvian Consulate arranged for the boxes to be shipped to Peru. “Anytime we can help another department in need, we will be there,” emphasized Stearns. “To be able to help a small department on an International scale is tremendously gratifying.” Miami Fire Rescue Aids Cruise Ship Passenger By Ignatius Carroll Jr., Captain/Public Relations Officer On December 22, 2016, Miami Fire Rescue (MFR) Fireboat Central was dispatched to aid a passenger on board the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Sea cruise ship. The passenger, a 55-year old woman from North Carolina, was experiencing a medical condition that required an immediate removal off the ship. Passengers on board watched as firefighters, with assistance from the ship’s staff, safely transfer the woman onto the fireboat. The passenger, who just celebrated her birthday, was taken to Bayside Marina where paramedics transported her to an area hospital, but not before taking a photo with her Rescuers. She said “this is one boat ride I will never forget.” Fuel Tanker Rollover and Fire By Andrea Schuch, Public Education/ Information Officer At 4:07am on Saturday, November 27, 2016, the Cape Coral Fire Department received a call of an overturned fuel tanker on Del PradoBoulevard North. Arriving crews found the truck in the median, on its side, leaking fuel. The driver of the truck suffered minor injuries and was treated and transported to the hospital. Firefighters constructed a containment berm perimeter to keep the leaking fuel from spreading and to prevent it from entering nearby storm water drains. They also used fire suppression foam and water to blanket the gasoline vapors. While working to remove the truck’s six batteries in order to de-energize it, a spark ignited the fumes. Foam and water were used to contain the fire and cool the tank. As an extra precaution, homes within 1000 feet of the incident were evacuated. After the fire had been extinguished and the batteries were successfully removed, the remaining fuel was offloaded into an awaiting tanker. The overturned truck was then righted and towed, and Del Prado Boulevard was finally reopened to traffic at 6:30pm. The tanker was carrying almost 9000 gallons of fuel, and, of that, 750 gallons were not recovered. The Department of Environmental Protection was able to confirm that none of the fuel had had entered the storm drains. Over 600 gallons of foam were used during the incident. Two Cape Coral firefighters had to be transported for exhaustion. Due to the volatility and length of the situation and the potential hazards to life and property, resolving the incident was a multi-agency effort. Fortunately, there were no serious injuries and the environmental impact was kept to a minimum. The cost of the response and cleanup were covered by the trucking company’s insurance.