13,882
Medical Calls
1,089
Fires
752
Public Assists
153
Responders
"What will it take?"
More FACTS from the insurance companies on how premiums can be lowered. The lack of support can end at anytime with support from the Board of County Commissioners. The ability to save money for all must be addressed by them also. If they chose to support the 5 year plan, the progress would be able to begin.
More FACTS about the needed increase. The increase would be for the DEPARTMENT, not the career side. The overall mission is for Public Safety. If all are concerned about equality, you need to be able to afford it.
-Second sets of gear: costs money
-Apparatus in station for recall, maintenance, or Paid-on-call/Volunteer staffing: costs money
-Requested fire and specialty training for services provided to all citizens: costs money
The mud slinging and name calling is being produced to cause infighting and turmoil while not addressing the base issue- financial support for all of ECFR. Coming together for the overall safety if the citizens and visitors of Escambia County should be the driving force.
How often do the iso rating get done yearly?
"What will it take?"
Why is a fire engine so important? Why does it run every call? Why send such a large apparatus on simple problems?
The fire engine is the backbone of the American Fire Service. It is a versatile tool that provides a wide range if capabilities, functions, and services. When responding to a medical call or public assistance, it appears to be overkill. We should always be ready for our primary job- fire safety. The engine allows us to always be prepared.
But look big picture. Look at the capability of the staffed engine to respond to ANY emergency when completed or diverted from their current assignment.
For ECFR, there is a standard "Rescue Engine" assignment. With this, set amount of tools, hoses, ladders, extrication equipment, and medical supplies carried on the rig. Allowing for a Jack-of-all-trades approach to everyday hazards. This standardization also allows firefighters to work at any station and have the approximate same capacity and tools for their shift.
This is just like firefighters. Jack-of-all-trades for medical, fire, rescue, water rescue, hazmat, and so much more. This also keeps the firefighters from having to return to the station for another truck while enroute to or returning from a call.
The limiting factor to a fire engine though is staffing. The tools and equipment can only be used if there are staff to use them. We have posted statistics from the department documenting the lack of response or the sense that someone showed up. But as with the engine, there is much more to it.
When you pay $125.33 and live in 14 of the fire districts in ECFR, you get that engine or ladder truck staffed and ready. All citizens should have access to this type of response. It is the charge of government to provide Public Safety as a foundation of public funding. We have been lacking for a long time, and face many upcoming issues without the needed support.
Which one of the 14 career stations would be okay with closing if funding is not approved? Is it your communities guaranteed response?
Below are listed the career staffed stations, most having paid-on-call and volunteer staff working together for the goal of Public Safety:
Bellview
Brent
Cantonment
Century (7 am- 4 pm)
Ensley
Ferry Pass
Innerarity Point
Myrtle Grove
Osceola
Pensacola Beach
Pleasant Grove
Warrington
West Pensacola
Perdido Key
Again, which one will be selected to close if funding is not in place? Support the decision to fully fund the Fire Department.
Great article !
I was told if my mother or myself needed help, Fire or medical it would take 30 or longer get get any help , Im near the Lillian bridge and we Need a station out here ASAP!!!
"What will it take?"
Since the argument of facts and statistics seems to stir emotions, maybe these proven numbers will do the same.
In 2015, the West Pensacola Fire Station was staffed by on call volunteers. As the stations staffing dwindled, the missed calls began to become more frequent. In that time, surrounding career companies had to be first in on numerous fires, causing larger loss of contents and belonging, and ultimately a loss of life.
Annually, Station 17 was the busiest fire duty station in ECFR. This means they run the most fire type calls- structure, commercial buildings, vehicles, etc. The following are proven, publicly requested statistics provided by the department for missed call percentages:
-From 2015-
Structure fire missed calls: 48%
Commercial structure free missed calls: 62.5%
Vehicle fire missed calls: 80%
Brush fire missed calls: 16.7%
Extrication missed calls: 100%
Ultimately, the death of a young teenager in August 2015 (0.8 miles from the station) caused Commisioner May to request a full time crew to staff West Pensacola. He was looking out for the best interest of his constituents, even without the funding in place yet, recognizing the need for Public Safety. Once the crews were in place, he secured funding, knowing it would take ongoing cost to provide for the safety of District 3. Since then, if someone calls 911, there is a response.
These are numbers not meant to call any particular person or group out. It is meant to show the public that when they call 911, there will statistically be a delay in the emergency response.
Current numbers produced by ECFR public information request shows the same trend happening in Molino and Beulah.
-2019 Missed calls- Engine company requested for the following:
Structure Fire:
Molino: 50%
Beulah: 61.5%
Vehicle Fire
Molino: 66.7%
Beulah: 28.6%
Brush Fire
Molino: 100%
Beulah: 80%
As the phrase we've been preceding each post states, "What will it take?" Whose teenager will not have a call answered? Whose home will receive more damage to irreplaceable items? What will you do to help make sure that your call for help is answered?
Contact your commisioners at:
district1@myescambia.com
district2@myescambia.com
district3@myescambia.com
district4@myescambia.com
district5@myescambia.com
What more help is needed? The stipend was increased, a volunteer coordinator was appointed to recruit, and training was made available online for smaller need for formal classrooms.
As the phrase we've been preceding each post states, "What will it take?" Whose teenager will not have a call answered? Whose home will receive more damage to irreplaceable items? What will you do to help make sure that your call for help is answered? Contact your commisioners at: district1@myescambia.com , district2@myescambia.com ,district3@myescambia.com district4@myescambia.com , district5@myescambia.com
Hey, I just started following you guys not long ago...im trying to understand everything. Is escambia in need of firefighters, that's why the numbers are falling behind and low? I know a few good people who would love to join, I'd be more than happy to send them your way if that's the Case. ☺
The number of calls are not only being missed. They are running with three man crews. Requiring more trucks to respond. Volunteers ran six man crews. So more trucks are available for other calls.
ALL Firefighters are professionals. It doesn't matter if they are paid or volunteer. Every does the same job and takes the same risks.
I'm curious. You state fire 0.8 miles from fire house no response from vol and someone dies. So why is it a few years back there was a very bad mva on perdio key and L19 was at Sta 14 socializing. Orange Beach, L19 dispatched. Sta 8 self dispatched since they had a crew (before sta 8 career crew). 8 was first on scene one DOA and one died later. Where was the ALS crew that was stationed less then a mile from the call. You keep saying quick response but hard to do when in another district. Just saying it's a two way street.
How about the cardiac arrest call while in district 20 on E20 and E14 showed up having a medic on there truck and the officer told my crew they could go in service while cpr was still being administered. Here y’all are whining when all the volunteers try to do is help in all ways and the career staff shits on us and wants to do it themselves. The problems y’all have bickering about here lately are in talks own backyard. Not the volunteers don’t try because you are sadly mistaken. Grow a pair and do your jobs because of y’all that is the reason no volunteer fireman likes or enjoys being associated with this county
Also and in the fire that your talking about in west P myself and My captain were the second truck on scene with Tanker 11.
Ok y’all keep asking “what’s going to take “ the same question over an over again so I want to ask you the question what’s it going to take for y’all to stop all the fussing an bad mouthing each other on here an calling out station over numbers that are not correct because of how you pulled them from CAD an start helping the volunteers build there numbers so we don’t have to call y’all outside ur district instead complaining why not say hey we can’t keep running these trucks like we r so let’s try an see if maybe we can get some volunteers to help us because the “commissioner “ will not doing anything let’s take this ourselves an do something but no it doesn’t fit ur narrative of trying to push as many volunteers out of the south in as u can so u can get ur staffing up an pay more people an y’all can have a raise so just keep doing what ur doing an your going to find out what’s it going to take for me to get ANY help
"What will it take?"
Today, Engine 11 "A" watch was dispatched to a Public Assist call for an elderly couple with a leak in the waterline in their house. The members identified the issue, went to the store, and with their own money, purchased the needed equipment to fix their issue. They returned and installed for the tax paying citizens.
These are the everyday acts that members of ECFR provide those they serve. We go to more than fires and medical calls. This compassionate act will go a long way in doing the right thing for those in need.
Great job guys.
What a blessing these 3 Fire Fighters have been!! They saved the day! They were called out originally to help my dad up, he tried to turn the water off outside and could not get back up. Once he was up and ok they asked him what he was working on. Once they found out what it was they got busy working to helping them out! Y'all will never know what this has ment to our family! Thanks so much!! 🚒❤🚒
Thank you for your service to the county and the people you help.
God Bless these 3 Firefighters,you never know how thankful you are for firefighters until you need them and how nice they are..Thank you for all your help. Prays for you..
Thank you guys 🙏❤️
Thank you for helping my sweet Uncle Bill and Aunt Fairy Redding!!! All three of you are awesome thank you so very much.
Great job guys❤🚒
selfless service
Awesome job guys !
Great job brothers.
Way to go, guys! I'm proud of you. 🚒❤🚒
That’s my nephew. I am so proud
Great job guys!
Great Job!!! ThankYou for your service and your big hearts! ❤️❤️❤️
Thank you hero’s. God Bless you all❤️🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼
You are great heroes! Thank you for caring! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍
Great job guys, you really go out of your way!🥰
Awesome job applause 👏 ❤️
Nice work!!! Kudos to all you Guys for going above and beyond
Beautiful job. How awesome
Awesome job helping this sweet elderly couple, you all ROCK
Way to go, brothers and sisters! Way to go...above and beyond! ❤️
Your kindness is greatly appreciated
Great job E-11 A !!
Keep up the good work of Our Lord. Great job men. God Bless you all.
Great job The job is always about them
"What will it take?"
The difference proper staffing makes was made evident this morning in a house fire off of Mintz Lane in Cantonment. Crews were at the station and ready to respond for a structure fire in the area of Mintz Ln and Muskogee Rd. Crews were on scene in only a few minutes, putting themselves in harms way to save someone's property and potentially someones life.
www.northescambia.com/2019/07/cantonment-home-damaged-by-fire
A few months ago, a story was shown on Channel 3 about a family whose home was severely damaged by a fire and only 1.5 miles from the same station. In that families case, the closest fire engine was in Molino, covering a call due to lack of response. This put them out of their own District, to cover others.
weartv.com/news/local/escambia-county-firefighters-union-demanding-change-after-delayed-response-...
What if it was your home? What if your closest fire protection was in another District, habitually having to cover for a lack of response, even though you pay the same fire tax as all citizens? These are things that need addressed now, not when the emergency is on top of you.
These are more facts, not flinging mud.
But they are right.if it was your house and it was not got to in time.then you would blame them for not getting there in time.think about it.before coming down on them they need help and money . my nephew and grandson are both fireman.it's hot and could cost there lives at anyfire.
Here we go again. I’m getting amused at reading all these posts like this
👀
It is very sad
Sad is all I can say
The IAFF Center of Excellence for Behavioral Health Treatment and Recovery is a one-of-a-kind addiction treatment facility specializing in PTSD for IAFF members – and IAFF members only – who are struggling with addiction, PTSD other related behavioral health challenges to receive the help they need in taking the first steps toward recovery. It is a safe haven for members to talk with other members who have faced or overcome similar challenges.
Local 4131 is home to 154 members of Escambia County Fire Rescue (ECFR) located in Pensacola, Floirda.
Escambia County covers 662 square miles and is the Western most County in Florida. A resident population of nearly 400,000 people with an average annual tourist load of over 4,000,000 people. ECFR runs nearly 17,000 calls a year and provides everything from fire suppression to ocean rescue and non-transport ALS.