Firefighter - 2020 - 3

2020 FLORIDA FIREFIGHTER

2450 U.S. Hwy 27,
Avon Park, FL 33825

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BLUE R: 37 G: 61 B:134
RED R: 207 G: 33 B: 39
YELLOW R: 240 G: 233 B: 25

800.883.4817
fsfa.com

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BLUE C:100 M:90 Y:14 K:3
RED C:13 M:100 Y:100 K:3
YELLOW C:9 M:0 Y:97 K:0

Dear Florida Firefighters,
This year, the Florida State Firefighters Association celebrates its 95th anniversary.
We are so honored to have been serving our state's firefighters and their families since 1925.
Over the years, our association has strived to unify every facet of the Florida Fire Service, as
well as assist in training and the development of fire programs across the state.
It has been a busy couple of years for FSFA, both at home and across nearby waters.
After Hurricane Michael battered the Florida panhandle in late 2018, we knew we needed a
way to help the first responders and their families affected by the disaster get back on their
feet and back to work as soon as possible. The Florida State Fire Marshal's office officially
deployed our newly created Disaster Response Team (DRT) to provide a benevolent service
of repairs to emergency workers' homes and food for their families. Assisting first responders
in this way is a quintessential service that will provide peace of mind so that the first responders
can fully focus on their community.
Florida dodged a bullet in 2019 when Hurricane Dorian, one of the most devastating
natural disasters, changed paths. Dorian struck the Abaco Islands in the Bahamas as a category
5 hurricane, the worst the country had ever seen, with thousands of residents left homeless.
Our association sent in the DRT with tons of supplies, but when our team arrived at Marsh
Harbor and Hope Town, we discovered the firefighters on the island were not trained, and
the equipment they used was from the 70's. In October 2019, our association invited the
island firefighters to attend The Great Florida Firefighter School event in Fort Myers where
they attended both classroom and hands-on training.
Since the storm, the DRT has made three trips to the islands, teaching firefighters lessons
on mass casualties, search and rescue, and are now beginning to help rebuild their fire stations.
We're excited to say this is an ongoing partnership, and we'll continue to help the Bahamas in
disaster recovery.
We have also expanded our Disaster Response Team efforts to Puerto Rico. Recently,
the island experienced the strongest earthquake in a century, at a magnitude of 6.4. The Fire
Service in Puerto Rico is similar to that of Florida's in 1950. We have made a commitment
to assist them with their fire structure and education, recruitment, training and retaining their
firefighters, as well as building them a training facility.
Of course, all of our efforts couldn't be done without the help of The Florida Fire Marshal's
Office, Florida Joint Council of Fire & Emergency Services, our members and our volunteers.
Every day I am inspired by what can be accomplished when we work together.
Stay Safe,
Robert Amick, FSFA Executive Director

To find out more about our Disaster Response Team, see page 7 or visit fsfa.com.

http://www.fsfa.com http://www.fsfa.com

Firefighter - 2020

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