Palm Beach County Fire Rescue

The department is responsible for 1,813 square miles (4,700 km²), providing services to almost 900,000 residents throughout the county.[8] Along with the unincorporated areas of the county, PBCFR provides services for Belle Glade, Cloud Lake, Glen Ridge, Haverhill, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Lake Clarke Shores, Lake Park, Lake Worth, Lantana, Manalapan, Pahokee, Palm Springs, Royal Palm Beach, South Bay, South Palm Beach and Wellington.[9]

All line personnel are either dual-certified Firefighter/EMT’s or Firefighter/Paramedics. All Engine Companies, Truck Companies, Ladder Companies, and Rescue Companies are Advanced Life Support (ALS) units, which means that they are staffed daily with Paramedics. The department’s daily minimum staffing is 295 Firefighters.[8]

Apparatus Types:[10]

• Engine Companies: Pumpers that carry 750-1,000 gallons of water
• Ladder Companies: Conventional (Straight-Stick) Quints that carry approximately 500 gallons of water
• Truck Companies: Platform (Tower-Ladder) Quints that carry approximately 500 gallons of water
• Rescue Companies: Medical Transport units
• Tenders: Pumper Tankers that carry 3,000 gallons of water
• Special Ops: Heavy Rescues that carry Dive Rescue, Technical Rescue, and HazMat equipment
• Brush: Wildland Pumpers that carry up to 750 gallons of water
• Dragon: ARFF Pumpers that carry foam and 3,000 gallons of water

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue remains at the forefront of providing exceptional EMS care by using the latest equipment, techniques, and interventions to achieve the best possible outcomes for those served. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is frequently recognized both nationally and internationally for its medical and trauma emergency services, and is continuously developing programs and protocols to provide the most advanced EMS care available. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is among the top in the nation at cardiac arrest resuscitation, having a rate of resuscitation (33%) almost double the Florida state average, and has achieved the American Heart Association Mission Lifeline Gold Plus award.[11]

The department has two Special Operations apparatus, located at stations 19 and 34. These multipurpose units function as Heavy Rescues, HazMats, and Mobile Command Centers on extended operations. Members of Special Operations are responsible for Hazardous Materials (HazMat) incidents, Dive Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, and High Angle Rescue,[12] and they assist the Sheriff's Office's Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team.[13] Many members are also trained in Trench Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue, and Vehicle Machinery Rescue (VMR). Each Special Operations station houses an Engine, a Rescue, and a Heavy Rescue. Station 34, which is the headquarters for Battalion 9, also houses the Special Operations Battalion Chief, the Special Operations EMS Captain, and the Heavy Rescue Equipment vehicle.[14]

All Ladder and Truck companies are Quints that incorporate ladder capabilities along with pumper functions. These aerials carry Rope Rescue equipment, a large complement of saws, vehicle stabilization equipment, air lift bags, and assorted pneumatic and electrical tools that are not carried by Engine companies. All personnel assigned full-time to aerial stations are certified at a minimum in Rope Rescue operations and Aerial operations. Personnel assigned full-time to station 57 (Boca Raton) and station 73 (Belle Glade) are also certified Rescue Divers. Aside from Special Operations , these are the only 2 stations in the department with regional Dive Rescue teams.[15]

The PBCFR is responsible for providing aircraft rescue and firefighting for the Palm Beach International Airport, one the 50 busiest airports in the United States. The station which is located near the center of the airport grounds, is home to 13 pieces of specialized fire fighting equipment.[16]

These apparatus include:

• An air stair which allows for assistance in deplaning in an emergency.[17]
• Five Airport crash tenders that go by the call sign Dragon (Dragon 1, Dragon 2, etc.).[18]
• A foam unit that carries Purple-K concentrate to assist with extinguishing a fire.[19]
• A heavy rescue vehicle that carries additional tools for a plane crash and other mass-casualty incidents.[20]

The Palm Beach County Fire Rescue partners with the Palm Beach County Health Care District to operate the Trauma Hawk Aero-Medical Program.[21] The Trauma Hawk program, established in November 1990, replaced the use of Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office helicopters to medevac critically injured patients to area hospitals.[21] At the Trauma Hawk Station, located at the south west corner of Palm Beach International Airport, the department has two Sikorsky S-76C helos.[22] The air ambulances are identically equipped and can carry two patients each and up to four medical attendants if needed.[22] Each helicopter is staffed with a pilot, a registered nurse (RN) and a paramedic. The nurses and paramedics are Palm Beach County Fire Rescue employees while the pilots are Health Care District employees.[21]

The Training & Safety Division is responsible for the training and education new Recruit Firefighters, existing Firefighters, and support personnel. Areas of training include:[23]

• Recruit Academy: All newly-hired firefighters attend a recruit academy, consisting of fire and EMS training, before working in the field.
• Company Officer Training: Officer Development Academies (ODAs) provide new Lieutenants, Captains, and Chief Officers with essential job knowledge and skills to effectively operate in their new supervisory positions.
• Driver Operator Training: Driver Candidate School (DCS) provides the basic fundamental knowledge and skills to operate pumping apparatus. Additional training classes to operate specialized apparatus are also offered.
• EMS Training: Annual EMT & Paramedic training covers basic and advanced medical skills (i.e. Airway Management, EKG Interpretation, Medication Administration) and Regional Protocol reviews.
• Fire Training: Annual firefighter training includes Live-Burn, Search, Safety & Survival, Fire Suppression, Forcible Entry, and Ventilation training.
• Specialty Training: Specialty units receive continuing training in Hazardous Materials (HazMat), Dive Rescue, and Technical Rescue / USAR.

In the 1980’s, Palm Beach County became the second in the nation to implement enhanced 911 phone system, which provided critical information regarding the location of the emergency. The dispatch center, known as the Alarm Office, processes all incoming calls and operates multiple radio channels. With a staff of over 40 communications personnel, trainers, and dispatch supervisors, a Fire Operations Officer (FOO) is assigned to the Alarm Office at all times. The purpose of the FOO is to provide technical assistance to dispatch during multi-company operations and department staffing.[24]

The department also provides dispatch services for 13 municipalities: Atlantis, Delray Beach, Greenacres, Gulf Stream, Highland Beach, Jupiter Inlet Colony, Mangonia Park, North Palm Beach, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach Shores, Riviera Beach, Tequesta and West Palm Beach.[8]