The Panama City Fire Department serves an ever expanding suburban area of approximately thirty-eight square miles located on the coastline of the Florida Panhandle, approximately midway between Tallahassee and Pensacola.  The City of Panama City is the county seat of Bay County and has a resident population of approximately 37,500.  Being a coastal community and part of an area big on Tourism, the daily population of our service area changes considerably with the varying influx of business and/or tourist population throughout the year. 

 

The Operations Division of the Panama City Fire Department is staffed by seventy-three State Certified Firefighters, working three rotating twenty-four hour shifts.  Battalion Chief Gary Swearingen heads up “A” Shift, Battalion Chief Larry Leonard manages “B” Shift, and Battalion Chief Daniel Snapp oversees “C” Shift.  

On a daily basis, Personnel in the Operations Division staff five Engine Companies and a Ladder Company with an average first-due Engine Company response time of 3 minutes or less to 85⁺% of reported Fire Incidents.  In addition to normal daily operations, the Department also staffs a 26 ft. Fire / Rescue Boat and is the home of a Type II Light Technical Rescue Team. 

 

During calendar year 2009, the Panama City Fire Department responded to a total of 1605 Fire Incidents, with an Average Response Time of 3.03 minutes for the first arriving Engine Company.  This response time continues to be well below the minimum 4-minute response time recommended by the National Fire Protection Association. 

 

In looking at statistics for 2009, the Department responded to fires in structures and other venues valued at over $96,000,000.  With a total estimated fire loss of $1,348,995, this equates to a percentage of loss at 1.4%; or stated another way, of the fires occurring in 2009; the Panama City Fire Department saved over 98% of the property involved.

 

In addition to the shift personnel, the activities of the Operations Division are directed by Assistant Fire Chief Austin Andrews.  Chief Andrews’ schedule is normally Monday through Friday and he is responsible for melding the three shifts together into a cohesive group in order to accomplish the Department’s goals and objectives.  The Operations Division is dedicated to protecting and serving the citizens of Panama City around the clock, seven days a week and 365 days a year.  As the City's motto clearly states, we are:

 

"Dedicated to Excellence, People Serving People."

 

As time marches on, the primary mission of the Panama City Fire Department continues to be the protection and preservation of the lives and property within the community we serve.  As with most Fire Departments, this ever expanding mission includes much more than just responding to the normal scope of Structure, Vehicle Fires, and Extrications.  Being a Coastal Community with a significant coastline and substantial number of Marine Vessels, Marinas, Waterfront Businesses and Industry; our mission also includes fighting fires on Docks, Piers, and Marine Vessels as well as performing Water Rescue.  In addition to the aforementioned, the Department also contends with Hazardous Materials Incidents and the potential for Weapons of Mass Destruction Incidents, as well as other events such as Hurricanes and other weather related events. In order to accomplish this diverse group of missions, Firefighters continue training programs throughout the year which are designed to better prepare them to perform the many services provided by the Department.

 

Along with the tasks associated with Incident Response, Fire Department personnel continue their daily scheduled duties of maintaining, testing, and repairing fire fighting and rescue equipment.  These duties include, but are not limited to, maintaining station facilities, performing hydrant maintenance, daily training activities, and conducting pre-fire tactical surveys of buildings located within the City of Panama City. 

 

Firefighter Safety and Support:

 

In a continuing effort to keep up with applicable Firefighter Safety Standards, all Departmental personnel are trained to operate as members of Rapid Intervention Teams (RIT) in support of Firefighters actively involved in combating fires and other emergencies.  As a part of this effort, each Fire Company is equipped with all of the necessary tools and equipment to set up and function as an independent RIT at an incident scene. This concept, which was originally established to dedicate a single Engine Company to accomplish this task, has been expanded to enable the formation of multiple RIT and expand the Department’s capabilities to ensure Firefighter Safety and comply with Florida’s “Two-In / Two-Out” Standard for Firefighter Safety.

 

As time passes and trends change, the Panama City Fire Department continues to monitor its operations and enhance procedures in order to protect the citizens we serve, as well as the Firefighter performing their duties.  Beginning in 2009, the Department began a journey to more effectively manage the rehabilitation of Firefighters working at an Emergency Scene.  In order to accomplish this task, the Department began implementation of a formal Incident Rehabilitation Program (Rehab).  Utilizing some of the benchmarks recommended in NFPA Standards, the Department began development and implementation of this formal Rehab strategy.  Although it’s a work still in progress, this program has established parameters which require Firefighter Rehab and has also brought the local EMS community alongside the Fire Department to accomplish this task with an additional long-term goal of expanding the program’s principles to other area organizations.    

 

New Equipment 

 

During 2009, the Department was able to purchase an additional Thermal Imaging Camera to supplement its current inventory.  With the Grant being approved in November 2008, the Drager UCF 1600 Imager was acquired in March of 2009 and was funded primarily through a FEMA Fire Act Grant with a 90% Grant Award and a 10% match on behalf of the City.  This additional Imager brings newer technology in rescuing victims, detecting hidden fires, mitigating Hazardous Materials Incidents and enhancing Firefighter Safety.  It also provides the presence of Thermal Imaging Technology to four of the five First Response Engine Companies on the Department.  As a long term goal, the Department has aspirations to equip all Engine Companies with this technology.

 

Local / Regional Urban Search and Rescue (US&R or USAR):

 

In our continuing effort to better serve the community, numerous personnel from the Operations Division are trained as a part of a State sponsored Urban Search and Rescue Team which is formally classified as a Type II Light Technical Rescue Team (LTRT).  As a part of their training, personnel must be trained to the Operations Level in five disciplines, including High Angle Rescue, Confined Space Rescue, Trench Rescue, Structural Collapse Rescue, and Vehicle & Machinery Entrapment Rescue.  Along with the initial training, which encompasses more than 160 hours of intense classroom and practical application training, Team Members continue to train throughout the year in order to keep their skills well honed.  Throughout the years, USAR Teams have been deployed to Catastrophic Events or Natural Disasters such as Hurricanes Andrew, Ivan, and Katrina, as well as events like the recent earthquake in Haiti.

 

Community Involvement:

 

One of the extra special events Firefighters participate in is a Fund Raiser for the Children's Burn Camp of Northwest Florida, Camp Amigo.  Camp Amigo's mission is to help provide children who have physical and emotional scars from burn injuries with a place to be themselves and build a network of support that will last throughout their lives.  In some cases, Firefighters volunteer their time to assist with Camp Amigo and in others, Firefighters participate in fund raising events which help to fund the Camp.  One of the recent fund raising campaigns has been supported by Red Lobster in Panama City and sets up a night when Firefighters in uniform assist in waiting tables at the restaurant and donations are collected to help fund the camp.  Keep your ears tuned in the spring for your opportunity to help support the Firefighters and in particular Camp Amigo! 

 

In 2009, along with the assistance from Red Lobster, Firefighters raised well over $2000.00 to help support and sponsor Camp Amigo.