Fire Rescue
Chronological History
1966
President Lyndon Johnson commissioned a survivability study of trauma victims on America’s highways.
The National Academy of Sciences and the National Research Council report that, due to the rapid availability of treatment by trained personnel, soldiers injured on the battlefield of Viet Nam have a higher survivability rate than Americans injured on the highway.
The National Highway Safety Act is enacted, and local physicians begin to teach firemen and ambulance attendants an 80-hour trauma course using the text – Training of Ambulance Personnel and Others Responsible for Emergency Medical Care of the Sick and Injured at the Scene and During Transport.
1970
Beazy Stephens purchases Alachua Ambulance Service, Inc. from a consortium of funeral homes.
Alachua Ambulance Service, Inc., under a sole source contract to Alachua County, is providing ambulance service to Alachua County.
3 ambulances answer approximately 4,500 calls a year.
Minimum requirements for working on an ambulance were American Red Cross Advanced First Aid and a State of Florida chauffeur’s driver’s license.
1971
The Department of Transportation commissions the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons to write the text – Emergency Care and Transportation of the Sick and Injured for its new national curriculum – Emergency Medical Technician.
1972
Alachua Ambulance Service, Inc. receives a $30,000 subsidy from Alachua County when costs for needed training of personnel (EMT) and expansion of service to Alachua County exceeds AAS’s revenues.
Along with granting the subsidy, Alachua County forms the Emergency Medical Advisory Council to provide oversight to AAS, and advice to the Board of County Commissioners.
1973
The U.S. Congress enacted the EMS Systems Act providing $170 million to enhance EMS over a 3-year period. This would later receive additional funding and would be extended to run through 1979, eventually amounting to $200 million.
The Department of Health, Education and Welfare (HEW) established 5 "demonstration" projects in Arkansas, Illinois, Florida, California and Ohio to demonstrate how cooperation between local government, the medical community, and the community-at-large could establish a regional EMS.
Alachua County joined with Duval (the sponsoring county), Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Nassau, Putnam, and Baker counties in an Eight County Project to jointly train and purchase equipment under the EMS Act of 1973.
1974
EMS:
The new Alachua County Department of Public Safety replaces Alachua Ambulance Service, Inc. as the EMS Provider for Alachua County. The 18 full-time and 5 part time personnel become Alachua County Employees.
Fire Service:
The municipal Fire Chiefs in Alachua County negotiate contracts with the Board of County Commissioners to provide fire service in unincorporated Alachua County. 10 fire districts are established (including the HUD area surrounding the City of Gainesville).
Alachua County coordinates the acquisition of grants to train personnel and purchase Quick Response Vehicles (pickup trucks with utility boxes for supplies and equipment) for the municipal fire departments in order for them to provide first response (non-transport) BLS.
Enhanced 911:
Florida Emergency Telephone Number Act enacted allowing counties to designate 911 as the emergency number.
1975
EMS:
A study in Seattle, Washington shows that survivability of heart attack victims improves from early intervention with Advanced Life Support. This involves an aggressive training program of CPR to the lay public and ALS training for responders.
EMS Providers around the country embrace the Seattle study and begin to train, and authorize EMT’s in local jurisdictions in ALS techniques.
EMT’s trained in ALS are called EMT II’s and can only practice advanced skills in their own jurisdictions.
Ambulance Billing:
Clerk of the Circuit Court (Office of Finance and Accounting assumes the ambulance billing responsibility.
"Hand-typed" Invoices are produced. Collection rate is approximately 38%.
1976
EMS:
The State of Florida, Department of Health Related Services gives a "pilot" ALS exam to EMT II’s from across the state. The exam is given in Miami and Jacksonville.
Four EMT II’s from Alachua County pass the pilot exam.
One EMT II is assigned to each 24-hour shift, allowing Alachua County to provide ALS.
Ambulance Service is not included in budget for Alachua County. Performance criteria are established and a Request for Proposals (RFP) is opened. Proposals are received from the Private Sector, but none from the City of Gainesville. The Ambulance Service is funded when no one can provide similar service for less in County subsidy.
1977
EMS:
The term "Paramedic" is added to the language of The EMS Act of 1973.
The State of Florida, Department of HRS gives a refined version of the ALS exam. Eight more EMT II’s from Alachua County pass the exam, and now an EMT II could be assigned to each ambulance deployed for any reason.
Again, Ambulance Service is not included in budget for Alachua County. A Request for Proposals (RFP) is opened. Proposals are received from the Private Sector, but none from the City of Gainesville. The Ambulance Service is funded when no one can provide similar service for less in County subsidy.
The Department of Public Safety becomes the Department of Emergency Services and encompasses the Emergency Medical Services, Communications, Civil Defense and County Fire.
The Rescue 11 Program is formed by a group of volunteers to provide BLS first response in the City of Gainesville. This would become the precursor the Reserve Program.
1978
EMS:
The State of Florida begins the Paramedic Registry.
1979
Emergency Management:
U.S. Congress created the Federal Emergency Management Agency
The State of Florida enacted Florida Chapter 252 – "The State Emergency Management Act".
1980
EMS:
Alachua County becomes a full Advanced Life Support System. The Quick Response Vehicles that provided BLS from municipal fire stations are relocated from the fire stations to areas that allow response to a larger area, and staffed with Paramedics.
1983
Reserve Division:
An Auxiliary Program is devised to give EMT Graduates from Santa Fe Community College a means to attain needed experience before they enter Paramedic Training.
20 EMT graduates enroll in a "bridge class" at SFCC and make up the initial cadre of the Auxiliary.
1985
Fire Service:
Contract negotiations fail with the City of Newberry. Alachua County deploys a fire apparatus to its Half Moon Station, and EMS and Fire Suppression are provided from the same station.
The City of Alachua annexes large portions of Alachua County and offers a partnership with Alachua County to provide service in its new corporate limits, as well as unincorporated Alachua County. Alachua County will provide the personnel, training and equipment and the City will provide the station. The City and County will share the cost based on call location – by percentage.
Ambulance Billing:
Ambulance Billing Department becomes a computerized system.
Mainframe computer generates invoices, and payments are posted to patient accounts.
Collection rate is just under 50%
1986
Fire Service:
Due to an increase in residential and commercial development, an ALS fire apparatus is deployed to the Jonesville area when the City of Newberry can’t adequately answer the call load.
Dual role apparatus are determined to be the most cost-effective method to provide both EMS and Fire Suppression to an area.
The City of Gainesville’s demands to provide fire suppression by contract in the unincorporated area exceeds $675,000
Emergency Management:
Alachua County Ordinance 86-1 identifies 27 Emergencies in the Alachua County Code.
1987
Emergency Management:
Alachua County Department of Emergency Services is tasked by the County Manager to establish the Office of Emergency Management.
Enhanced 911:
Legislation is enacted allowing counties to levy a fee on telephone access lines, enabling Alachua County to upgrade from basic to Enhanced 911.
The legislation requires that an E-911 Coordinator position be established to provide oversight.
1988
EMS:
The Department begins to replace the Quick Response Vehicles in the rural areas with ambulances. This reduces the time a patient will wait for an ambulance to arrive from Gainesville.
The Department supports the training of Sheriff's Office and Gainesville Public Safety dispatchers in Emergency Medical Dispatch. EMD is a nationally recognized information gathering system and provides pre-arrival instructions to the caller of 911.
Fire Service:
The City of Gainesville’s demands to provide fire suppression by contract in the unincorporated area exceeds $1.1 million.
The City of Gainesville closes Station #7 on NW 43 St in the Northwest urban "fringe".
Alachua County exercises its authority to purchase equipment under exigent circumstances and deploys an ALS fire apparatus NW 34 St. and U.S. 441 to provide fire service to the area serviced by GFR Station #7.
The need for a fire services plan is determined, and the City of Gainesville and Alachua County each temporarily appoint a Public Safety Director to negotiate a 7-year Agreement. This Agreement would identify training and equipment standards and the locations and types of stations that would be built by either government for the next seven years. New stations would be planned based on the assumed increase in service demands brought about by the projected continued growth of density in the urban fringe of Gainesville.
The Department hires a Fire Inspector. This position will review commercial development plan and conduct on-site inspections based on the NFPA Life Safety and Fire Prevention codes.
Enhanced 911:
Alachua County hires its first Alachua County E-911 Coordinator.
1990
EMS:
EMD is implemented by ACFR. The City of Gainesville opts out of participating in the Program, so pre-arrival instructions can only be given to those who access the County PSAP.
Fire Service:
Under the Agreement, ACFR opens Station 19 at 1800 SW 43 Street. This station would house a dual role ALS fire apparatus.
Ambulance Billing:
The Ambulance Billing Department begins to bill Medicare and third party insurers directly.
Collection rates are just over 50%.
1991
Ambulance Billing:
Ambulance Billing Department is transferred to ACFR Support Services Division.
Collection rates immediately increase by 10% to over 55%.
1992
EMS:
Hurricane Andrew ravages areas south of Miami. ACFR sends personnel, ambulances, and additional resources to the area under the Statewide Catastrophic Mutual Aid Agreement.
Emergency Management:
FEMA published the Federal Response Plan establishing the Emergency Support Function framework.
1993
Fire Service:
Under the Agreement, ACFR opens Station 16 at 1600 Ft. Clark Boulevard. This will be a multi-company station and will house a dual role ALS fire apparatus, a tower-ladder truck, and a heavy rescue truck.
Emergency Management:
The "Storm of the Century" affects 38 Florida Counties.
95% of Alachua County is without power for up to 14 days.
Alachua County had 1 fatality from a tornado in the LaCrosse area.
The Florida Legislature enacted HB 911 – the Emergency Preparedness and Assistance Act.
$2.00 to $4.00 levied on individual and business insurance policies to fund Emergency Management and create a designated catastrophic disaster fund.
1994
Fire Service:
Under the Agreement, ACFR opens Station 12 at 1200 SE 43 Street. This station would house a dual role ALS fire apparatus.
Emergency Management:
Alachua County signed the Statewide Catastrophic Mutual Aid Agreement with the State of Florida for catastrophic events.
The Office of Emergency Management is activated in response to a 10,000-pound chemical release at PCR, Inc. to address off-site issues.
Under the Mutual Aid Agreement Alachua County sends assistance to South Florida after Hurricane Gordon causes considerable damage from wind and rain.
Reserve Division:
BoCC directs that a volunteer program be established augment career service personnel in fire stations and on medical units.
The Department establishes a recruitment program and a group of college students responds to the recruiting effort.
1995
Fire Service:
The Agreement expires.
Alachua County negotiates Interlocal Agreements with 10 municipalities and independent FireBoards. The "basic" Agreement outlines performance, equipment criteria, testing procedures, and reporting requirements based on NFPA guidelines, in an effort to better define a "fire services network" in Alachua County.
Tropical Storm Erin makes landfall near Pensacola, FL. ACFR sends fire apparatus and personnel to assist with recovery under the Statewide Catastrophic Mutual Aid Agreement
Hurricane Opal makes landfall near Destin Beach, FL. ACFR joins with other departments from across the State to pre-deploy ambulances, search and rescue resources, and the Water Rescue Team under the Statewide Catastrophic Mutual Aid Agreement, and wait for the storm.
EMS:
A major east/west highway is destroyed by Hurricane Opal causing a 30-minute delay in transport times from Destin to the nearest hospital. ACFR deploys two ambulances and personnel to Walton County for two weeks to assist with providing EMS.
Emergency Management:
Alachua County provided personnel; equipment and other resources to via mutual aid to communities in the State of Florida that are affected when 11 hurricanes and 8 tropical storms form in the Atlantic.
Reserve Division:
Once trained, the Reserve Division is recognized as a Division of ACFR.
1996
EMS:
ACFR "borrows" on a theme used by the private sector to adjust the number of ambulances deployed based on call loads that have been experienced during similar times of the day, day of the week and week of the year. EMS call loads for 1995 are studied to determine the times of peak need ambulance availability.
ACFR deploys 1, 2 or 3 additional ambulances based on projected need identified in the study. These units will be deployed in the identified areas of highest need (urban area) and known as the Peak Load units.
Emergency Management:
Alachua County provided personnel, equipment and other resources via mutual aid to communities in the State of Florida that are affected when 9 hurricanes and 4 tropical storms form in the Atlantic. The most notable:
Hurricane Bertha, which passed near Jacksonville and threatened the evacuation of Duval County.
Tropical Storm Josephine in Apalachee Bay, which caused $65 million in damage.
1997
Emergency Management:
3 hurricanes and 4 Tropical Storms form in the Atlantic Ocean.
In December, El Nino rains began falling throughout Florida.
Public Education:
Half time Public Education Program Coordinator is hired, and an office devoted exclusively to Public Education is established.
1998
Fire Service:
Though the Agreement has expired, Alachua County adheres to the concept of the Plan to determine the location/s of new stations. Under the concept of the Agreement, ACFR opens Station 15 at 8900 SW Archer Rd. This station would house a dual role ALS fire apparatus.
In June, a fire begins burning north of the Gainesville Raceway and, within three days, grows to involve 7,500 acres. ACFR, EM and DoF coordinated the efforts of 250 FF’s from across Florida to extinguish the fire in 10 days.
ACFR provided personnel, equipment and resources to Marion, Putnam, Volusia, Duval, Flagler, Broward and St. Johns Counties before and after the fire in Northern Alachua County occurred.
Hurricane Georges makes landfall in the Florida Keys. The ACFR Water Rescue Team is tasked by the State to assist with Search and Rescue of the islands between Marathon and Key West.
Emergency Management:
In February, the BoCC declared a Local State of Emergency for the rains caused by El Nino.
The State of Emergency was renewed several times due to flooding that involved 25 homes and 1 business. The flooding also closed 15 roads and U.S. 441 to commercial truck traffic.
160,000 sandbags were distributed and classes taught on how they should be used effectively.
150 GRU lift stations were affected, including a 50,000-gallon sewage spill in the Emerald Woods subdivision.
An Agricultural Disaster for farmers and ranchers was declared.
In June, the BoCC declared a Local State of Emergency for 5 consecutive weeks due to drought and wildfire caused by El Nino.
7,500 acres are burned in Northern Alachua County. ACFR, EM and DoF coordinated the efforts of 250 FF’s from across Florida to extinguish the fire in 10 days.
10,000 FF’s from 49 states and U.S. Territories are deployed statewide.
The largest bulldozer and tractor fire fighting fleet ever assembled is deployed statewide.
The largest aircraft fire fighting fleet ever assembled is deployed statewide.
In July, the State of Florida closed Flagler County.
Alachua County EM sheltered 192 Flagler County residents with special needs, 40 care-givers for those with special needs and 50 "general population" residents. This was the first Special Needs Shelter ever opened in the State of Florida.
150+ animals were included in the evacuation from Flagler County and sheltered in Alachua County.
10 hurricanes and 4 Tropical Storms formed in the Atlantic Ocean.
EM begins offering the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Community Emergency Response Team course to interested members of the community. This eight-week program trains the students in pre-event preparedness and post-event initial response including medical care, fire suppression and light search and rescue. In the first year more than 105 members of the community are trained.
Ambulance Billing:
Collection rates, after forced Medicare/Medicaid adjustment and bad debt "write-offs" is 62%.
The average collection rate industry wide is 50 to 55%. Ambulance fees generated $3.5 million.
Public Education:
The Portable Fire Extinguisher Training Program is established and training is offered to requesting businesses and groups.
Bicycle Safety education is conducted at 10 Elementary Schools and 4,000 are given approved and properly fitted Bicycle Helmets.
125 classrooms are visited during Fire Prevention Week and 2,000 home fire escape plans produced by the students are reviewed.
1999 - Ongoing Projects
EMS:
Complete the 12-Lead Electro-Cardio Gram training program for all Paramedics and 12-Lead ECG will be available on all ACFR ambulances.
Implementing an Automatic Electronic Defibrillator (AED) Program for law enforcement. ACSO Deputies will be trained and will begin carrying AED's to enhance countywide delivery of EMS. This will significantly reduce the time between sudden cardiac arrest and the delivery of defibrillation to restart a patient's heart.
Issue hoods, and conduct training designed to protect the wearer in the event of a terrorist use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) involving chemical and/or biological agents.
Complete operations level training of all personnel in the medical consequences of Biological, Nuclear, Incendiary, Chemical and Explosive WMD's.
Fire Service:
Complete the National Interagency Incident Management (NIIMS) training and certification program for fire suppression personnel in fighting wildland fire and fire in the wildland/urban interface.
Complete the training and certification program for all 6 District Chiefs to NIIMS Strike Team/Task Force Leader.
3 District Chiefs will be trained and certified to NIIMS Division Supervisor/Branch Director.
The Deputy Chief for Operations will be trained and certified to NIIMS Operation Section Chief.
Issue hoods and conduct training designed to protect the wearer in the event of a terrorist use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) involving chemical and/or biological agents.
Complete operations level training of all personnel in responding to terrorist incidents involving Biological, Nuclear, Incendiary, Chemical and Explosive WMD's.
Conduct on-site Fire Pre-Plans for all targeted commercial buildings in the service area during the months of September and October. Telephone surveys will be conducted with the same targeted buildings in March and April to determine changes in the Pre-Plans.
Emergency Management:
Complete and update The Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS). LMS identifies current and potential hazards based on a variety of projected events. Pre-event plans will be developed in the event a disaster has an impact on a LMS identified site.
Conduct five, eight-week FEMA Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) Courses, and certify approximately 100 more members of the community in disaster preparations and initial response.
Sponsor and coordinate meetings of the multi-agency Integrated Threat Analysis Group (ITAG). ACFR, FBI, ACSO, GPD, UPD, FHP, GFR, ACPH, the EMS Medical Directors, and representatives of the area hospitals comprise ITAG which assesses potential terrorist targets and agency response plans to assure an effective community-wide response to terrorist events.
Coordinate drills involving multi-agency response to Biological, Nuclear, Incendiary, Chemical and Explosive WMD's.
Assist with drills involving response to a potential shooting event at a local high school similar to the one occurring in Columbine, Colorado.
Work with the Local Emergency Planning Committee to establish a regional Hazardous Materials Response Team.
Work with the County Attorney and BoCC to enact a Hazardous Materials Cost Recovery Ordinance.
Enhanced 911:
The private-to-private roadway signage project
Update of the County Address Posting Ordinance, 911 problem resolutions and Interlocal Agreements with municipalities
Creation and maintenance of various system databases
Assisting some municipalities with address assignment and map production
Producing territory maps for emergency response agencies
Public Education:
Delivery of programs requested by the community has increase by 33% over the same time of 1998.
The Department will expand its Public Education Program by targeting high density housing areas (apartment complexes, etc.) for portable fire extinguisher training and disaster preparedness training.
Public Education will continue to coordinate and offer portable fire extinguisher training that complies with Florida Department of Labor and OSHA requirements for businesses.
Public Education will continue participation in the Safe Kids Coalition and commemorative weeks (Fire Prevention, Wildfire Awareness, EMS, etc.) including outreach programs in schools.
Public Education will continue to coordinate Bicycle Safety "rodeos" for schools and distribute properly fitted and approved bicycle helmets to children of economically challenged families.
The Public Education office will coordinate training for Child Safety Seat Technicians and begin offering training and safety inspections for child restraint devices.
Residential Pool Safety Surveys will be conducted on request.
Reserve Division:
75 members participate in the following activities:
EMS Training
- 1 Paramedic
- 27 EMT’s
- 43 Medical First Responders
Fire Training
- 13 Minimum Standards FF
- 34 Volunteer FF
Communications
- 9 Amateur Radio Operators
Special Teams
- Public Education Clowns (Exclusively Reserve)
- Communications (Exclusively Reserve)
- Bicycle Response Team (Exclusively Reserve on U of F Campus, Jointly countywide)
- Water Rescue Team (Jointly)
- Explorer Post #507 (Exclusively Reserve)
Members are required to spend 18 hours/month in training and operations to be considered "active".
Members averaged 35.5 hours – 16.5 training and 19 in operations during the first quarter of this year.
Value of Reserve time spent in operations based on Career Service personnel costs - $12,358.00 during the first quarter of 1999.
