WINTER GARDEN the way we live
Keeping Everyone Safe * Everyone Goes Home
While many citizens were still sleeping, shift change at
Station 22 was in process. C-shift is gearing up to go
home while A-shift takes over. Before leaving, C-shift
will give report of the previous day’s events. Winter
Garden Fire/Rescue Department (WGFRD) runs 3 shifts
known as A, B, and C shift. The shifts are 24 hours in
length and begin at 7:00 a.m. every day, 365 days per
year, 7 days per week. For the next 24 hours, many things
will take place to keep our citizens safe.
The men and women of A-shift begin their day by inspecting their vehicles top to bottom. They make sure the
equipment is working, all needed medical supplies are
stocked, the sirens and lights go on, the ladder raises, air
tanks are charged, batteries are working, oil is topped off,
everything is ready for the day ahead. Calls don’t stop so
this can take place. The team completes the checklist in
the midst of calls coming in. After the trucks are inspected
and supplies are restocked, the team comes together for
a conference call with the other stations to discuss any
fire alerts, road closures, or activities going on in the city.
When the call is over, they begin their chore list. Just like
home, the men and women of Station 22 have chores to
do. The floors get mopped, the yard gets mowed, meals
get cooked, dishes are washed, fire hydrants are checked,
and they reach out to the community to provide smoke
alarms.
Today, I have the privilege of speaking with Brian “Matt”
McGrew, Fire Chief. But I have learned there is more
than one Chief on duty. Matt is the big boss however,
each shift has a Battalion Chief who oversees the station’s
operations and a Deputy Chief that oversees the field
operations. The station also has a Lieutenant on duty who
reports to the Chief. The Lieutenant is responsible for the
crew on duty.
Matt is passionate about being a good steward of tax
payer dollars. If the team is not running calls, they have
chores to keep them busy. When the chores are complete,
they have a weight room to work on strength training and
they practice mock calls to keep them up to speed with the
latest information. The camaraderie at the fire house is
obvious. “We are a family”, Matt informs me. “We spend
a lot of time together”. The department has 42 firefighters, 3 of which are females (go girls!).
And so I begin with my questions of Matt and the
crew:
How long has the Fire Department served the
City of Winter Garden? The Department was first
established on June 30, 1913.
When I call 911 because I need an ambulance,
why does the Fire Department respond if I only
need an ambulance? Calls that come into 911 are
classified as A – E. A and B calls are considered minor. C can be on the minor side or more serious (i.e.
seizure or chest pain). D is a life threatening emergency and E means CPR is in progress or needed.
The Fire Department is typically closest to the calls.
All of our trucks are ALS (Advanced Life Support),
meaning we have a Paramedic on every truck during
every shift. Instead of having the AED (Automated
External Defibrillators), we carry the LifePak 15.
We are the first agency to offer this on every vehicle
24/7 providing a higher level of service to the citizens of our City.
What kind of training is required to become a
fireman? How long does it take? Our minimum
requirements consists of completing Fire Standards
(6-8 months of school) and licensed in the State of
Florida as an Emergency Medical Technician (3 – 4
months of school).
What percentage of your calls are for fires? Approximately 30% of our calls are actual fires whether
it is a brush or structure fire.
What percentage of your calls are for medical/rescue? Approximately 70 % of our calls are medical/
rescue. Another reason the fire department responds
to the 911 calls when you need an ambulance.
Do you cook meals during your shift for everyone? What happens if you get a call while you
have food on the stove or oven? We are a family.
We work, eat, and sleep as a family. If you see the
Fire truck at Publix, it is because we are buying food
for our YX[ ˈ