The Okaloosa Island Fire Department celebrated the arrival of their new fire engine with a traditional “push-in” ceremony on Friday morning.
- Fire Chief Michael Strawn led the event, which was attended by community members, fire commission members, and local leaders.
Chief Strawn emphasized the unique challenges faced by the department, serving a community on an island primarily focused on the beach. He highlighted the department’s commitment to having all firefighters licensed as paramedics and certified as USLA rescue swimmers to provide the highest level of service to residents and visitors.
“In order to stay employed here, you must be a licensed paramedic. We’ll hire you without having your EMT or paramedic, but you have a set amount of time to get those licenses,” Strawn said, underlining the department’s dedication to maintaining a highly skilled and specialized workforce.
Strawn also addressed the challenges posed by the limited north-south transportation infrastructure in the county, which can impact ambulance response times.
- “If you have an issue at your residence, you’re gonna have three to five paramedics on you like flies to honey,” he said, stressing the importance of quick response times in the congested area.
The new engine, which took two years and five months to arrive, will replace a 15-year-old apparatus purchased under challenging economic conditions in 2009. The department saved approximately $340,000 by signing the contract before prices were set to be raised.
The older engine will move to a backup role, while a 21-year-old engine will be sold.
In 2009, Former Fire Chief Biehl had to navigate the housing market crash, the BP oil spill, and Hurricane Ivan, which resulted in a 40% budget reduction for the department, according to Strawn. Despite these obstacles, including purchasing the existing engine, the department avoided layoffs by offering early retirement to senior staff members.
Chief Strawn expressed gratitude to the taxpayers for their support, emphasizing the transparency of the department. “You get to see every piece of equipment that you pay for,” he said, inviting the community to visit the fire station and speak with him directly.
He also thanked Adventure Marine for providing a rescue boat at cost and a slip for the department, demonstrating the importance of spending money locally when possible.
- Assistant Chief Sean Mast was credited with the idea of acquiring a more affordable rescue boat instead of a traditional fireboat, which can cost around half a million dollars.
The ceremony concluded with the traditional “push-in” of the new engine into the firehouse, a practice dating back to the 1800s when firefighters had to manually push their equipment into the building after unhitching it from horses.
Chief Strawn thanked the fire commissioners for their unwavering support on behalf of the community, emphasizing the importance of transparency and honesty in communication.
