T.G.I.F.  Amen.  I’m going to quit saying it’s been a busy week,  because so far, they have all been busy weeks!  Its October 4th, which means we are in a new budget year, and if you don’t feel anything different, then I would suggest that’s a win.  Let’s get started with the Week in Review.
 
  • In-service training---Chiefs now have the ability to create lists of all the training in their districts.  Please continue to document every ounce of training in Target Solutions for the upcoming ISO re-rate.  If you live in Duval County, then this will have a direct impact on your wallet if we are successful.
 
  • RMS leave issues---it seems a gremlin has snuck into our programing and is approving leave out of chronological order.  So far three people have been affected and we have corrected the approved leave.  ITD is looking into the issue and hopefully, we can fix.  If you were one of the folks that got switched back to pending, we’re handling the issue for you.
 
  • OT Lists---The list is  now separated into two separate groups: Rescue and Suppression.  You can still sign up for “both” and if one list gets exhausted, the chiefs will use the other list for those folks.  
 
  • Outstanding Reports—Each week we are sending out the updated Outstanding Reports Lists. Please do your best to finish these in a timely manner; it’s a state requirement.
 
  • Pre-fire plans---Please continue the good work on these plans.  Again, this is a huge point score for ISO and one we can’t afford to give up.
 
  • ISO—speaking of …as many of you are aware, consultants have been going around and inventorying your apparatus and stations.  Thank you for extending courtesies to these folks.  They have very interesting ideas that can immediately improve our rating in certain areas of town.  We are aggressively going after a Class 1 rating for Duval County and I can guarantee we will not get there without your help.
 
  • SL Lists—Sick Leave has and continues to be an issue for us.  Reasons are varied, but some interesting trends are appearing; we seem to only get sick on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  Attached is a chart showing the averages for the last 365 days.  Lists have been sent out to all the District and Battalion Chiefs to investigate people with seven or more unexcused Sick Leaves.  Some people have legitimate reasons for the SLs, some might simply be mistakes, other are simply taking a day when PL is not available.  If you’re the latter, I hope the PL issue will go away when we hire this fall.  Until then, please do your best not to utilize SL for PL purposes as it puts us all in a bad place.  Here’s the trending graph…
 
 
  • W4—Structure Fires Part 5 is forthcoming as I will lay out some ideas on how to accomplish this task.  Please continue to send in your thoughts and suggestions on how to improve our response to the second half of the fire.
 
Now it’s time to recognize the hard work and dedication of some our best. 
 
  • To the crews that responded to the Duval County Courthouse for a suspicious package.  Tactically speaking, it was another homerun in a very difficult setting.
  • To the crews that tried to save a woman trapped in a house fire on Forest Blvd in District 28,  even though the ending didn’t turn out as we had hoped.  Our condolences to the victim’s family.
  • To the crews who responded to the cut gas line in District 22 Saturday night.  Not an ordinary cut gas line and required a lot of work by not just the HazMat Team, but by all.
  • To the A shift crews at the 2 story house fire on Rudy Ct.  Well done by Command and the first arriving units.
  • To Fire 8, Chief Gray, and everyone who assisted with the evacuation at JIA.  Not just another ordinary bomb threat at an ordinary business.  Well done.
  • To all of you, is it me, or does it seem the craziness of the rest of the world is now happening more frequently in Jacksonville.  Mass shootings, a major bridge being struck by a ship now out of service , powder / threatening letter calls, daily W3’s, abductions, and traffic fatalities and that was just last week!  Continue to be vigilant, and please don’t become complacent, as sooner than later we may find ourselves in the middle of managing another major event like you see on the Nightly News.  We’re long overdue.
 
 
  • USAR K-9 Storm---this week we lost one of our senior USAR dogs and a member of FL-TF 5 and FL-TF 1.  Storm was a FEMA Advanced Certified Canine that could be used for local, state, and federal deployments and was.  He will be sorely missed by all the USAR teams, our JFRD family, and more importantly, his handler and best friend, Captain John Long.  This is the second K-9 we have lost in the last two years with the first being Captain Steve Riska’ s Hunter.   A plaque has been ordered and a statue is being shopped to honor the K-9’s that have given so much to our teams and our community. Which leads me to this thought…
 
There is not a nobler deed than to find those missing in the fallen monuments of steel, concrete, and wood.
Undeterred, the Search and Rescue K9 has trained all their life for that purpose. They answer the call to put themselves at risk and guide us to the depths of danger.
With a bark, those that are trapped or lost are comforted and then found again.
A Search and Rescue K9 is not made but born into it. Hours upon hours and days upon days of training are their reward. Never ending and forever perfecting their craft until all that know them and trust them will put themselves at risk to follow them into the darkness.
The bond that forms between a K9 handler and his K9 is unbreakable and complete in its purpose. So when the time comes to say goodbye to that symbiosis,
a monument of honor and gratitude must be forever recognized.
They always leave us too soon but they will never be forgotten.
God bless these hero dogs and their search of life.
 
This is the memorial written by Capt. Long for Storm.  I hope when it’s our time, we will have made the same difference in the lives of our family, friends, co-workers, and to the people we have risked our lives for our whole career.  The Search and Rescue K-9 is an extension of the dedication and bravery of every one of you.  I would suggest this touching memorial could be easily changed to reflect your dedication and service.  I hope you take a moment to remember that, and when times get tough, or when politics and circumstances get in the way, remember we were all born to serve a purpose, and no higher calling can be found, than that of a firefighter.
 
 
Storm
 
Thank you again for your hard work and devotion to our cause.  Please take some time for yourself and I hope everyone has a good weekend.  Contrary to popular belief, I don’t think it was my wife shrinking my Class A uniform, but thank you for the optimism. 
As always, we thank you for what you do, why you do it, and for always stepping up and showing, why you are the best Fire Department in the Country.
 
Very Respectfully,
 
 
Kurtis R. Wilson
Chief of Operations
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department