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Greetings everyone from my kitchen table, which means a Saturday version of the WIR. After sitting in City Council chair for 27 hours in the last 3 days and 64 hours in the last four weeks, to say my brain is tired would be an understatement. This will be a short version, so let’s get started.

Dr. Kiely’s Retirement Celebration—in case you missed the email: The Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department will be celebrating Dr. Kiely’s retirement at the Jacksonville Landing on October 16th beginning at 7pm. Make plans now for you and your family to congratulate Dr. Kiely for his 32 years of dedicated service to the city of Jacksonville and the JFRD. Live music will be provided by the Rick Arcusa Band and possibly a surprise band or two, our very own Pipes and Drums preforming their famous upbeat Pub Crawl music and many other surprises to guarantee a fun filled evening for all. Should be a great party! Don’t miss it!

Budget—by now the rumors are flying, based on the texts I’ve been getting and based on the news reports. Until we start panicking, please don’t on your end. There is a lot work being done behind the scenes with council members to explain our issues. If you’ve never been to a council meeting, when asked to approach the podium, you really don’t get a chance to explain, in its entirety, all your problems and concerns because the council committee has all the departments and constitutional officers to work through with limited time. Each feels their budget is as important as ours. Hang in there and we’ll get through it together.

Recruit Graduation—is this Thursday, which happens to be 9-11. I hear great things about our new class and we look forward to having them in the field on Saturday.

New Probationary Exam Guide—is ready for release. This was a product of a committee consisting of Chief Johnson, Chief Hooten , Chief A. White and Chief Dempsey. Together it was approved by all our district and battalion chiefs. The idea is to create a document to be used by the probationary FF, the company officer, the company captain, and finally the chief to test the knowledge and skillset of our new folks. We wanted to standardize it across the division. The SOP 212 was changed, the Task Book remains unchanged. Attached is the Exam guide. I just want to thank Chief McCormick, and the committee chiefs for spearheading this long overdue process which will ultimately make our department better. I would strongly suggest all members review the exam guide and make sure you can pass it too! The new recruit will be coming to you for help in learning the new skillset our profession demands.

TIC’s—still waiting on the purchase order to get out of Procurement.

New Pierce Engine build—here’s the update for the week…almost finished!!! http://www.ten8fire.com/production/

Promotional Test lists—I’m not allowed to comment on HR stuff, as basically they speak for themselves. I can tell you this: The last few weeks, the Finance Committee has requested unprecedented amounts of information from so many departments, including HR, that is has literally been all hands on deck and that includes Archie. Please continue to have patience and yes, I know the strain, anxiousness, points lost, money lost, etc…that you are feeling. I completely understand and sympathize.

Sea of Blue—Sometime this week, we’ll get the map and apparatus assigned to the march out; When and where to park and other directions. Also, an email for units that wish to walk in the march, how to request that. Must come from the officer of the unit in order to request. This is really going to be an amazing event! Also, we’ll provide some suggestions if your family wants to come out and watch you walk. Places to park, places to stand and get the best view, etc. I know I have a lot of mine that want to come watch you all walk.

Let’s see some of the runs you all have gone on this week….but let me say this: I haven’t been getting the pages from fire com like normal. Many of the fires, MCI’s, Hazmat Calls, extrications are not going through. This doesn’t mean they’re not happening…as you know.

FD 24/ MVA-EXTRICATION/ LAKE FOREST BLVD & LEM TURNER RD/ 3 PTS/ 1 TRAUMA RED/ TG B5/ END
Residential Structure Fire/Single Story/W3/FD11/1743 Brackland St./Report of 1 civilian pt./TGB1/End
FD62 TRANSFORMER FIRE WITH A LARGE TANK UNDER IT THATS EXPOSED HAZMAT ENR JEA ON SCENE ..
FD16/ 2400 YANKEE CLIPPER/ STA 16/ ALERT 2/ F15/TGA1/ END JLC
FD 26/ W3 STRUCTURE FIRE/ MOBILE HOME/ 8122 IDAHO ST/ TG B1/ END
W3 COMMERCIAL STRUCTURE FIRE/ FD26/ @ CMC JACKSONVILLE/ 2038 N LANE AVE/ TG B1/ END
See what I mean? This is the smallest number since I’ve been doing this!!!
Doesn’t mean you all haven’t been out doing the other few thousand calls this week!

For what it’s worth, this is my favorite part…Time to give some thanks:

E-62 crew led by Lt. Dexter Rhodes and E-154/T-54 crew led by Captain Cliff Danley deserve a lot of credit for their professionalism and bravery today. They faced a very large high voltage transformer fire this afternoon. Upon my arrival there were flames were boiling twenty and thirty feet in the air, the radiant heat that could easily be felt 600 feet away, and there was direct intense flame impingement on an approximately 600 gallon tank of flammable liquid mounted above the involved transformer. Some might say that we should have pulled back and waited for more resources. The decision to whether to go on the offensive was based on several factors that included: Most of the south end of Jacksonville was now out of power, the entire substation was being threatened by total destruction, JEA technicians on scene stated the substation was de-energized, and I believe that the exposed tank would soon be in danger of becoming a BLEVE. The main deciding factor though was confidence in the crews and their officers: The situation called for a very quick and aggressive cooling evolution in order to prevent a BLEVE and also protect the other transformers from the radiant and convective heat. Within a very short amount of time, they were cooling the elevated tank, they set up a foam line, applied a very effective foam blanket to the interior of the main transformer which greatly reduced the volume of fire. They coordinated the exposure line with the foam line while conserving water and transferring water between the two engines. Tanker 54 arrived and a supply line was stretched in order to set up a nursing station. The fire kept re-flashing but the crews kept at it. Multiple high pressure leaks could be seen issuing around the transformer. The leaks looked like mini flame torches spilling on the concrete. I believe that retired Lt. Bebernitz would have been in extinguishing agent heaven. The mineral oil based transformer fluid has an approximately 350 degree flashpoint and finally began to cool down as evidenced by the smaller volumes of re-flash. A final attack by 62 and 154 coordinated with a Purple K extinguisher for the three dimensional fires/leaks darkened down the whole affair. They hung in there and guarded for further re-flashes while the cavalry arrived which included Station 21, engines, ladders, rescues,……. The only evidence of the fight soon after the cavalry arrival was the charred 1.3 million dollar transformer and the bubbling sound of the still boiling transformer oil. The response was carefully downgraded after consultation with F-9 and Station 21. Some valves were turned off to prevent the gravity leaks and JEA with JFRD as a safety standby was able to restore power to the undamaged areas of the substation. St. Vincent’s began accepting patients again, thousands of homes had power, and rush hour traffic once again had traffic lights on the Southside.

I am very proud to be able to work with these officers and crews. With just seven people they were able to mount a successful complex attack on a very unusual and dangerous fire. Cooling line, foam line, Purple K, and limited water supply were coordinated in such a professional manner that they made it look easy.

Just figured you should know! Chip, F-3-C

Well done to E62 and all the crews who managed this event!!!

While participating in RHIB Operator Training on Tuesday - Eng. Eric Reddish (R25C) and Eng. Robert Ludwig (CR56C) both displayed exceptional mariners awareness when they recognized a navigational danger helped me safely remove this 30 foot palm tree - a severe hazard to navigation - that was lodged in the Ft. George River - channel center - with nothing more than a RHIB boat and a piece of webbing.—Lt. Todd Smith
- Well done…thank you!

To April Mitchell: Unlike uniform personnel, civilian folks have to use their time or lose it. During this budget process, she was supposed to be off many a day so she wouldn’t lose her time. Instead she had to come in and provide all sorts of budgetary and financial information, spread sheets, and documents to help us chiefs plead our case to the Finance Committee. I was given direct orders by council to produce a spread sheet at 1700 on Wednesday by 0830 hours the next morning. Truth is, only she could do it. The first draft was sent to me at 2300 hours at night and the revised version at 0520 hours in the morning. Then she had to still make to work by 0800 to sit in council with us all day Thursday and Friday. (All three days she was supposed to be off). Next weeks’ vacation was cancelled so she can come in and help us craft our response and organize the proposed changes to our budget. There are a lot of unsung heroes in our department which rarely get recognized by the masses. To say we couldn’t have done it without you would be the understatement of the year. A huge thank you from all of us! I should have paid more attention in my computer class on Excel. That’s what happens when it takes 10 years to get your 4 year degree…lol! Nothing like taking your time.

Know time for the Quote of the WIR.

"One thing about championship teams is that they're resilient. No matter what is thrown at them, no matter how deep the hole, they find a way to bounce back and overcome adversity."

—Nick Saban Head Coach, Alabama Crimson Tide

The JFRD is a championship team, no doubt. Keep your head up, stay proud and strong, and together we’ll get through this.

"Man does not control his own fate. The women in his life do that for him". - Groucho Marx
- This is why I’ll be working on the other bathroom today.

Well that’s it for this WIR. Please continue to keep your thoughts and prayers with our members as some are truly having a tough time.

As always, I hope you have great weekend and you get to spend it with family and friends. For me, it’ll be paint brushes, paint drops, and a few cuss words until 1600 hrs when God’s gift to college spots plays on TV. Go Gators!...sorry if you Florida State fans are vomiting….lol

As always, we thank you for what you do, why you do it, and for always showing why you are truly the Best Fire Rescue Department in the Country!

Very Respectfully,

Kurtis R. Wilson

Chief of Operations

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department