Add to that, integrating the total of Fire Rescue’s extensive inventory (including vehicles, equipment, fire gear, etc.), negotiating
finer points with the appropriate union representatives of the International Association of Fire Fighters, and you have an all-encompassing
evolution that required extraordinarily close attention to detail.
And I’ll admit I’m excited about meeting the commissioners’ challenge of beefing up fire services in the community, and utilizing only the
available Fire Rescue funding. Plus, I’m grateful to the members of the Public Safety Initiative Task Force and county commission for giving
me the support and opportunity to change the face of public safety in Citrus County.
Two fire stations already have been reopened with a full staff; one in Sugarmill Woods, and the other in Floral City. As a result of the county’s
prior financial shortfall in Fire Rescue, these two communities had been underserved for too long.
Now that the fire stations are up and running, local residents already are feeling safer and more confident about response times for any future fire events.
The DeRosa fire station, located just north of Citronelle, is due to reopen sometime in January.
In addition to bringing aboard approximately 200 former county career and volunteer firefighters, drivers, inspectors and support staff, the Sheriff’s Office
also hired a training coordinator, plus a volunteer coordinator utilizing existing funds.
Realizing a critical need for attracting new volunteers to the fire services and perhaps more importantly, retaining them, I reached out to my own deputies to
serve in this capacity during their off-duty hours. It seemed like a natural fit, seeing as deputies and firefighters have long worked side by side as first responders.
Many of my deputies said yes, and will be undergoing the necessary training to assume these additional duties.
The volunteer coordinator will actively seek out local individuals with an interest in volunteering to help augment the Fire Rescue rank and file. This key position will
be responsible for recruiting new volunteer firefighters, maintaining their paperwork and working closely with them to retain their service.
In another strategic move, I reassigned certain Fire Rescue administrators to the field in an effort to put “more boots on the ground” without hiring new personnel.
In addition, I reduced the number of career firefighters assigned to certain fire stations from three to two (with the support of active volunteers), thus making it
possible to staff all county fire stations effectively and more efficiently.
As for training, I anticipate significant future savings by utilizing the combined resources offered by the Withlacoochee Technical Institute.
The new training coordinator will align closely with the CCSO’s long-standing goal of transforming WTI’s existing Criminal Justice Academy into the Citrus County Public
Safety Training Center. Public safety personnel will then have a multipurpose venue available to them for honing their firefighting skills as well as fulfilling their
scheduled state-mandated training requirements.
I have every reason to believe that combining resources – such as trainers, instructors, equipment, facilities, budgets and networking capabilities – ultimately will
produce a higher caliber of public safety professional.
With Fire Rescue officially on board, I’m anticipating quicker response times, more innovative technologies out in the field, plus enhanced, cost-effective training opportunities on all fronts.
Public safety is my primary focus, and I feel confident that the new Citrus County Sheriff’s Office team can provide the level of fire service and law enforcement that citizens deserve.