Almost a dozen pageant winners, dazzling in their stylish dresses and impeccable makeup, plunked themselves down across from sick young girls at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital last week. The pageant queens painstakingly painted nails and applied blush to the girls' faces. ...more

June 28, 2008

TAMPA - Almost a dozen beauty queens, dazzling in their stylish dresses and impeccable makeup, plunked themselves down across from sick little girls at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital this morning. The queens painstakingly painted nails and applied blush to the girls' faces. Outside, Tampa Fire Rescue firefighters hoisted hospitalized little boys up onto the gleaming red truck. Some yanked at the steering wheel while others, in hospital pajamas and plastic firefighter helmets, climbed on the back. Some were still attached to IVs dragged around behind them. ...more

June 20, 2008

POLK CITY - A small brush fire is burning near the Ringling Bros. elephant breeding facility in Polk City. ...more

May 20, 2008

SEBRING — When the flames during a brush fire start licking the roof, it might be too late to save your home. So the idea is to start early, as about 40 members of the Leisure Lake Homeowner Civic Association learned first-hand Monday. Firefighters with the Florida Division of Forestry showed the residents how to best protect themselves and their structures from wildfires. "There's just not enough fire equipment to save every home, so we're asking the community to protect their homes," said speaker Melissa Yunas of the Florida Division of Forestry at the Lake Bishop Park Community Center. "Take a step to educated yourselves – to protect yourselves." Fire officials told residents about the Firewise Communities USA recognition program, a federal program where participants are grouped by neighborhoods that are deemed most susceptible to wildfires. ...more

February 19, 2008

History was made Tuesday when the city and county came together to sign a fire and rescue mutual aid agreement that should improve service to residents and increase efficiency. ...more

February 6, 2008

Breaks down boundaries and improves response time. ...more

February 5, 2008

When visitors arrive at the city's fire department, there is no special entrance or screening process before they can go straight to the fire chief's office and the other firefighters on duty. ...more

January 15, 2008

There are few county services more instrumental in saving lives than its EMS force ––and just like a fire department –– every second counts. Understanding how crucial it is to dispatch an ambulance as quickly as possible, and considering how our population balloons in the winter, our EMS officials have made some needed changes to make sure that everyone gets served on time. ...more

December 31, 2007

SEBRING — Thermal imaging cameras have changed the way firefighters fight fire, and now every fire truck in the city of Sebring is equipped with one. "We can now ensure for every call in the city we have this tool available," said Fire Chief Brad Batz. "Any entry firefighter will have this tool available for search and rescue." Firefighters actually have the camera in hand before they even pick up a hose. The screen generates thermal images of the fire scene, which are illuminated in various colors, even in the dark. Body heat can be detected, helping firefighters find victims, and fires can even be found through walls. ...more

December 15, 2007

It's not too early for parents in this city to start pondering a visit from Santa. Oldsmar Fire Rescue is making its list and checking it twice to determine which children get a personal visit from Santa in December. ...more

November 3, 2007