A PUBLICATION FOR BOYNTON BEACH FIREFIGHTERS & PARAMEDICS

August 2017 Volume 16, Issue 90

Farewell, Fire Chief’s Desk, Leadership, Operations, Training Daze, EMS, IAFF Local 1891,

Benevolent, Hot Shots, Encode Extra, Back-Up Lines & In Memoriam

Michael Landress

Rookie firefighter Mike Addie getting up close and personal with the Glass Master during June’s orientation.

Michael Landress

Well let me first say that yes, the rumor is fact and I am leaving. I have been offered and have accepted the position of Fire Chief for

the Cheyenne Fire Rescue Department, City of Cheyenne Wyoming. While this was a hard decision to make, each of us must do what is

best for ourselves and family first and both Susan and I feel that it is our time to move on.

What I can say is that I will truly miss each of you and I will forever cherish the relationships that have been built. I will miss the

professionalism, dedication and true caring of the members of this department. I will miss the fellowship and Benevolent activities that I

have participated and helped in, but most of all I will miss each of you.

When I arrived here from the big city of Orlando, it was hard for me to not talk about what I had done for 20 plus years. But when I got

here I looked at a department that was really good in what they were doing and tried to figure out what I could do to help make it even

better. These last 5 years have seen changes small and big as well as lots of new equipment.

o New Apparatus, Ladders, Rescues (red ones) new TRT, Battalion Truck, Dive Rescue Truck

o New Dive Boat

o New SCBA

o New Bunker Gear

o New Helmets (red for Officers)

o New Unit Numbers to align with the rest of the agencies in the County

o Apparatus designation by typing (Ladders, Engines and Trucks)

o New Extrication equipment for all units

o New SOG’s to create a better working standard when in mutual aid situations

o Many, many more . . .

Additionally we have seen the staffing for Station 1 return to full and even a new Station 1 on the books for the near future. We have

been through the rats, mold and cleaning, cleaning and more cleaning. We are seeing lots of growth and construction that will only serve

to help in the future. I’ve seen many of you hired, promoted and even a few retire. I’ve challenged each officer to protect their crews

and do the right thing in each case presented to them. I’ve said over and over that each of you need to go home in the morning and

there is not a building in Boynton Beach worth a firefighter’s life. In all I’ve tried to make it a little better for you now and in the future.

GREG HOGGATT, DEPUTY CHIEF

Continued . . .

Farewell . . .

In closing, I would like to challenge each and

every one of you to do your best each and

every day. Come to work because you enjoy it.

Treat it as your career and not just a job. Invest

in your future through training, education and

advancement.

Don’t wait for someone else to pay for your

education, seek it on your own. Knowledge is

the key to your success. The more you have, the

more you can apply, the farther you

can go.

Remember the only obstacle that is in front of

you and your goals is you! Where there is a

will, there is a way to achieve your goal.

I’ve said enough, so, thank you for the almost 5

years of a great working relationship,

friendship and if you want a break from the

heat, come see me in Cheyenne. Greg Hoggatt

Many years ago Boynton Beach

firefighters were required to determine

goals, seek approval, and accomplish those

goals in order to complete and pass their

annual evaluations. It was 2002 and social

media was a pipe dream and cellular

phones were just that – phones. I pitched

the idea of a departmental newsletter to my

CO, Mike Fitzpatrick as my goal and he

agreed. The department hadn’t had such a

periodical since the 1980’s. A newsletter

titled “Hazardous Material”. It was aptly

named for its clever prose and tongue-in-

cheek jabs launched at the firefighters of

that time. My idea was tame by comparison

and the goal was simply to promote our fire

department to our city leaders. “Encode” a

verb, meaning to convey a message. I’m

proud to say this is our 15th year and our

90th issue! It is my hope that it will continue

for many years to come.

“To Convey a Message”

Volume No. 1, Issue No. 1 August 1, 2002

Michael Landress

Glenn Joseph

Congratulations Chief Hoggatt on being appointed Fire Chief for the City of Cheyenne, Wyoming. Chief Hoggatt

has a distinguished career in the fire service. His career began in Orlando Florida in 1989 – he was promoted

through the ranks to the position of Deputy Chief in 2009.

Chief Hoggatt joined Boynton Beach Fire Rescue in November 2012 as Deputy Fire Chief. While here, he applied his considerable

knowledge and experience to help us improve and upgrade our emergency response capabilities. He played an integral role in

some of the following projects:

o Replacing our personal protective equipment inventory

o Upgrading our emergency radio communications system

o Upgrading/replacing emergency extrication equipment

o Training and equipping the technical rescue team

o Replacing and upgrading the dive equipment and boat

o He was the Emergency Manager for the City of Boynton Beach and played a pivotal role in our response to Hurricane Matthew in

2016

His dedication and experience in the Fire and Emergency Medical Services has been a tremendous benefit to the citizens, employees,

and visitors in our community. Please join me in wishing Greg and Susan Hoggatt all the best as they start a new life in Cheyenne

Wyoming as Fire Chief Gregory Hoggatt!

I would also like to congratulate Lieutenant Nick Coutsouvanos for being awarded the International Association of Fire Chiefs

Foundation’s 2017 IAFC Foundation Educational Scholarship! This is a very prestigious national scholarship competition with

candidates from all over the United States. This scholarship was established to assist young men and women pursuing a career in fire

and emergency services. Good job Nick!

Continued . . .

In June, a bystander flagged Specialist Glenn Weixler

for assistance with an unresponsive white male victim

of an opioid overdose. Specialist Weixler removed

the patient from the car and supported his respirations

until Fire Rescue arrived with the antidote. The patient

made a full recovery. Specialist Weixler was

awarded the Fire Department Life Saving Award at

the last commission meeting and received a standing

ovation! Good job Glenn, we are all very proud of

you!

There will be many challenges/opportunities in the

coming months, the Town Square project is moving

forward at incredible speed, realigning administrative

responsibilities with the departure of Chief Hoggatt,

and the retirement/promotion of senior leaders in the

coming months. Change is inevitable, and we can use

our mission, and vision to guide and preserve the

extraordinary level of service we provide as a

department to our community.

As always, Be Competent, Be Professional, Be Safe!

Glenn Joseph, Fire Chief

The Truth about Leadership Part One

Deputy Chief, Latosha Clemons

Today’s Fire Service is as good as the personnel leading it. This is not

about stigma based on employees who hold the rank, but all whom work

within the organization. It has been said that the direction of the Fire

Service starts from the top, and this may be true in some instances.

However, Fire Service Operations and the outcome is based on the

principle that everyone is involved in some way from Probationary

Firefighter to Fire Chief. How an organization evolves is by ensuring the

right people are in place to provide efficient and effective leadership.

One must ask themselves, are we holding ourselves accountable for our

actions? Are we a part of the problem or the solution?

As an officer or leader, are we demonstrating leadership skills that

others can model? The Fire Service and the organization that you’re a

part of has missions and goals. These missions and goals outline the way

we operate and the professionalism and standard we’re held to. As

officers and leaders are we leading from the front by encouraging our

crews to exemplify what our mission states or are we defying based on

personal goals, values and beliefs? How can we effectively contribute to

the success of the organization? Continued . . .

Change is a part of being an effective leader. Understanding why the change has happened is not always agreeable or relatable.

However, as a leader, it is our responsibility to do our due diligence to understand why the change has taken place. Our role as

leaders is not only to understand the change, but have constructive input to the change to produce a positive outcome for our crews,

the organization and the citizens we serve. In a nut shell, leading is not for everyone, but everyone can be a leader with the right

mindset, attitude, determination, consistency, patience, soft skills, technical skills coupled with courage, commitment and compassion.

Be a leader. A leader is a person who has integrity and vision, is honest and trustworthy, has a drive and a commitment to achieve

that vision, and the skills to make it happen. As a leader, first and foremost, lead by example. Don't expect your crews to do things

you wouldn't do. Instill trust in your crew members. Your crew will realize that you have their best interest at heart, and they will be

more likely to follow you into hazardous situations once you have gained their trust.

Communicate effectively. Communication is more than just being able to speak and write. A leader's communication must motivate

people to work toward a common goal the leader has chosen. On average, 75 to 80 percent of your job as an officer is human

relations oriented (people skills). It is your responsibility to keep your crews informed, when possible, of daily events that will affect

them and the way they perform their daily duties. Make sure that you keep the lines of communication open. Open communication

between you and your crews gains respect. Ineffective communication hurts not only your crews, but also the entire department. (Todd

Shoebridge)

Keep in mind, the organization you serve is depending on every single member to not only attain the necessary competencies to do

the job, but the leadership skills that will take the organization and its members far beyond our personal perspective. Ask yourself,

what can I do to improve my organization, how can I positively motivate others, can I put myself aside and think from a balcony

perspective rather being in the fray? Am I exemplifying leadership qualities that others can model? Remember, we are all

responsible for the success of BBFR.

To Be Continued in October . . .

GREG HOGGATT, DEPUTY CHIEF

After several years of unsuccessfully trying for a grant to replace our Self-Contained

Breathing Apparatus (SCBA), City Council approved our plan to lease and purchase

new SCBAs we so desperately needed. The SCBAs are in, the inventory complete, and

we are ready to move to the next phase, which is training on the new systems.

While the Scott 5.5 SCBA is not much different in basic operation as our current

SCBAs, there are new features that are important for each of us to understand and

learn. In August, we will be training everyone on the new SCBA to ensure that all

personnel are familiar with the pack and its operations. Upon completion of this

training, we will schedule a day to perform a mass swap of all older SCBAs and

bottles, as well as make adjustments to the apparatus holders. This change will be in

conjunction with the SCBA fill stations at FS No. 5, No. 2, the Air Cart at FS No. 4 and

the TRT truck -- all upgraded, or adjusted to fill the new 5.5 bottles.

The next step of the new system will be the training for the RIT component on the Pack

Tracker locating system to enhance and improve the capability of finding down

firefighters in “Mayday” situations.

The final phase is the SEMS Mesh system and integration of this system into the

Battalion Chiefs vehicle to provide them the ability to see all personnel on the incident

(on air), their remaining air pressure, send and receive vital information and provide

emergency notifications to crews to exit the building. When the final training is

complete and all of these parts are working, it should provide our members with the

latest SCBA system that is designed for ease of operations and keeping each of you

safe. Please take the time to become familiar with this vital piece of equipment that is

there to help keep you safe.

Images by

David Friedberg

JEFFREY DAVIDSON, DIVISION CHIEF

The Training Division would like to congratulate

and welcome the addition to our Fire Rescue

Family. On June 12, 2017, ten new firefighters

were hired to expand our services in District 1

and to fill vacancies due to recent retirements.

The 10 new recruits are Mike Addie, Lliam

Dufresne, Daniel Ferris, Joshua Gordon, Tate

Kilpatrick, Ryan Merz, Antonio Messon, Kristen

Rioux, Zachary Taylor and Frank Zupo.

New Recruits were given a three week

orientation, which included topics such as Medical

Protocols, Live Fire Training, Extrication, EVOC

and Zone Familiarization, just to name a few.

Recruits have graduated to Probationary

Firefighter status and have a tedious year ahead

of them; tasks ahead include probationary

exams, completion of the Probationary

Firefighters Manual, departmental required

courses and courses to work toward Active

Paramedic Status.

Congratulations and welcome to our Boynton

Beach Family. We wish you the best in all your

future endeavors.

MICHAEL LANDRESS, EMSC

Hope

Curled up on a tousled bed in a tiny motel room, a gaunt, young male with grimy hair lies

motionless. A syringe dangles from a lifeless arm as white froth oozes from blue lips. His boyish,

but unkempt face is marred with acne and dark circles. Blood flow has ceased causing purple,

blotchy patches to cover his cool, ashen skin. His clothes are soiled and the stench of urine

envelopes the musty room. A veteran police officer rifles through a discarded wallet on the

night stand searching for identification. A father, mother or close relative will soon receive a

ghastly call.

It is a vivid example of another young life lost – succumbed to the power of addiction via a

lethal mixture of street heroin and fentanyl. Unfortunately, this situation has become all too

familiar to our firefighter-paramedics and police officers. It is common for our department, like

many other departments in South Florida, to respond to heroin overdoses on a daily basis. And,

it is not unusual for us to respond to several during a 24-hour shift.

It is simply the new norm.

However, there is hope in the midst of this opioid epidemic. B-Battalion firefighter-paramedics assigned to FS No. 3 were recently

visited by a young man who had overdosed twice during a 24-hour period last spring. Like many addicts, his addiction was seemingly

innocent as it crept into his life. As a former volunteer firefighter and baseball player, the young man was prescribed pain medication

following an ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction or “Tommy John” surgery. After the physician would no longer provide him with a

prescription for pain medications he turned to a sinister and cheap alternative – street heroin.

Continued . . .

After losing the life-style he once knew, and nearly losing his life, he made the decision to enter rehabilitation.

After gaining nearly 40-pounds and celebrating over 100-days of sobriety, the young man now has a job and is truly grateful for

every day as he works to build a new life. He wanted to personally thank our crew members who cared for him on that evening last

March. The BBFRD would like to express its utmost gratitude to Steve for having the courage and strength to share his story and images

of addiction with the hope it may help others.

We want to recognize our crew from left to right; Firefighter 2 Monica Durango, Lt. John Kilcooley, Steve, Lt. Joe Senseman, Stu Aaron,

Shelby Leggett [not pictured] and retired firefighter, David McCauley [not pictured] for their professionalism and dedication to the fire

service.

Steve also rocks a new FS No. 3 T-shirt provided by the crew! We wish him all the best during his journey of life!

Protocol Exam

As you know, the protocol

exam will be a requirement

for all firefighter-paramedics

during the upcoming fall

season. Dates TBA.

A study guide to help you

prepare was sent via email to

all personnel on

June 29, 2017!

Fire Fighter Cancer Registry Advances in U.S. House of Representatives

One of the IAFF’s top legislative priorities – to establish a cancer registry for fire fighters – took one step closer to becoming law as

the House Energy and Commerce Committee unanimously approved H.R. 931, the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act. The bill, introduced

by Representatives Chris Collins (R-NY) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), would help add to the growing body of evidence of the link between

cancer and the occupation of fire fighting.

“Our members are routinely exposed to a wide variety of carcinogens on the job and deserve to be afforded the best protection

and prevention tools available, “says General President Harold Schaitberger. “The Firefighter Cancer Registry Act will provide the

fire service yet another means to study the deadly relationship between cancer and fire fighting. I thank Representatives Collins and

Pascrell for their relentless drive to pass this important legislation.”

A 2013 study by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found fire fighters have a 14 percent increased

risk of dying from cancer as compared to the general population. Multiple additional studies have demonstrated statistically higher

rates of various types of cancers in fire fighters, including multiple myeloma, brain cancer, leukemia, prostate cancer, esophageal

cancer and many others.

Establishing a specialized cancer registry specifically for fire fighters will help scientists to more fully examine the phenomenon of

cancer in the fire service and potentially lead to the development of more sophisticated safety protocols and safeguards.

The U.S. House of Representatives has recessed for the traditional August district work period, but will return to Washington, DC after

Labor Day. The IAFF expects H.R. 931 will be voted on by the full House this fall, paving the way for its consideration in the Senate.

IAFF

Boynton Beach, Florida: August 1, 2017

Mayor Steven B. Grant stopped by FS No. 5 and provided a

wonderful presentation on the fire department of Helsinki, Finland,

our sister city across the pond!

He also joined Fire Chief Glenn Joseph and members of the BBFRD

in saying farewell to Deputy Chief Greg Hoggatt! Chief Hoggatt

will be assuming the role as fire chief in Cheyenne, Wyoming on

September 1st, and we wish him and wife Susan all the best!

BBFRD 2016 Annual Report

We are proud to present the

Boynton Beach Fire Rescue Annual

Report for 2016. www.boynton-

beach.org/departments/fire_rescue/docs/

2016_Annual_Report_BBFire_Rescue.pdf

No Report!

Boynton Beach, Florida: July 2, 2017

Lieutenant Sam Tolbert and FF Jason Lovvorn battle a car fire. The blaze

occurred on I-95 northbound in between Boynton Beach Boulevard and

Gateway – no injuries or hazards reported.

New Dive Rescue Vessel Introducing our new dive rescue vessel! An R One I Series 520

RIB, featuring a fiberglass hull, 17’5” overall length, 8 person

capacity and a 70hp Suzuki 4-stroke motor!

Condolences

The BBFRD extends its condolences to our families

who have recently lost a loved-one.

Our thoughts & prayers are with you!

The Allen Family Our prayers continue for retired brother Tom MacRae,

Jim Herig, Gene Kight and Brandon Brescia.

https://www.facebook.com/boyntonbeachfire/

Recently, union members from Boynton Beach Fire Rescue,

West Palm Beach Fire Rescue and St Lucie County Fire Rescue

played in a charity softball game at the New York Mets spring

training facility to raise awareness and funds for firefighter

families suffering with cancer. The event raised several

thousand dollars and all proceeds went to Firefighter Roberto

Santa, a St Lucie County firefighter with four young children

who's wife just fought and won a battle of breast cancer, but

unfortunately has been diagnosed with brain cancer. Our

thoughts and prayers continue for the Santa family. Shawn Weeks

Encode; to convey a message -- the

“Encode” newsletter is published six-times

per year and is open to all BBFRD

employees, past and present, who wish to

submit an article or photograph. Send

your questions, comments, concerns, or

submissions to, landressm@bbfl.us. The

deadline for submission for the October

2017 newsletter is September 30, 2017.

Submissions

Paul Combs is a classically trained artist,

award winning illustrator, and

firefighter/EMT. Paul is a veteran

firefighter for the city of Bryan, Ohio Fire

Department. He is a Firefighter II, NREMT-

B, hazmat technician and instructor for the

City of Bryan Fire Training Academy. Visit

his Web site at,

www.artstudioseven.com

Paul Combs

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of former Boynton Beach Fire Rescue Chief, Edward K. Allen Jr.

Chief Allen began his career with the BBFRD during the 1960’s.

He became fire chief of our department in 1988 and led us until his retirement in 1993.

The viewing was held at Scobee Combs Funeral Home (1622 NE 4th St, Boynton Beach, FL 33435) from 5pm-7pm Thursday, July 6th.

A funeral mass was held at St. Mark’s Catholic Church (643 St Mark Place) at 1pm Friday, July 7th.

Please keep the Allen family in your thoughts and prayers as they move forward.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/name/edward-allen-obituary?pid=1000000185993888&view=guestbook

Your employee health and wellness center offers the following benefits: Available to all participants of the City’s health plan (ages 2+).

✓ Only a $40 global office visit fee

✓ No cost for preventative services

✓ Completely confidential

✓ Minimal waiting room time

✓ Full service primary care

✓ On-site lab draws

✓ On-site generic prescriptions

✓ Personal Health Assessment (PHA)

Θ PHA blood draw to identify risk factors

Θ Results delivered to you in convenient and easy to understand format

Θ Friendly follow-up by phone for urgent and abnormal results

Θ Physician follow-up

Allergies Asthma

Cold and Flu Congestion

Diabetes Management Headaches

High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol

Lab Work/Tests Sports Physicals

Physicals Tobacco Cessation

What can be treated?

City of Boynton Beach

Employee Health and Wellness Center

TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT:Log in at patients.careatc.com or call 800.993.8244 or download the CareATC App!

Clinic Hours:Mon. 8:00am - 4:00pm Lunch 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Tues. 11:00am - 5:00pmWed. 7:30am - 3:30pm Lunch 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Thur. 11:00am - 5:00pmFri. 8:00am - 12:00pm