LAKELAND, FL – The Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) was awarded a generous grant from the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, for the purchase of 16 helmet and vest sets to protect firefighter/medics in dangerous situations. The gear is intended to be used by the department’s firefighters as part of its new firefighter Rescue Task Force (RTF). The task force will be made up of trained LFD emergency responders, and the protective gear will allow them to treat patients in active shooter and hostile environment response (ASHER) conditions.
This new gear will allow department firefighters to deploy with armed law enforcement officers during ASHER situations; firefighters will not be armed. The protective gear will be worn by firefighter/medics during initial emergency medical response when they are treating and removing patients from warm zones, prior to patients being moved to safer triage and transport areas during active shooter situations. The new gear is valued at approximately $15,373.
The grant has helped with the formation of this new task force, which LFD has supplemented with a contribution of 16 tactical medical equipment bags and extensive training for personnel. The training, which is currently in development, is anticipated for deployment in Fall 2020. The training will focus on proper gear and medical equipment use, as well as medical techniques in and high danger/stress situations. This initiative was born from a national trend of violent active shooter and hostile environment situations.
The Lakeland Fire Department prides itself on being prepared to provide exceptional emergency response services in a variety of circumstances. The grant was applied for in 2019 and awarded in early 2020. The grant was one of 67 Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation awarded to public safety organizations across the country during the most recent grant application period. Photos of the new gear, in use, are attached.
More about the Lakeland Fire Department
The Lakeland Fire Department (LFD) was established as a career-department in 1916. The Lakeland Fire Department has an Insurance Service Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification 1, the highest achievable rating. The department has seven stations serving approximately 110,000+ people in the City of Lakeland. The department has 179 employees, of which 156 are emergency response personnel. In 2019, the department responded to over 25,900 service calls in its 84 square-mile response area, which includes the city limits as well as portions of unincorporated Lakeland. The department offers a wide range of services which includes heavy rescue, technical rescue, fire prevention, fire code enforcement, fire investigation, aircraft rescue and firefighting, and in-house fleet maintenance; all in addition to outstanding fire suppression and emergency medical response. The Lakeland Fire Department is also passionate about being an active participant in its community and consistently giving back through philanthropic efforts and through non-emergency services like community outreach and preventative public education.
More about the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation
In 2005, the Firehouse Subs Founders established the 501(c)(3), non-profit Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation. The charity provides funding resources, lifesaving equipment, prevention education, training and disaster relief support to first responders and public safety organizations. Since inception, Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation has granted more than $51 million to hometown heroes in 49 states and Puerto Rico.
