​Monroe County welcomes James “Jim” Callahan as Monroe County Fire Chief. He will lead the organization and help recruit for the fire chief position. Chief Steve Hudson retired in December 2022.
 
“We are grateful for Chief Hudson’s hard work and dedication over the last 10 years in Monroe County and 39 years in career fire service,” said Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi.
 
Callahan retired from Monroe County Fire Rescue in May 2021 after 15 years with Monroe County and 51 years in career fire service. While at the County, he made significant contributions to the Florida Keys community, including adding adequate fire hydrants and other water resources, increasing career service firefighters, advancing emergency communications, and upgrading equipment and fire apparatus.
 
He coordinated with the County’s project management team to rebuild the fire stations in Conch Key, Stock Island, Big Pine Key, and Cudjoe Key and renovated Tavernier, Layton, and Sugarloaf. He created the “Hot Shots Program” and advocated for building the fire training facility on Grassy Key. His changes allowed the fire department to receive an improved ISO rating of 3/3X from a 5/9 rating, which helped to lower property insurance rates countywide. Callahan also consolidated airport fire services, giving airport firefighters access to state-mandated training, and he established a Fire Prevention Division to handle building plan reviews, construction inspections, commercial fire inspections, and public education. 
 
“Chief Callahan’s knowledge and experience in fire department administration and operations have advanced Monroe County Fire Rescue from a small combination department into the professional fire service organization it is today,” said Monroe County Administrator Roman Gastesi. “We welcome his institutional knowledge and leadership again as we prepare for the organization’s future.”

​Monroe County Fire Rescue graduated its fifth “Hot Shots” class on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. Class 22-01 includes 27 qualified men and women on their way to become career or volunteer firefighters. The graduates successfully completed 456 hours of intensive classroom and rigorous practical training over the past 3.5 months.
 
Twenty-two of the students are residents of Monroe County. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners continues to support the program that waives the $2,200 tuition fee for qualified Monroe County residents in exchange for a commitment to volunteer or work as a career firefighter anywhere in the Florida Keys for three years.
 
“We are excited to see these students graduate from our Monroe County Fire Academy Hot Shots Program and look forward to them serving in the Florida Keys community in the future,” said Interim Fire Chief RL Colina.
 
The graduates completed the 17 performance objectives of the firefighter program and are prepared to take the State of Florida Firefighter II examination. To be hired at Monroe County Fire Rescue, a candidate must also complete EMT training.
 
Graduates include Samantha Blyer, Jamie Boan, Adrian Castro, Roberto Costa, Jordan Duran, Alberto Figueroa, Ariel Gonzalez, David Gonzalez, Samuel Gonzalez (Class Leader), Victor Hernandez, Stephen Jones, David Linville, Alejandro Lopez, Amanda Marcotte, Cole McDaniel, Aaron Moore, Logan Pellicier, Melissa Ramirez, Kaitlyn Ritter, Leylah Rodriguez, Harold Roman, Christian Ruiz, Justin Stankiewicz, Sierra Temple, Mason Thompson, Steven Torna, and Camren Watson.
 
There are no new classes scheduled at this time at the training academy. More information about the “Hot Shots” program can be found at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/hotshots or email Johnson-Cara@monroecounty-fl.gov. 

​All Monroe County Fire Rescue stations are designated Toys for Tots drop-off locations for new, unwrapped gifts for local children. Drop donated toys at any fire station until Dec. 16.

MCFR stations are located at:
• Station 8 - Stock Island, 5655 MacDonald Avenue, MM 5
• Station 9 - Big Coppitt, 28 Emerald Drive, MM 10
• Station 10 – Sugarloaf, 17175 Overseas Highway, MM 17
• Station 11 – Cudjoe, 22352 Overseas Highway, MM 20
• Station 13 - Big Pine Key, 390 Key Deer Boulevard, MM 30.5
• Station 17 - Conch Key, 10 S Conch Avenue, MM 63
• Station 18 – Layton, 68260 Overseas Highway, MM 68.5
• Station 22 – Tavernier, 151 Marine Avenue, MM 92

​Monroe County Fire Rescue and Local 3909 are participating in the Movember movement, also known as No Shave November, raising money for men’s health issues. The word Movember is a combination of the words for mustache, “mo” and “November.” Movember is an annual event involving the growing of mustaches during the month to raise awareness and spark conversation about men’s health issues, like prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and suicide. Many local firefighters compete for the best-grown mustache during the month. The Movember organization’s goal is to change the face of men’s health by bringing awareness and funding for prostate and testicular cancer research, trials, and treatment. November is also Prostate Cancer Awareness Month.
 
To learn more about Movember, a 501c3 nonprofit organization, or to contribute to Monroe County Fire Rescue’s fundraising efforts, visit https://movember.com/t/local-3909?mc=1. As of Nov. 21, the local team has raised more than $2,000.
 

​Monroe County Fire Rescue Firefighter Jake Werner will honor Monroe County Fire Rescue’s fallen brother Herve Thomas in the 2022 Brotherhood Ride on Jan. 21, 2023 (the event was rescheduled due to Hurricane Ian). The Brotherhood Ride consists of firefighters, police officers, and EMS personnel who ride bicycles to honor emergency first responders who have died in the line of duty. Thomas passed away while on duty in May 2021. The mission of the organization is to provide emotional and financial support to the families of fallen heroes. The 2022 ride is dedicated to Florida’s 85 fallen heroes who died in the line of duty in 2021. Werner and others on the team will pedal for eight days from Fort Myers to Jacksonville, covering 550 miles averaging 70-100 miles daily. 
 
“We are proud of Firefighter Werner’s efforts to honor our fallen brother Herve Thomas,” said Monroe County Fire Chief Steve Hudson. “We wish him a safe and successful ride.”
 
Werner, of Key Largo, knew Thomas and worked with him for more than 10 years and wanted to do this to honor his memory. He has been riding his bike daily, averaging 20-25 miles per day to prep for January.
 
To learn more about the Brotherhood Ride, a nonprofit organization, or to contribute to Werner’s fundraising efforts, visit www.brotherhoodride.com. 

​Monroe County Fire Rescue and the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners welcomed five new firefighters at a badge pinning and oath presentation at the October meeting. The newest members of Monroe County Fire Rescue are firefighter/EMT Brandon Colina, firefighter/EMT Luis Guardado, firefighter/Paramedic Cesar Lopez, firefighter/Paramedic Kyle Ondarza, and firefighter/EMT Aaron Nieves. 
 

• Colina, originally from Apopka, graduated from last year’s Hot Shot program, Class 21-01.
• Guardado was born and raised in Miami and received his fire certification from Broward Fire Academy and EMT from American Medical Academy.
• Lopez was born and raised in Puerto Rico and moved to Miami when he was 17. He received his EMT and Paramedic certification from City College Miami and his fire certification from Barry University.
• Ondarza was born and raised in Miami. He received his EMS and Fire certification from Miami Dade College.
• Nieves was born and raised in Homestead. He received his EMT and Paramedic certification at Miami Dade College and his fire certification from Broward Fire Academy.

 

​Monroe County Fire Rescue took delivery of a Mobile Fire Pump Testing and Training unit called a Draft Commander 3000. This mobile pump testing unit is one of a kind and will help Monroe County comply with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The unit is stationed at the training facility on Grassy Key to provide hose testing and fire apparatus pump testing and training. The unit uses clean recycled fresh water during pump testing instead of salt water from an open water source that would corrode apparatus pumps.
 
“Having a unit like this on hand will allow us to save time, money, and resources,” said Chief Steven Hudson. “This multipurpose unit will greatly assist all fire rescue departments in Monroe County during pump testing and training.”

​Monroe County Fire Rescue welcomes its fifth “Hot Shots” class to Joe London Fire Academy on Grassy Key. Class 22-01 includes 29 qualified men and women starting the process of becoming a career or volunteer firefighter. Twenty-three of the students are residents of Monroe County. The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners continues to support the program that waives the tuition fee for qualified Monroe County residents in exchange for a commitment to volunteer or work as a career firefighter anywhere in the Florida Keys for three years.
 
“This program provides the opportunity to cultivate and develop the committed men and women that reside in Monroe County and introduce them to a prestigious lifelong career in the fire service,” said Fire Chief Steven Hudson. “This educational opportunity is a win-win to reduce turnover and retain these graduates in our community.”
 
Students who complete the 17 performance objectives of the firefighter program are prepared to take the State of Florida Firefighter II examination. To be hired at Monroe County Fire Rescue, a candidate must also complete EMT training.
 
The program finishes on Dec. 16. There are no new classes scheduled at this time. More information about the program can be found at www.monroecounty-fl.gov/hotshots or email Johnson-Cara@monroecounty-fl.gov. 

​Monroe County Fire Rescue Chief Steven Hudson completed the professional designation of “Chief Fire Officer” (CFO) through the Commission on Professional Credentialing. As a result, Hudson becomes one of only 1,755 CFOs worldwide.
 
“This has been a long process,” said Hudson. “Achieving this designation signifies my career commitment to fire and emergency services and Monroe County.”
 
The peer-reviewed program is voluntary and designed to recognize individuals who demonstrate excellence in seven areas: experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement, and technical competence. In addition, applicants identify a future professional development plan.
 

​The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners welcomed three new Firefighter/EMTs to Monroe County Fire Rescue at today’s regularly scheduled meeting. Family and friends joined the commissioners and fire rescue staff at a badge pinning and oath presentation.
 
“The hard work they put in makes my job easier,” said Monroe County Training Battalion Chief Charlie Mather. He said to the new hires, “The challenges placed before you to get into fire service were small; never lose sight of the passion you had to get here nor let go of the compassion and empathy you need for the lives you will impact.”
 
The three new hires include:

• Lisandro Gonzalez, Firefighter/EMT, of Hialeah, went to Coral Springs Fire Academy for his fire certification and Miami Dade College for his EMT certification. He realized he wanted to become a firefighter after calling 911 for his grandfather, who needed emergency care.
• Luis Garcia, Firefighter/EMT, graduated from South Miami High School and received a Bachelor’s degree in Special Education and his fire and Paramedic certifications from Miami Dade College. After teaching for a few years, he decided to change his career path and fell in love with fire service. He is excited to serve the community with one common goal, to serve and protect.
• Robert Ruiz, Firefighter/EMT, attended Braddock Senior High in Westchester and received his fire certification at Broward Fire Academy and his EMT from Miami Dade College. He recently finished his Paramedic certification course at the American Medical Academy. He enjoys learning about emergency medicine and looks forward to making a difference in someone’s life.