Pasco County firefighters repeatedly have rang alarm bells recently regarding delayed response times and lagging construction progress on county fire/rescue facilities.
At the Pasco County Commission’s meeting on May 17, board members voted on two items that reflect those delays.
The board approved a change order on Fire Station No. 17 that extends the work for 90 days, bringing the new completion date to Oct. 2.
The delay includes an additional fee of $15,124 for Fleischman and Garcia Architects (FGA) and Planners, AIA, PA, bringing the not-to-exceed total to $489,510.
The board took that action without comment, as part of its consent agenda.
In another action, the board approved spending $549,100 for the purchase and installation of a training burn tower for the department’s Amador J. Gonzolo Training Center, 15910 Little Ranch Road in Spring Hill.
The new tower is replacing one that has exceeded its life cycle, according to Andrew Baxter, facilities management director.
The county had been planning to build a new training center, near the jail, using funds from the voter-approved General Obligation bonds.
However, Baxter said, “based on the escalations that we’re seeing for the construction of all of the new and replacement fire stations, we’re reevaluating that entire plan.”
Now, a new Fire/Rescue training center is not expected to be built for at least 10 years, he said.
The new burn tower will give the county time to continue training, while awaiting the new center, he said.
The delays underscore complaints that have been made during the public comment portion of the board’s meetings for the past several meetings.
At the May 17 meeting, Steve Akel, a member of International Association of Firefighters, Local 4420, reiterated those concerns.
He told commissioners: “When smoke fills your hallway; glass litters the road; or you or your child have that unexpected emergency at 2 a.m., myself and my 600 brothers and sisters race to be the ones to save you, in your emergency.”
Akel doesn’t want Pasco residents to have to ask whether an ambulance or fire truck will be available, and if it will arrive on time.
“Ambulances and stations need to be prioritized,” Akel said.
“It is this lack of support that’s been a contributing factor to losing 50 firefighters, averaging 5½ years of service, to other departments.
“Experienced firefighters are leaving from over-utilization, under-compensation and the feeling of no help in sight, from the commission,” Akel said.
“We are losing experienced rescuers, while trying to replace them with new ones and losing those people, also,” he added.
Meanwhile, as the department battles to retain current staff and train new firefighters, neighborhoods continue to fly up across Pasco, the union member said.
Akel also complained about the condition of the current training center, which he characterized as being “in shambles and nearly condemned.”
He summed up his remarks this way: “By not fixing these issues, you are failing our people and not fulfilling your purpose.”
Published May 25, 2022
