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Scott Cassin

Deal approved to merge fire departments

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a merger between Pasco Fire Rescue and the Zephyrhills Fire Department.

The approval came on May 4, which followed the Zephyrhills City Council’s approval of the merger on April 27.

Pasco Fire Rescue Chief Scott Cassin outlined benefits of merging the departments.

The merger represents the end of an era for the Zephyrhills Fire Department, which has been in existence for more than 100 years. Negotiations to hammer out the terms of the deal took about 10 months.

The merger provides benefits for both the city and the county, Cassin said.

It will enable the county to respond more quickly to emergencies, since it will have two additional fire stations.

Those fire stations each will be equipped with ambulances, too, which the county will move from stations that have two, Cassin added.

The county will be acquiring all of the equipment currently at those stations, which includes a ladder truck, Cassin said.

That will give Pasco Fire Rescue greater capability in responding to high-rise firefighting on the east side of the county, Cassin said.

The merger also will create a unified dispatch for 911 calls. Currently the city has its own 911 center and handles its own calls.

Under the agreement, the two dozen full-time employees that are currently employed by the City of Zephyrhills will become county employees.

The cadet program established in Zephyrhills will continue, but will operate under the same umbrella as the county’s cadet program, which is in West Pasco, Cassin said.

Having both programs will minimize the drive time for some of the students that participate, he said.

The City of Zephyrhills also has a robust volunteer program. That program also will merge into the county and join the other four volunteer programs that already were in Pasco Fire Rescue, Cassin said.

The fire stations will be renamed from Station 1 and Station 2 to Station 25 and Station 29, he said.

Implementation of the agreement will be Sept. 27, according to documents approved on May 4.

At the same meeting, county commissioners approved an amendment to the county’s Municipal Service Taxing Unit boundaries for fire rescue services to include the City of Zephyrhills.

Commissioner Ron Oakley praised the county and the City of Zephyrhills for reaching an agreement.

“It’s a great thing. This is just an awesome move, I think, for the betterment of our community,” Oakley said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed: “I really want to applaud the City of Zephyrhills for taking a look at what’s best for their taxpayers. It’s better for them, it’s better for the county — to work seamlessly together.

“It’s going to save everybody a lot of money, and give them better service,” Mariano said.

Published May 13, 2020

East Pasco land donated for fire station

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The Pasco County Commission passed a resolution at its March 10 meeting recognizing Schikedanz Bros.-Hammock Pines Ltd., for its donation of 3.8 acres for a fire station to improve fire rescue services in East Pasco County.

Scott Cassin, fire chief for Pasco County Fire Rescue, expressed appreciation for the gift.

The site is just east of Fox Ridge Boulevard, on the south side of State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel.

Construction is tentatively set for 2023, and when it opens it will be known as Station 4.

The station will enhance services to Watergrass, Meadow Pointe and Zephyrhills, Cassin said.

“This is a great location, it’s going to serve so many people,” the fire chief added, noting that the station will be constructed using funding provided through general obligation bonds approved by county voters.

Gunther Flaig, who spoke on behalf of the land donor, said, “As a father of a current EMS student, trying to become an EMS worker, I know a little bit about the difficulty that you’re facing.”

He said the company was happy to “do a little bit” for the county.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey also expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that she and Flaig have been friends for a long time.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore said, “We very much appreciate your donation.”

As the county continues to grow, Moore said, so will its need for more fire stations.

Published March 18, 2020

New fire station opens in Wesley Chapel

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Pasco County has opened Fire Rescue Station 38, a new station built to serve Wesley Chapel.

A ribbon cutting took place on Aug. 27 to celebrate the new station, which began operation several weeks ago.

This is the first station added to a fire coverage area in the county since 2009, and is intended to reduce emergency wait times.

Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 38 had its grand opening ceremony on Aug. 27. The Wesley Chapel facility is located in the Watergrass community and will help cut down on response times during emergencies. (Brian Fernandes)

A big crowd gathered to celebrate the moment, including Pasco County officials and firefighters, as well as Fire Chief Scott Cassin.

“This is yet another great day for Pasco County Fire Rescue, and [an] absolutely awesome day for citizens of Pasco County,” the fire chief said.

The estimated $3.5 million project broke ground last September and has been a decade in the making. This was funded primarily by the county’s fire impact fees.

The fire station is situated in the Watergrass community, off of Overpass Road.

“This station, itself, will help the response time to get better safety, emergency help, and fire help [to the] community, and strengthen the fire services for the entire county. That’s so important to our residents,” Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley said, during the ceremony’s opening remarks.

“With the ever-growing emergency call volume here in the Wesley Chapel area, and the other surrounding portions of Pasco County, this additional capacity stands to do just that,” Cassin added.

The 10,850-square-foot facility is the county’s second largest fire station. It can accommodate up to 13 firefighters.

The station is equipped with four bi-fold, bay doors that slide open at a quicker rate than the traditional overhead doors that roll up.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles, left, Pasco County Attorney Jeff Steinsnyder, Chief Scott Cassin, Pasco County Commissioners Ron Oakley and Jack Mariano, Kathy Creighton and Andy Taylor take part in the ribbon cutting for Fire Rescue Station 38. Pasco residents were welcomed to celebrate the Wesley Chapel facility’s opening on Aug. 27.

It now has a paramedic engine and an EMS supervisor SUV, but it can house up to eight vehicles at once.

“The station is also environmentally friendly, highly energy-efficient and storm-hardened, which are all critical elements of today’s infrastructure,” Cassin said.

Features include a vehicle exhaust extraction system – the first to be installed in a Pasco County fire station. This helps to deter the spread of diesel fumes, which have been identified as creating an increased risk of lung cancer.

The station’s call alert system is designed to handle a high demand of inquiries, with six to eight crew members working on any given shift.

Amenities at the station include a kitchen, a gym, multiple bunk rooms and climate-controlled storage rooms.

Several housewarming gifts were presented to add to the station’s interior. Those included a signed promotional poster for actor John Cena’s upcoming film. The Pasco County resident was not present at the event.

County officials joined the fire chief in a ribbon cutting, which was followed by a tour of the station and refreshments.

Published September 04, 2019

New Wesley Chapel fire station comes with more offerings

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Wesley Chapel now has Pasco County’s second largest fire station, and the opening of Station 13 was celebrated at a ribbon cutting on May 30.

The 9,400-square-foot station, off Old Pasco Road and Dayflower Boulevard, became operational several weeks before the celebration because the original station — which had been next to it — was torn down.

With scissors in hand, from left: Chief Mark Spudie, Fire Marshal Karl Thompson, Chief Scott Cassin, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, Pasco County Attorney Jeff Steinsnyder and Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Mike Cassano, get ready to officiate the opening of Station 13 with the traditional ribbon cutting. The ceremony took place on May 30 outside the new station in Wesley Chapel. (Brian Fernandes)

Despite the blistering heat, a crowd of firefighters, county officials and local residents gathered for the event.

The new station improves the county’s ability to respond to emergencies in the growing Wesley Chapel community.

“The new station is much larger [and] able to accommodate more firefighters,” explained Chief Scott Cassin, who oversees all county stations. “We were just maxed out over at the old station. It was too small for the growing community around here.”

The $3.5 million project was funded by the Penny for Pasco program.

Station 13 has three drive-thru bays, which can accommodate five vehicles, including a fire engine, an ambulance, a tanker and a brush truck.

Each rotating shift will be staffed by six firefighters, which includes one paramedic. A battalion chief also will be on duty.

The station is designed to house 10 firefighters, each with their own bunkrooms. The station also has a physical fitness area and a kitchen. There’s also a storage space for equipment.

And, there’s a sheriff’s substation.

“The station is also environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and storm-hardened, which are all critical elements in today’s infrastructure,” the chief added.

Members of the Pasco County Fire Department are all smiles as they celebrate the official opening of Fire Station 13 in Wesley Chapel. Department members, as well as county officials and residents, were present for the ribbon cutting ceremony on May 30.

In addition to safety precautions, all vehicles will be hooked up to a diesel exhaust extraction system. With this, exhaust fumes will be vented out from the trucks to the outdoors.

“That way none of that diesel exhaust is in the air that we’re breathing,” Cassin said.

Many in the community came out to celebrate the opening, including Cypress Creek Middle-High School Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles and student Sam Mazzeo.

“We have an incredible partnership with Station 13,” Hetzler-Nettles said. “They are our responding station.”

The importance of the station’s proximity to the school was evident last year when Mazzeo suffered a cardiac arrest on the school field.

An AED machine and CPR had to be used at the school to keep Mazzeo’s heart going before the firefighters arrived and rushed him to the hospital.

“I appreciate all the work you did,” the 18-year-old said, before the staff.

As a token of gratitude, the principal and senior student presented the station with a framed No. 13 Cypress Creek sports jersey.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who oversees the district where the station is located, offered a few words.

“This station means an improved level of service for both our citizens and our fire rescue team to serve one of the fastest-growing areas in the state, and actually the country,” Moore said.

He also added: “When I first came on as a county commissioner, one of the things we promised was we were going to make public safety one of our top priorities. I’m confident that we’ve done that, and we’ll continue to do that.”

The newly erected Fire Station 13 stands off Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. The facility is the second largest station in Pasco County with new amenities for a safer environment and shorter waiting times in emergencies.

Jackie Parker was one of many who endured the sweltering heat to join the occasion.

She has been living in Wesley Chapel for more than 40 years and hasn’t had concerns about safety – knowing Station 13 is not far away.

“The department here has been quick to respond to needs in the community, and they’re very efficient,” she mentioned.

In fact, Parker witnessed the building of the original station in 1979, recalling when the antique fire trucks used to be parked on residents’ yards.

More Pasco residents will be put at ease when Wesley Chapel’s Station 38 will be opened late summer this year.

The opening of the sister station will reduce Station 13’s coverage zone, enabling quicker response times, Cassin said.

The occasion was marked with a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony.

With scissors handy, Commissioner Moore and County Attorney Jeff N. Steinsnyder, joined Chief Cassin, as well as Chief Mark Spudie, Fire Marshal Karl Thompson and Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Mike Cassano in cutting a big red ribbon.

In a closing remark, Cassin said, “It’s time now to make new memories and turn the page to the next chapter in our history.”

After that, those attending were welcomed inside for a tour and refreshments.

Published June 05, 2019

New fire district a first in Pasco in nearly a decade

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Pasco County firefighters, county officials and first responders gathered on Sept. 17 to mark the beginning of construction for a new Wesley Chapel fire station.

The groundbreaking ceremony for Station 38, which began at 8 a.m., was held at the fire station’s future location on Overpass Road.

Chief Scott Cassin gave opening remarks on Sept. 17 at the development site for the future Fire Station 38 in Wesley Chapel. Cassin oversees all Pasco County fire stations. (Brian Fernandes)

The ceremony marked the first addition of a new fire coverage area in Pasco County since 2009.

The fire station is situated within the Watergrass community, a residential area, which also includes a local elementary school.

The project comes in response to an increasing need for shorter wait times in that growing region of Wesley Chapel.

In his remarks, Fire Chief Scott Cassin talked about the amenities and advancements the new station will have.

The new 10,843-square-foot station will have a four-bay garage for trucks and supplies. It will have a kitchen and residential area, and a sheriff’s substation will be housed there, too.

The station will have a new call alert system that will be implemented to simultaneously dispatch numerous calls at the same time.

The installation of a Plymovent Diesel Exhaust Capture System will set Station 38 apart from other Pasco fire stations. The feature will lessen exposure to carcinogenic chemicals.

This is a customary image of the groundbreaking, taken at the Sept. 17 event, to mark the beginning of construction for Fire Station 38. From left: Erik Breitenbach, Manny Long, Michael Cassano, Scott Cassin, Andrew Fossa, Ron Oakley, Gary Joiner, Tait Sanborn and Todd Wyne.

“Station 38 will have atmospheric conditioning that will protect our firefighters from that gas,” said Deputy Chief Michael Cassano.

Going forward, existing and future stations in the county are planned to be equipped with the system.

Cassin has been visiting Pasco fire stations to get feedback on what improvements could be incorporated into Station 38.

“We’re trying to think long-term,” the chief said.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley offered a few words, too, before a customary snapshot was taken of shovels flinging dirt.

Station 38 has been four years in the making and will cost an estimated $3.6 million to build. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2019.

Published September 26, 2018

Wesley Chapel to get a new fire rescue station

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A new fire station in Wesley Chapel will replace an aging facility that has become inadequate to handle the needs of a growing population.

Pasco County’s Fire Rescue Station No. 13, off Old Pasco Road, is expected to open in January 2019. A groundbreaking was held in mid-March on the same day the Pasco County commissioners approved the construction contract of about $2.6 million.

Funding is partially from the Penny for Pasco program.

Construction is underway on a replacement fire station for Pasco County’s Fire Rescue Station No. 13, in Wesley Chapel. The station is expected to open in January. (Courtesy of Pasco County Fire Rescue)

In addition, Pasco purchased an adjacent property for about $467,000, according to county records.

The additional land was needed to accommodate a new fire station that, at about 9,400 square feet, will more than double the size of the old station at 27329 Dayflower Blvd.

The new station also will have space for a Pasco County Sheriff’s substation, where deputies will be able to write up reports, and conduct interviews.

The new station will have three drive-through bays and will be able to hold six fire vehicles. Currently, five firefighters and a battalion chief work each shift. But, the additional space means that eventually up to nine firefighters and one battalion chief could be accommodated.

Instead of dormitory-style sleeping quarters, individual bunkrooms will be provided.

There will be a larger kitchen, with individual pantries for each shift.

Firefighters will have an on-site fitness area, and a specialized washing system for their gear. Also, there will be customized gear lockers in a climate-controlled room.

For emergency calls at night, a “stumble light” system will automatically turn on lights at the fire station, as firefighters don their gear and board fire vehicles.

The station is modeled after Fire Rescue Station No. 30 at Little Road and Massachusetts Avenue, in western Pasco. In 2015, the station won Firehouse Magazine’s “Notable Architectural Design Award.”

Pasco County Fire Chief Scott Cassin said, “It’s essentially the same footprint and design.”

While the new station is under construction, the old station – built in the 1970s – remains operational, Cassin said. It will be torn down once its replacement is opened, he added.

“It’s really in a good location in the central part of the county,” said Cassin.

The area is also a high growth area for the county, with new residents arriving monthly.

Estimates show Pasco adds about 300 homes each month, Cassin said.

Pasco’s growth in all areas of the county is bringing challenges to county departments that deliver services to residents.

Fire rescue especially is called upon to respond to increasing numbers of emergency calls.

At budget workshops to prepare the 2019 draft budget, fire rescue officials noted that in 2017 firefighters responded to more than 71,000 such calls. Over the next eight years, those calls are expected to increase to 100,000 a year.

Much of that is due to overall population increases, but Cassin said other factors also add to the call volume, including Pasco’s aging population.

Lack of health insurance for some is also a factor, he said.

“A lot of people have dropped their health insurance and don’t get the medical care that they should,” Cassin said. They can wind up seeking medical attention when it becomes an emergency, he added.

“We’re seeing some of that,” he said.

As the county’s growth continues, Cassin said fire rescue is planning to expand its capabilities.

However, that comes at a cost to build new stations, increase personnel and add equipment.

In the general election on Nov. 6, voters will be asked to consider approval of four 30-year general bond referendums for the sheriff’s department, parks, libraries and fire rescue.

Over the life of the bond, if approved, fire rescue estimates collecting more than $70.2 million in revenues. About $2.2 million would cover costs of financing the bond, and leave fire rescue about $68 million for construction projects.

Funds would be used to build nine fire stations, including new ones and expanded or refurbished ones.

Four new stations would be located at Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52; State Road 52 and Majestic Parkway; Meadow Pointe, by State Road 56; and Bexley, off State Road 54.

In addition, five stations would be expanded and upgraded.

They would be at U.S. 41 and Central Boulevard; Seven Springs Boulevard; U.S. 19 and Cross Bayou Boulevard; Shady Hills; and, Crystal Springs.

Published August 8, 2018

Pasco names new assistant county administrator

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The Pasco County Commission has named Kevin Guthrie as an assistant county administrator for public safety.

The appointment took effect on June 12, and Guthrie will receive an annual salary of $135,000.

Guthrie had been serving as the county’s emergency services director.

Pasco County Assistant County Administrator for Public Safety Kevin Guthrie (File)

Commissioners promoted Guthrie during their June 6 meeting in Dade City, acting on a recommendation by County Administrator Dan Biles.

Since 2015, Pasco County Fire Chief Scott Cassin has served as acting assistant county administrator for public safety. Cassin now will return full-time to his position as fire chief.

Pasco County Emergency Manager Laura Black will be in charge of the Division of Emergency Management during non-disaster operations. Capt. Dan Olds, of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, will lead the Division of Public Safety Communications.

Former Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker hired Guthrie in 2016 as the county’s emergency management director. Within months, he was promoted to emergency services director.

“I’m excited about what we’ve accomplished in the emergency services department over the past year, and I look forward to leading the entire public safety team,” Guthrie said.

Guthrie served for 24 years as a law enforcement officer for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Duval County. He also served seven years as emergency preparedness coordinator.

He retired from law enforcement, but was Flagler County’s emergency management director for three years before his hire in Pasco.

Published June 14, 2017

Yes, that really is Hambone Way

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Motorists driving past Hambone Way in Wesley Chapel may do a double take.

Is that road really named Hambone Way?

Indeed, it is.

William ‘Hambone’ Hammond has a street named in his honor in Wesley Chapel, a community the firefighter has served for about 15 years. Hammond accepted the honor with humility, thanking countless people in the crowd for helping him along the way. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
William ‘Hambone’ Hammond has a street named in his honor in Wesley Chapel, a community the firefighter has served for about 15 years. Hammond accepted the honor with humility, thanking countless people in the crowd for helping him along the way.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The road was christened during a ceremony on Feb. 20 with a moniker that pays tribute to William “Hambone” Hammond, a firefighter who has worked for 15 years at Station 13, in the heart of an area known as Angus Valley.

The road bears Hammond’s nickname — the only name that many firefighters and paramedics know him by.

During the formal naming ceremony, Hammond was clearly touched by the gesture.

As he looked out into the crowd, he saw his mother, Betty Hammond, his brother, Mark, and other friends and relatives.

Members of the Greater Wesley Chamber of Commerce were there, too, to do a ribbon cutting.

And, Hammond saw scores of his other ‘family,’ too, the men and women who work for Pasco County Fire Rescue.

As he accepted the honor, he kept calling out names of people in the crowd — and even some that weren’t there — to thank them for the lessons they’ve taught him and the loyalty they’ve shown.

“I don’t feel worthy. You all are more worthy than me,” said Hammond, who is still an active firefighter.

“I do love that my name is up there — my nickname — and it does belong here in the valley,” he said. “I had plenty of opportunities to go to other stations. I’m part of Wesley Chapel, part of Angus Valley. It’s where my heart is.”

Firefighter/paramedic J.J. Martinez, who helped organize the event, said Hammond deserves recognition for his dedicated service.

“When one hears this nickname, you would think of a guy on Harley, riding down the road with a long beard,” Martinez said, during the naming ceremony.

But when employees at Station 13 hear Hambone’s name, “we see a dedicated, hardworking firefighter that will do anything for his fellow firefighters,” Martinez added.

For some people, “Hambone was a firefighter who was there, in their time of need,” Martinez said.

“I came to serve this area six years ago, at Station 13, and I’m reminded every day what being a true firefighter is all about, because of my partner, Hambone,” Martinez added.

“Many times in this job, we lose sight of what is most important and that is the people we help every day,” he said.

Another speaker, Captain David Garofalo, said “when I think of Hambone, one word immediately comes to mind, and that is ‘genuine.’ That man never ceases to amaze me. He takes friendships to a whole new level.”

“This street has been the no-name street for many years, and Hambone has been a part of this community for almost 15 years,” Garofalo said, so it seems fitting to name the street in Hambone’s honor.

“So many times, buildings, statues and streets are named posthumously after someone in their memory. I am glad, that as we name this today, that Hambone will be able to know how much he is appreciated and be a part of this community for many more years to come,” Garofalo said.

Pasco Rescue Fire Chief Scott Cassin congratulated Hammond.

“There couldn’t be a better person to have their name on that sign,” Cassin said.

On the drive over to the ceremony, Cassin said he talking about how streets get their names.

“It’s usually the developer that will put names up, and they name them after their kids. They’ll name them after presidents, or they’ll have some sort of naming convention.

“This is one sign that I know every time we drive by it, we’ll know how that street was named.”

Published February 25, 2015

Pasco Fire Rescue focuses on training this week

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Beginning Sunday, Pasco County Fire Rescue will participate in the 2014 International Fire/EMS Safety and Health Week, which aims to improve firefighter safety and health, and give all a better chance of survival during emergencies.

The week is a joint initiative of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and the National Volunteer Fire Council. During the week, fire departments around the world will take time to increase awareness and action so that safety and health become a priority in all fire departments.

“We fully value the important of pausing for a moment to reflect on the importance of firefighter safety and health issues,” Fire Chief Scott Cassin said, in a release.

This year’s theme is “Train Like You Fight,” focusing on a critical component of firefighter and emergency medical responder safety: training. This focuses on safety on the training ground and reduction of training-related injuries and death, and the importance of adequate training to prepare for safe, fire-ground operations.

Pasco County Fire Rescue provides critical, life-saving services, and must be ready to respond to all types of emergency and disasters, county officials said. The department is made up of 473 career personnel, and just over 200 volunteers that protect nearly 500,000 people in an area of 747 square miles.

Nationwide, 81,000 firefighters are injured each year, and it re-enforces the need for each responded to be prepared in every way when an emergency call comes in.

For more information on what Pasco County Fire Rescue is doing to improve its operations, call Andrew Fossa at (813) 929-2750, or email him at .

 

Parade of 400 choppers honor first responders

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It’s never too early in the morning to ride a motorcycle, especially when it’s all to say thank you to firefighters and emergency first responders.

Nearly 400 motorcycles showed up for this year’s Sept. 11 Gratitude Ride, sponsored by Pasco County Choppers to honor members of Pasco County’s Fire Rescue and raise money for its benevolent fund. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Nearly 400 motorcycles showed up for this year’s Sept. 11 Gratitude Ride, sponsored by Pasco County Choppers to honor members of Pasco County’s Fire Rescue and raise money for its benevolent fund. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

Some 400 cyclists showed up at the Pasco County Government Center on US 41 Saturday to participate in the annual Sept. 11 Gratitude Ride.

The event, organized by local Realtor Dan Turner and his wife Cheryl, is a way these chopper enthusiasts honor members of Pasco County Fire Rescue, and raise money for the Pasco County Fire Benevolent Fund.

“Make no mistake about it, this is a 9/11 event,” Turner told the crowd during a short ceremony. “It has been 12 years. Can you believe it? Unfortunately a lot of people have forgotten all about it, and we just want to make sure everybody remembers.”

The Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks killed 412 emergency workers in New York City alone, all of them trying to rescue people from the World Trade Center after each tower was struck by a commercial jetliner.

But it’s not just during terrorist attacks they put their lives on the line. This year alone, 79 firefighters have lost their lives in the line of duty, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. Between 1977 and 2011, there have been 4,325 on-duty firefighter fatalities — an average of 127 each year.

The Benevolent Fund raises money not for equipment or vehicles, but instead to help members of the Pasco County Fire Rescue when they may need a little financial assistance.

“They are the ones that always say it’s just a job, but we all know they run into danger as we are running away from it,” Turner told The Laker/Lutz News last month.

“As we reflect back on that horrible day back in September 2001, we remember all the public safety personnel (who) were affected,” said Pasco County Fire Chief Scott Cassin. “They were doing everything they do every day: saving lives and saving property.”

Pasco County Choppers, which hosted the event, said nearly $4,900 was raised for the local benevolent fund, more than double what was raised last year. Even winners of the poker run, a fun event to encourage motorcyclists to visit multiple locations, gave a little back.

“Winners of the poker run reverted nearly all of the money they won back to the cause,” Turner said in an email after the event. “Once again (it shows) that the biker community is there for those that lay their lives on the line for us, every single day of the year.”