Latest news with #SouthWaltonFireDistrict
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Junior Lifeguard Program returns to South Walton
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Every summer, the South Walton Fire District Junior Lifeguard Program makes its return to teach lifeguarding skills to young recruits. For Summer 2025, the program will begin on Thursday with approximately 200 participants aged 9 to 16 years old. According to a news release, SWFD Beach Safety staff will train four groups in skills such as open water swimming, CPR and first aid, conducting water rescues, rip current identification, drowning prevention, beach warning flag comprehension, and more. Firefighters work together to control structure fire in Walton County 'Juniors fits the mold on why we matter for this community and shows how far we have come in creating longevity for ourselves in 20 seasons of operations,' SWFD Beach Safety Director David Vaughan said. The program creates a pipeline for participating Juniors to become professional lifeguards once they turn 17. Further information and photos will be released once the program is underway. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
South Walton Fire District puts new fire engine into service
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – Engine 6 is the South Walton Fire District's first fire engine put into service within the past 25 years. The $661,000 engine will help provide better service on the east end of the beaches. 'We've added ambulances over the years. But as this community has continued to grow out here, the exponential growth we're seeing along the eastern portion of our county is really requiring us to be focused on this,' Fire Chief Administrator Ryan Crawford said. The station serves Seagrove Beach, Watercolor, Seaside, and Grayton Beach. Over the past 4 years, Fire Station-1 has seen a 62% increase in calls. That's proven to be challenging at times. 'You know, one of the challenges we have is what we refer to as concurrency, where not one call happens and the engine that's here is tied up on a call,' Crawford said. When several Inlet beach emergency calls occurred at once, a second truck from the Watercolor Station would respond, increasing response time to about 15 minutes. WCFR becomes second in state to earn Gold Tier Pediatric Readiness Recognition Engine 6 will be the second truck located at Station 1 and will put them much closer. 'The national standard is 8 minutes or less. 90% of the time, that requires us to put three engines, a battalion chief, and two ambulances, all at a given location, but it's hard to assemble all at one given place. So this is going to immediately allow us to fill that gap along this eastern portion much, much faster,' Crawford said. The fire engine isn't the only new thing. 'We actually hired nine firefighters to put this truck in service. So we have a minimum of three firefighters per shift that will be on this truck,' Crawford continued. The South Walton Fire District is in the process of building a new station near Serenoa Road, between stations 1 and 2. Once it is completed, it will become the new home for Fire Engine 6. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Walton County OKs memorial for 3 men killed in 2004 AirHeart One crash
SANTA ROSA BEACH — A new memorial will be built at Thomas Pilcher Park in honor of the crew of AirHeart One, following a directive from the Walton County Board of County Commissioners on April 22. The memorial will be constructed in collaboration with the South Walton Fire District. The tribute is to recognize Tom Palcic, pilot; Jack Chase, flight nurse; and Robert Heighton, paramedic, who lost their lives in a helicopter crash on Oct. 20, 2004. On that night, AirHeart One took off from the Walton County Sheriff's Office heliport in Santa Rosa Beach to transport a patient to Pensacola. Shortly after takeoff, Heighton reported that the crew would return because of poor weather conditions. That was the last communication heard from the helicopter. At 6:10 a.m., a relief pilot reported the crew missing, and by 8:20 a.m., wreckage was found in Choctawhatchee Bay. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the crash was caused by the pilot's disorientation in instrument meteorological conditions, resulting in a fatal loss of control. South Walton Fire District Chief Ryan Crawford addressed county commissioners, reflecting on the 21-year anniversary of the crash. "We are here to ask for your support to recognize these three men and their service to this community," he said. Commissioner Tony Anderson, who brought the issue to the board, confirmed that the South Walton Fire District's budget would cover the cost of the memorial. Commissioner Danny Glidewell asked whether it could be completed by October, the 21st anniversary of the crash. Crawford and Fire Marshal Sammy Sanchez told the board that they aim to finish it by then. Crawford added that the memorial's cost could reach $8,000. Anderson and Commissioner Dan Curry pledged to contribute from their discretionary funds if additional funding is needed. The board will approve the final plans and funding at a later date. This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Walton County OKs memorial for fallen crew of AirHeart One
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New lifeguard services launch at WaterColor Beach
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. — Beachgoers in WaterColor will see new faces on the sand starting Tuesday, as the South Walton Fire District (SWFD) officially launches professional beach lifeguard services in partnership with the WaterColor Community Homeowners Association. The multi-year agreement, fully funded by the WaterColor Community Association, ensures daily lifeguard coverage from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended hours during peak periods and hazardous surf conditions. The initiative aims to strengthen beach safety in an area previously without on-site lifeguard presence. 'Our partnership with SWFD allows us to elevate the safety and well-being of both residents and guests enjoying WaterColor's beaches,' said Jacob Marshall, Executive Director of the WaterColor Community Association. 'We're grateful for the SWFD's professionalism and leadership, both in forming this partnership and in their ongoing efforts that make a lifesaving impact across our county.' The new WaterColor towers are part of a broader expansion this season, with SWFD adding three new towers since the 2025 Beach Safety Season began on March 1, bringing the district's total to 17. 'Another community has come on-board recognizing the positive impact lifeguards can have,' said David Vaughan, SWFD Beach Safety Director. 'This community is giving us the opportunity to increase our footprint, provide better education, and improve response times. It's even sweeter this year to see these additional towers come to fruition as we are celebrating our 20th Season of Beach Safety in South Walton.' Beach safety officials are encouraging all visitors to familiarize themselves with South Walton's beach flag warning system and to heed posted safety guidelines. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
South Walton Fire District and Seaside team up for beach lifeguard services
WALTON COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – South Walton Fire District and SEASIDE®are proud to announce their partnership to provide beach lifeguard services for SEASIDE®homeowners and vacation guests beginning March 11, 2025. SWFD officials said the contractual agreement for services was finalized following discussions between the two entities about the need for enhancing beach safety within SEASIDE® after the closure of the Van Ness Butler Regional Beach Access in 2024. Sheriff's offices on high alert for potential spring break events 'The closure unfortunately created a three-mile gap between our lifeguard towers in SeagroveBeach and Grayton Beach,' said SWFD Fire Chief Ryan Crawford. 'SEASIDE® has stepped upto provide its residents and visitors with lifeguard protection, which allows us to more effectivelyprevent and respond to emergencies in an area with a historically high call volume.' The beach will be staffed every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the 2025 Beach Safety Season, which includes extended hours during peak times. 'Our goal is to provide peace of mind for everyone who enjoys our beaches, knowing thatprofessional lifeguards are on duty to keep them safe,' said Kevin Boyle, Seaside CommunityDevelopment Corp. General Manager. 'I have the utmost respect for Beach Safety DirectorDavid Vaughan, Fire Chief Ryan Crawford, and Fire Marshal Sammy Sanchez for theirunwavering dedication to protecting our community. Their leadership has been instrumental inmaking this agreement possible, and we are grateful for their partnership. We also applaud AlysBeach, Rosemary Beach, Sandestin, and others for paving the way with similar agreements,setting a strong precedent for proactive beach safety measures across our region.' For more information, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
