- November 27, 2024
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Residents, with vivid memories of the wildfire disaster in 1998, are well aware of the hard work of the firefighters in the community.
Many firefighters have had to work overtime this summer, sometimes in shifts of 36 hours on and 36 hours off, to help keep the 5,000-acre Espanola fire and others under control.
“Most all of our department as well as the county, Flagler Beach and Bunnell firefighters were gone (from home) more than usual,” Palm Coast Fire Chief Mike Beadle said via email. “We just wanted to say thanks for the support the community has given all of us."
“We had citizens donating water, food, cooking for the crews and even had one woman bring pizza and drinks to Seminole Woods on her way home from work,” Beadle continued. “She said she wanted to help and thought of food! Go figure — food and firefighters!
“We asked for towels so the crews could soak them in cold water and cool themselves down, and wow, did we get towels. Granola bars were very plentiful. Families in the areas of the fires would bring drinks to the crews daily. These stories could go on and on.
“We were so moved by the massive reaction from our citizens,” Beadle said in an official release. “Feeling such tremendous support made our enormous task so much more meaningful.”
The release from the city of Palm Coast also reminded residents that firefighters in Palm Coast provide free blood pressure screenings and car seat safety checks at all of their station locations. The department will also co-host the city’s upcoming disaster preparedness seminar (a date to be determined soon).
