Haines City Fire Department

In the thrilling season finale of "Through the Smoke," we return to one of the channel's most popular crews, B-Shift at Station 1. Join us for an exclusive, in-depth look at the department's annual extrication training—an essential rescue skill that proved crucial during a recent major vehicle versus semi-truck accident. This episode showcases the team's exceptional skills and unwavering dedication as they respond to a series of high-stakes emergencies, including a major multi-plex fire, a brush fire in a subdevelopment, a pediatric cardiac arrest, and a false alarm at a commercial plant that leads to an important building awareness walkthrough for the crew. Featuring candid and insightful interviews with Lieutenants Michael Ferguson and AJ Aponte, alongside Probationary Firefighters Clifford Stewart and Justin Keene, this episode provides a fascinating glimpse into the lives of our brave first responders and those new to the team. Don't miss this action-packed and heartfelt conclusion to the season, celebrating the resilience, camaraderie, and dedication of the Haines City Fire Department. #HainesCity #HainesCityFire #Firefighting #ThroughTheSmoke #Firefighter #StationLife #Documentary #Docuseries #FireVideos #Training #StructureFire

𝗛𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗽𝗼𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗥𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝘄𝘆 𝟭𝟳-𝟵𝟮: 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗩𝗲𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗹𝗲𝘀 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲𝗱 At approximately 3:24 p.m. yesterday, the Haines City Police Department responded to a significant traffic accident involving multiple vehicles at the intersection of Highway 17-92 and Highway 27. The incident, caused by erratic driving, led to the closure of the westbound lanes and required a coordinated response from both police and fire services. The driver, operating a 2022 Ram truck eastbound on Highway 17-92, lost control of his vehicle, crossed the median into oncoming traffic, and caused a chain-reaction collision. The vehicle first struck a 2011 Toyota, then collided with a 2016 Chevy pickup truck towing a trailer. The truck sideswiped a 2022 Dodge Stratus before flipping over and coming to a stop on its roof, blocking all westbound lanes. Debris from the crash also damaged a 2003 Ford. The Haines City Fire Department’s Engine 2 and Battalion Chief 1 arrived on the scene, finding two vehicles with significant damage. Contrary to initial reports, the driver was not entrapped in his truck but sustained injuries and was transported to a local trauma center. Another driver involved in the accident was treated for minor injuries and transported to a local hospital by Polk County Fire Rescue. “Today’s incident underscores the dangers of reckless driving,” said Police Chief Greg Goreck. “Our officers responded rapidly to ensure the safety of all involved and to reopen the road as quickly as possible. We remind all drivers to stay vigilant when driving as you never know when an incident like this may occur.” Fire Chief Drew Neubrand highlighted the prompt response and coordination of the crews on scene. “Our firefighters worked seamlessly with Polk County Fire Rescue and Haines City Police Department to manage the chaotic scene and provide immediate medical attention to those involved. The efficiency and professionalism displayed today ensured that the situation was handled swiftly and safely.” The driver of the 2022 Ram Truck has been cited for careless driving and driving on the wrong side of the road. Three out of the five vehicles involved were towed from the scene due to severe damage. The Haines City Police Department continues to investigate the incident. #HainesCity #HainesCityPolice #HainesCityFire #CarAccident #NewsRelease

Last week, the Haines City Fire Department, along with our colleagues at the police department, gathered for a memorable evening at our annual Public Safety Awards Banquet. This special event was dedicated to recognizing the outstanding dedication and achievements of our brave personnel. We proudly honored many of our heroes with accolades such as the Meritorious Service Medals and Life Saving Awards. Special congratulations to this year's Firefighter of the Year and Police Officer of the Year for their exceptional service! We were honored to have Congressman Scott Franklin as our guest speaker, providing inspirational words for our dedicated teams. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible sponsors for making this event possible: Advent Health Heart of Florida, Balmoral Resort Florida, Lens Lock, BayCare, Carvana, Polk Sheriff's Charities, Ten-8 Fire & Safety, Walmart Distribution Center 6071, and Motorola. Your support is invaluable. Our gratitude extends to the city commissioners and department heads whose presence and support enhance our efforts to serve the community. Special thanks to El Zocalo for the wonderful catering, Simply Glory Cupcakes & P3 Celebrates for the delectable desserts, and Tameka O’Hara from New Destiny Events for transforming our venue into a beautiful setting. Together, we are committed to keeping Haines City a safer and stronger community. Thank you to all who continue to support our mission! #HainesCity #HainesCityFire #HainesCityPolice #PublicSafetyAwards #CommunityHeroes

We are thrilled to see our very own Lt. A.J. Aponte featured in the Four Corners Sun! Lt. Aponte's heartfelt story is a testament to the compassion and dedication of the Haines City Fire Department. From an accident victim receiving a stuffed elephant himself to now giving other children that same sense of security, Lt. Aponte's journey is truly inspiring. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗮 𝗴𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆: "A fireman took me over to the sidewalk with my mother and gave me a stuffed elephant,” Lt. Aponte recalls. “I slept with that thing for weeks afterward.” Read the full article to learn more about how Lt. Aponte and our firefighters continue to provide comfort to children in distress with plush toys donated by the wonderful Jayne Hall. Thank you, Lt. Aponte, Jayne Hall, and all our firefighters, for your incredible work and compassion. Article: https://lnkd.in/gKVXN7wD #HainesCity #HainesCityFire #CommunityHeroes #FourCornersSun

The Haines City Fire Department was honored to participate in this year's Juneteenth Parade, organized by the Haines City Juneteenth Heritage Coalition! It was an incredible day of celebration, unity, and community pride. We are immensely grateful to the city officials, department directors, police department, and all the community members who contributed to making this event a success. Your dedication and support were truly inspiring. Participating in the Juneteenth Parade was a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with our community and celebrate our shared heritage. We look forward to continuing to serve and protect our community with pride and dedication. #Juneteenth #HainesCity #HainesCityFire #CommunityPride #ThankYou

Join us in honoring the remarkable 20-year career of Driver/Engineer David Borawski which has ended today with his retirement! This special featurette includes his full interview from Through the Smoke, where Dave shares his experiences, insights, and memorable moments as a beloved member of the Haines City Fire Department. Witness his journey from his first day to his last call over the radio. From all of us at the Haines City Fire Department, thank you, Dave, for your two decades of dedicated service. You will be greatly missed, and we wish you all the best in your retirement! #HainesCity #HainesCityFire #BeyondTheSmoke #ThroughTheSmoke #Retirement #LastCall #FirefighterTribute #DavidBorawski

Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look with C-Shift at Station 2 of the Haines City Fire Department in this engaging episode of "Through the Smoke." Experience the unique blend of everyday routines and unusual emergencies that our dedicated firefighters handle with skill and compassion. Witness the team in action as they respond to an unconscious patient in a vehicle at Walmart, assist a fall patient involving a vehicle, and aid a disoriented, unconscious individual inside Walmart. Dive into some of the stranger calls they encounter, and learn about the importance of exercise, mental health, and balancing parenthood in this demanding profession. Featuring in-depth interviews with Lieutenant Dalton Sloan, Driver Engineer Garret Stafford, and Firefighter/EMT Letty Gonzalez, this episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of our brave first responders. 🚒 Watch More Through the Smoke Episodes: https://lnkd.in/dmRFQ-2c 👨🚒 Subscribe to Haines City Public Safety Channel: https://lnkd.in/eCFDuTvk If you are interested in applying to become a firefighter with HCFD, click the link below. https://lnkd.in/ePGYUeYb #HainesCity #HainesCityFire #Firefighting #ThroughTheSmoke #UnconsciousPatient #MentalHealth #ParentingInFirefighting #StrangerCalls

This Thursday marks the last shift for our charismatic Driver Engineer Dave Borawski, who is retiring from Haines City Fire Department after nearly 20 years of dedicated service. To honor Dave and all the wonderful memories he's created with us, the crew got together this past Saturday for a heartfelt celebration with friends and family. During the surprise party, Fire Chief Drew Neubrand presented Dave with a commemorative plaque, a small token of our immense gratitude for his incredible contributions to our city and department. Thank you, Dave, for your unwavering commitment and the lasting impact you've made. Enjoy your well-deserved retirement and happy fishing! #HainesCity #HainesCityFire #Retirement #ThankYouDave

Earlier this morning, Haines City Fire Department responded to a major vehicle accident at the intersection of US 27 and SR 544. The incident, which involved a four-door passenger vehicle and a semi-truck, resulted in significant traffic disruptions and a medical evacuation. At approximately 3:52 AM, Haines City Battalion Chief 1 and Haines City Engine 2 were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered that a passenger vehicle had crashed into the rear of a semi-truck in the middle southbound lane of US 27. The impact caused the vehicle’s hood to become lodged underneath the truck, heavily entrapping the lone occupant. Due to the severity of the situation, Haines City Battalion Chief 1 promptly requested additional support from Haines City Engine 1 and Polk County Fire Rescue Tower 33. The roadway was shut down to facilitate rescue operations, with all three lanes of southbound US 27 and northbound travel being closed to allow for the arrival of Aeromed 5. Polk County Fire Rescue Medic Rescue 30 assessed the occupant and declared an adult male trauma alert. Haines City Engine 1 established a landing zone at the scene for Aeromed 5, which was dispatched to transport the patient. Crews from Haines City and Polk County Fire Rescue worked diligently for approximately 45 minutes to extricate the patient from the vehicle. Upon successful extrication, primary patient care was provided by PCFR Medic Rescue 30 before being transferred to Aeromed 5. The patient was then medevacked to a regional medical center for further treatment. “Our firefighters and rescue teams displayed extraordinary courage and precision in the early hours of this morning,” said Fire Chief Drew Neubrand. “In the face of a complex and dangerous situation, their quick actions and seamless coordination with our partners ensured that the patient received the critical care needed. This incident is a testament to the unwavering dedication and professionalism of our team and the importance of our collaborative efforts in safeguarding our community.” The Polk County Sheriff’s Office was the investigative agency on the scene and took over the investigation once the immediate rescue operations concluded. The scene was officially turned over to PCSO, and normal traffic flow was gradually restored following the reopening of southbound and northbound travel. #HainesCity #HainesCityFire #Firefighting #Extrication #VehicleAccident

This Asian-American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we honor the incredible contributions of Driver/Engineer Nathanael Tinaya within the Haines City Fire Department. Nathanael shared his thoughts on what this month means to him, the influences that shaped his life, and his journey in fire service. 𝗤: Who has been a significant role model or influence in your life, and how have they impacted you? "𝙄 𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨, 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙖𝙡𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙤𝙧, 𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮, 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙨, 𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙡 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙪𝙧𝙚𝙨. 𝘽𝙪𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙞𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙧, 𝙄 𝙖𝙙𝙢𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙢𝙮 𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙨𝙚𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙮 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 (𝘼𝙢𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙥𝙞𝙣𝙤) 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙄 𝙖𝙢 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙖𝙧 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙜𝙜𝙡𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨. 𝙒𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠, 𝙙𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙞𝙥𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙚, 𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙡𝙤𝙮𝙖𝙡𝙩𝙮, 𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚, 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙩𝙪𝙙𝙚, 𝙄 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙢𝙮 𝙛𝙖𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙮." 𝗤: What advice would you give to young individuals from the Asian Pacific Islander community who aspire to join firefighting? "𝘿𝙤 𝙞𝙩! 𝙄𝙛 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙘𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙖𝙨𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙖 𝙣𝙤𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙪𝙞𝙩. 𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥, 𝙄 𝙤𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙣 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙨𝙞𝙙𝙚𝙧, 𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙪𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙧, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙄 𝙙𝙞𝙙𝙣’𝙩 “𝙛𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙣.” 𝙄’𝙫𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩’𝙨 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮. 𝙄 𝙙𝙤𝙣’𝙩 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙚𝙡𝙨𝙚. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙤 𝙮𝙤𝙪. 𝙄𝙩’𝙨 𝙤𝙠𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 “𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙚” 𝙤𝙧 “𝙙𝙞𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙩” 𝙤𝙧 “𝙪𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙡,” 𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙞𝙗𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙨𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙫𝙚, 𝙖𝙙𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙫𝙖𝙡𝙪𝙚, 𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙙, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙙𝙤𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙." Thank you, Driver/Engineer Nathanael Tinaya, for sharing your story and for your unwavering commitment to our community. Your dedication and service inspire us all. Happy Asian-American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month! #HainesCity #HainesCityFire #AAPIMonth #AAPIHM