The
Zephyrhills
Fire
Department
is
a
combination
Career/Volunteer
Department
with
21
career
and
20
volunteer
positions
at
the
present
time.
The
department
operates
15
pieces
of
equipment,
5
pumpers,
3
medical
units
with
on
board
air
cascade
system,
command
communications,
exterior
lighting
capabilities,
and
a
full
compliment
of
extrication
equipment
including
hydraulics,
hand,
and
pneumatic.
We
currently
cover
32
square
miles
which
consists
of
city
limits
and
contracted
taxing
districts.
We
are
located
on
east
side
of
Pasco
County
on
the
west
coast
in
the
State
of
Florida.
The
area
which
is
covered
by
this
department
is
a
mix
of
light
industry,
rural
residential
housing,
including
143
mobile
home
parks,
and
a
variety
of
agricultural
interests.
Statistics
and
Manning
In
1996,
we
responded
to
calls
for
assistance
3214
times
with
730
calls
for
fire
related
services
and
2484
calls
for
medical
assistance.
The
typical
shift
consists
of
6
career
personnel,
a
shift
officer,
driver,
and
four
firefighters,
working
a
24
hour
shift
with
4
administrative
personnel
on
duty
from
8am
to
5pm.
The
volunteers
are
on
an
on-call
basis
and
respond
as
directed
during
emergencies
to
augment
the
career
staff.
The
department
and
the
volunteer
organization
sponsor
a
variety
of
service
programs
to
serve
the
community
as
well
as
support
the
daily
operations
within
the
department.
The
Senior
Volunteer
Program
In
1995,
the
Department,
faced
with
a
restrictive
budget
and
an
ever
increasing
demand
for
services
found
in
the
community
a
group
of
retired
persons
with
the
willingness
to
support
the
fire
department's
goals
by
volunteering
their
time
to
assist
in
staff
operations
such
as
answering
phones,
data
entry,
and
other
clerical
duties
and
support
functions
such
as
hydrant
flowing
and
maintenance,
repairs
and
maintenance
to
the
stations,
and
hose
testing
to
name
a
few.
These
are
persons
who
have
worked
in
many
fields
during
their
career
years
and
still
desire
to
stay
active
in
the
community.
We
have
found
a
wealth
of
knowledge
and
ability
in
this
group
of
people
and
with
the
growth
of
their
numbers
in
the
department,
we
plan
to
expand
the
program
further
such
as
the
addition
of
a
community
blood
pressure
program.
Though
not
a
new
idea,
this
provides
a
method
to
staff
the
program
without
causing
a
strain
on
other
areas.
We
are
always
looking
for
additional
persons
interested
in
participation.
The
Explorer
Post
The
Zephyrhills
Fire
Department
in
co-operation
with
the
Volunteer
Fire-Rescue
Squad
operates
a
Boy
Scout
Post-Explorer
Division.
The
post
members
are
both
male
and
female
ages
14
through
18.
At
18
they
may
pursue
volunteer
membership.
All
of
the
members
of
the
post
are
trained
in
CPR,
First
Aid,
dispatching
procedures,
and
basic
firefighting
techniques
which
are
required
for
advancement
within
the
post
rank
structure.
The
member
after
completing
a
departmentally
designed
course,
which
includes
firefighting
skills
and
tactics,
authorization,
which
allows
the
member
to
ride
and
participate
in
various
emergency
operations.
We
feel
that
if
a
member
stays
with
the
post
and
continues
to
show
the
required
proficiencies,
we
have
the
best
possible
candidate
to
apply
for
a
career
position.
We
have
several
career
personnel
who
were
some
of
the
first
members
of
the
post
and
have
attained
various
ranks
within
the
Department.
For
more
information
of
the
post
contact
the
Fire
Department.
The
Volunteer
Fire-Rescue
Service
This
organization
was
formed
in
1972
out
of
a
need
to
establish
a
rescue
service
which
could
augment
the
fire
department
with
man
power
and
equipment
primarily
for
rescue
services
which
were
not
available
from
within
the
area.
The
organization
originally
responded
in
a
coverage
area
exceeding
80
square
miles,
this
area
has
been
reduced
as
these
services
were
provided
by
other
organized
departments.
Funding
for
the
organization
is
through
donations
with
the
initial
responding
personnel
being
provided
by
the
Fire
Department
for
a
more
rapid
response.
