Alachua County Fire Rescue

Last week, ACFR sponsored eight members of our TRT team to travel to Bradenton, Florida, to participate in the Swiftwater Urban Flood Rescue class hosted by Team BlackSheep TRT.

This is a hands-on class that blends water rescue, technical rope skills and flood specific operations that prepares responders to handle both urban flood and swiftwater safely and effectively.
Great job to everyone who participated! 👏👏

Congratulations to Peakload Paramedic Shalina Patel on successfully completing her 1 year of probation at ACFR!! As a token of our appreciation, she received a brand new pair of tactical trauma shears!👏👏🚑🚑

🎉🚒 **Congratulations to Paramedic Brittany Posey!** 🚒🎉

She proudly celebrates 5 years of dedicated service at Alachua County Fire Rescue! Brittany is currently a paramedic on our Mobile Integrated Health team. Here’s to many more years of success and service! 🚒🔥

🎉🚒 **Congratulations to Fire Prevention Officer Chip Ware!** 🚒🎉

He proudly celebrates 5 years of dedicated service at Alachua County Fire Rescue in our Prevention office. Here’s to many more years of success and service! 🚒🔥

📚 Today, Captain Jennifer Allee was invited to read to 3 classes at Newberry Community School as part of their Read-a-thon! Running from September 14–25, this event is all about igniting a passion for reading. They read the book “I want to be a firefighter” and talked about fire safety in their homes. 🚒🚑

Today, we honored a profound moment in history as ACFR, alongside numerous agencies, climbed 110 flights at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium. This tribute commemorates the 25th anniversary of 9/11, a day that forever changed our nation and the world.

With each step, we reflected on the bravery and sacrifice of those who served and continue to serve. It’s a powerful reminder of unity, resilience, and the enduring spirit of community. Together, we remember the lives lost, the heroes who emerged, and the strength that binds us.

Thank you to everyone who joined us in this tribute. Let’s continue to carry forward the legacy of compassion and courage. ❤️🇺🇸 🇺🇸🗽❤️🇺🇸

🎉 **Congratulations to Cheryl Ellis!** 🎉

Today, we celebrate **30 incredible years** of dedication and excellence from our Assistant Director of Finance and Administration, Cheryl Ellis, at Alachua County Fire Rescue!

Cheryl has been an invaluable asset to our department, playing a pivotal role in:

- **Annual Budget Development & Management**: Ensuring our resources are allocated efficiently.
- **Purchasing Functions**: Overseeing all procurement activities.
- **Expenditure Monitoring**: Keeping our finances in check.
- **Grant & Contract Coordination**: Securing vital funding for our operations.
- **Accounts Payable & Payroll Functions**: Managing financial transactions seamlessly.

Thank you, Cheryl, for the positive impact you’ve made on our team and the community. Here’s to many more years of success together! 🚒💖