Pace Fire Rescue District (PFRD) held a pinning ceremony, April 5th, welcoming aboard the new firefighters hired under the Support Alliance for Emergency Readiness (SAFER) grant, along with PFRD’s new Battalion Chief Robert Whitfield. PFRD also pinned Jason Morris to the rank of Lieutenant. PFRD also recognized volunteer firefighter Bryan Pitts for passing his Firefighter 1 Certification. Chief Financial Officer Lee Pitts, Bryan's father, said, "It's something he's always wanted to do." Pitts also said, "Bryan is probably the youngest firefighter in Santa Rosa County, probably the youngest in all three districts." Bryan Pitts is a senior at Pace High School and also a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) member, according to his father.
Pitts also said PFRD is now officially 24-hour advanced life support (ALS) ready. He said the SAFER grant meant PFRD could hire a third paramedic, which means all 24 hours are covered and a 75/25 grant from the state of Florida paid for two LP15s, devices capable of providing life-saving first-aid
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Pace Fire welcomes new firefighters