Firefighters, Police Risk All To Rescue People From House Fire During Hurricane Sally
September 20, 2020
As Hurricane Sally made landfall and brought 100+ mph winds and torrential rainfall to the Pensacola area, Pensacola Fire Department dispatch received a desperate call for help in the early morning hours of Wednesday, Sept. 16.
A house was on fire, and two residents were standing on their porch in the middle of a hurricane to escape the flames. Another resident was still inside the home.
Like other first responders in the area, Pensacola Fire Department was temporarily not responding to calls due to unsafe conditions from Hurricane Sally – but they couldn’t let this one go.
“In our line of work, when something like that comes in, that’s when it’s go time for us,” Pensacola Fire Battalion Chief Charles Walters said. “We’re willing to risk everything, so we made the call to go ahead and send companies and respond. Because had we not responded, it might have been a horrible thing – so we risked everything in a storm.”
As Engine 1 and Engine 2 made their way through the horrendous weather conditions to get to the fire at a residence on Ninth Avenue, Pensacola Police Department Sgt. James Daniels heard the same call from dispatch while staging at Pensacola International Airport during the hurricane. Like Pensacola Fire Department, Sgt. Daniels made the decision to respond.
“We were told the same thing, that we were only responding for life or death, and it was going to be based on a hard call and a decision of the supervisors based on the conditions,” Sgt. Daniels said. “I made the call to have myself and my officer go out there…I would rather push through the weather and get to them than to not be able to help.”
The hurricane conditions presented many obstacles as PFD and PPD drove to the house fire, only able to drive about 25 mph at times due to low visibility and wind speeds.
“The wind was pushing you over, the rain was coming down sideways and the streets were flooded,” Pensacola Fire Captain Jarrod Gruber said. “Like you can imagine right in the middle of a hurricane, it was pitch black and the streets were covered in downed trees, power lines, you name it.”
Despite the dangerous conditions, Sgt. Daniels said all three PPD officers and two airport officers who were with him at the airport were eager to respond to the call.
“They literally all were ready and falling behind me, and I told them some of them had to stay,” Sgt. Daniels said. “Our C shift I’m assigned to, that group of officers and the city as a whole, we have a lot of young officers. Well you can tell they’re definitely doing this job and this career for the right reasons – and it shows there, because you have to hold them back and tell them not to go, they’re so eager to help.”
When first responders made it to the residence, flames and smoke were visible, and they were told one resident was still inside.
Firefighters were able to get the individual safely out of the home and extinguish the fire, keeping it contained in the garage where it started. Sgt. Daniels and PPD Officer Wayne Berthiaume transported the three residents to the Pensacola Bay Center shelter to take refuge from the storm.
Pensacola Fire Department and Pensacola Police Department both attributed the successful response to the great teamwork between everyone involved.
“It was definitely two city divisions coming to help out someone else,” Battalion Chief Walters said. “We couldn’t have done it without them.”
Pensacola Fire Chief Ginny Cranor said she was incredibly impressed with the response by her team, along with PPD, who all put their lives on the line to ensure the safety of others.
“I’m so proud of them,” Chief Cranor said. “Their training and preparation as firefighters – and sheer humanity – were on full display. These guys left their own families, not knowing what Sally was going to do, and saved others. It is truly inspiring.”
Pensacola Police Chief Tommi Lyter echoed Chief Cranor’s sentiments.
“I can’t emphasize enough how much I appreciate our officers and their willingness to risk their lives every day for people they’ve never met,” Chief Lyter said. “Stories like this are a testament to the dedication and selflessness of our first responders in the City of Pensacola, and I’m so proud of their dedication and willingness to make sacrifices every day to protect and serve our citizens.”
Mayor Grover Robinson agreed, also expressing his gratitude to everyone involved.
“Heroic stories like this happen every day in the City of Pensacola, but we don’t always get the opportunity to hear about them or recognize those who put their lives in danger to save others,” Mayor Robinson said. “I’m so proud of and thankful for the Pensacola Fire Department and Pensacola Police Department for their selfless actions during this call and many other calls like it where lives have been saved thanks to their dedication. I truly appreciate their service and commitment to keeping our city safe.”
Over 1,500 Cases Of Water Distributed At Cantonment Church On Saturday
September 20, 2020
Over 1,500 cases of water were distributed Saturday at Pinewood Presbyterian Church in Cantonment. The water was provided by Michelle Salzman, Pinewoods Presbyterian and the Lewis Bear Company. Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Escambia County Commision Honors State Champion 4-H Meat Judging Teams
September 14, 2020
The Escambia County Commission recently honored the members of two Escambia County 4-H Meat Judging teams that won state champinships.
The Escambia County 4-H Meat Judging Team won the senior division state championship. Team members are Jessica Conti, Hannah Thorne, Ethan Thorne and Chad Sasser.
Conti was also the over high scoring individual with three teams and 11 individuals competing in the virtual state competition held last Saturday.
Other top placing individuals included Hannah Thorne in second, Ethan Thorne in third and Sasser in 10th place.
Escambia County also brought home the state championship in the intermediate division of the contest as the sole competing team, with team members Tucker Padgett, Gracie Meredith, Alan Bray Crews and Abigail Bray Crews.
As state champions, the Escambia County teams earned the right to represent Florida in the National 4-H Meat Judging Contest at the American Royal Association in Kansas City, Missouri, in October.
SRSO’s New Bloodhound Puppy Has A Name. And It Is…
September 12, 2020
The new Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office K-9 bloodhound puppy has a name.
Over 8,200 entries were submitted in the SRSO “Name Our K-9″ contest.
And the winner is….. K-9 Nez.
Nez is French for the word nose, which is the reason why bloodhounds are so good at what they do. The name was submitted by Jo Morgan who will have an upcoming opportunity to meet Nez.
Escambia Commission Honors Molino Teen For Saving Lives Of Her Family From House Fire
September 10, 2020
The Escambia County Commission recently honored a Molino teen for saving the life of her family from a fire that destroyed their home on Crabtree Church Road.
Destany McKim, 14, saved her mother and grandmother from the fire about 12:30 a.m. on January 25, 2019.
Destany, who was 12 at the time of the fire, said she was up late doing homework, and smelled a little smoke. At first, she thought her mother was cooking.
“As soon as I looked over at the living room, the extension cord just burst into flames,” Destany told NorthEscambia.com. She immediately went to wake her mom and grandmother as the house began to fill with dark smoke.
“My mom is a smoker, so she didn’t smell the smoke. It didn’t wake her up, and my grandmother wears a CPAP machine, so couldn’t have smelled it,” she said. There were no working smoke alarms in the home.
As she got her mother and grandmother out of the home, she had the forethought to close the doors to slow the spread of the fire. Her grandmother went back in with a fire extinguisher, but the flames spread rapidly.
“It just spread everywhere, and the windows had just burst.” She worked to save the three family dogs, including a 65-pound basset hound that she ultimately had to tote away from the burning home.
“I don’t feel like I am a hero. I feel like I did what anybody else would have done in that situation because I just thought of my family. If I had gone into panic mode, there was no keeping my mother out of panic mode,” Destany said. “I don’t feel like a hero, but I’m flattered.”
“She’s a hero. A real hero. She saved her lives,” Destany’s mother Datanya Wells said recently.
Destany, who will attend Northview High School this year, may have a future in firefighting. She’s applying to be an Escambia County Fire Rescue junior firefighter.
Last month, she received the Girl Scout Bronze Cross for Valor for saving her family.
Pictured: The Escambia County Commission honored Destany McKim for saving the life of her family from a 2019 house fire in Molino. NorthEscambia.com and courtesy photos, click to enlarge.
Tate, PHS Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
September 9, 2020
The National Merit Scholarship Corporation has named semifinalists in the 66th annual National Merit Scholarship Program.
These academically talented high school seniors have an opportunity to continue in the competition for National Merit Scholarships worth more than $30 million that will be offered next spring.
Local students named National Merit semifinalists are Michael R. Dixon and John T. Semple from Tate High School; and Sydney Dodson, Calla Endacott, Kendall Frazee, Owen Ides, Maxanthony Mateer, Alyssa Pascoe, George Prettyman, Mai Tran, Ashley Wu and Amy Zhang from Pensacola High School.
Escambia High Students Win NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge
August 23, 2020
A team from Escambia High School won the high school division for the best design in the NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge.
While NASA is preparing to send the first woman and next man to the surface of the Moon in 2024 with the Artemis program, the next generation of explorers, engineers, scientists, and spaceflight professionals are sharpening their skills to help the agency establish a permanent presence on the Moon and send the first humans to Mars.
The agency announced the winners of the 2020 NASA Human Exploration Rover Challenge during a virtual awards ceremony.
The Human Exploration Rover Challenge team from Escambia High School won the high school division AIAA Neil Armstrong Best Design Award, which recognizes the team that best designed their rover to take on the punishing Rover Challenge course, making maximum use of resources and ingenuity. The award is presented in the name of the late NASA astronaut Neil Armstrong.
“This year, we had 111 teams from 27 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and 11 other countries,” said Julie Clift, program manager for the challenge at Marshall. “The teams pushed the limits this year, designing and building truly innovative rovers to take on the challenging course. Although we are disappointed we had to cancel the on-site activities, we are thrilled we are able to recognize and celebrate the teams’ hard work and creativity.”
The competition is one of seven NASA Artemis Student Challenges the agency hosts to engage and inspire the Artemis Generation. It is sponsored by NASA’s Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate and Office of STEM Engagement Next Gen STEM in Washington; and managed by Marshall’s Office of STEM Engagement.
The challenge was launched in 1994 as the NASA Great Moonbuggy Race to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. Just six college teams participated that first year. Expanded in 1996 to include high school teams, the race evolved again in 2014 into the Human Exploration Rover Challenge. Since the challenge’s inception, more than 12,000 students have participated.
Photo: Escambia High School for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cantonment Improvement Committee, Ascend Cares Hold Book Bag Giveaway
August 16, 2020
Ascend Cares and the Cantonment Improvement Committee held a drive-thru book bag distribution Saturday at Carver Park to help local children get ready for back to school. Courtesy photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Train Caboose Moved From School To Heritage Park In Atmore
August 12, 2020
A caboose that was outside an Atmore school for years has a new home in a local park.
The Burlington Northern caboose was recently moved from Rachel Patterson Elementary School to Heritage Park on Main Street at West Craig Street.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia County 4-H Meat Judging Teams Win State Title
August 11, 2020
The Escambia County 4-H Meat Judging Team won the senior division state championship.
Team members are Jessica Conti, Hannah Thorne, Ethan Thorne and Chad Sasser. They are coached by Brian Estevez.
As state champions, Escambia County team earned the right to represent Florida in the National 4-H Meat Judging Contest, still on schedule at this time at the American Royal Association in Kansas City, Missouri. in October.
Conti was also the over high scoring individual with three teams and 11 individuals competing in the virtual state competition held last Saturday.
Other top placing individuals included Hannah Thorne in second, Ethan Thorne in third and Sasser in 10th place.
Escambia County also brought home the state championship in the intermediate division of the contest as the sole competing team.