Tag Archives: el paso fire department

The National Association of Fleet Administrators Institute recognized the City of El Paso’s Fire Department Fleet Maintenance Division, for the third consecutive year, as one of 2020’s 100 Best Fleets in the Americas.

“Our Logistics staff is a team of professionals. They have set remarkable standards that they continue to set even higher every year,” Fire Chief Mario D’Agostino said. “We are proud of the team and of what they have accomplished.”​

The EPFD is now ranked number 68, up from 89 in 2019.

The 100 Best Fleets program recognizes and rewards peak performing fleet operations in the Americas. Currently, in its twentieth year, 100 Best Fleets identifies and encourages ever-increasing levels of performance improvement within the fleet industry.

The El Paso Fire Department’s staffing, resources, focus on preventive maintenance, and around the clock service capabilities distinguished the Department from other organizations.

Currently, the Department operates and maintains 168 vehicles. Each of the units receives regularly scheduled preventive maintenance, in addition to a full annual service; increasing the fleet’s reliability. This year, the Fire Department added six new units to the fleet.

“This recognition is a reflection of the Fire Department’s commitment to exceptional services and to keeping our community safe; especially during our current challenges,” said City Manager Tommy Gonzalez. “This recognition also speaks to best in class awards City departments have been receiving in our quest to be the best in class in the over 200 services the City provides its residents.”

To view the full list of winners, visit the100BestFleets.com.

For more information on the initiatives and services provided by the El Paso Fire Department, residents are encouraged to visit epfire.org and the EPFD social media accounts at Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for updates. ​

The El Paso Fire Department is proud to announce that the department’s newest units, Quint 28 and Rescue 28, are ready to join the City’s existing fleet.

A “Wetdown” ceremony will be held to welcome both units, and the community is invited to participate by helping spray it down.

This type of ceremony is a fire department tradition across the country in which new units are sprayed down, hand dried, and then pushed into the station.

The tradition dates back to the late 1800’s when departments used horses to pull fire trucks to fires. After fighting the fire, the crew​s would then wash and ready the horses and the apparatus in preparation for the next call.

“During the ceremony, the EPFD’s Fire Prevention Division will be on-site to share fire prevention tips with citizens and signing up households for the free smoke alarm program, EPFD officials shared.

“Additionally, El Paso Animal Services will provide free adoption coupons and the first 20 attendees will receive a “Firefighters and Their Furry Friends” calendar at no cost.”

To learn more about the El Paso Fire Department, visit their website elpasofire.org​ or follow the department on  Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

WHO: The El Paso Fire Department

WHAT: Quint 28 and Rescue 28 Wet-Down Ceremony

WHEN: Saturday, January 25, 2020 – 10:00AM

WHERE: EPFD Station 28 – 10800 McCombs Drive

On Friday, the El Paso Fire Department and El Paso Animal Services announced the arrival of the 2020 edition of the “Firefighters and Furry Friends” calendar.

The community can purchase their copies of this joint-department calendar at the Animal Services Shelter located at 5001 Fred Wilson, or at the Fire Department Headquarters located at 416 N. Stanton (2nd floor).

The Firefighters and Furry Friends calendar is just $10 and includes two free pet adoption vouchers, along with a pet fire-safety sign for the window of the purchaser’s home.

The project began in 2016 as a collaboration between El Paso Animal Services, the El Paso Fire Department, the International Association of Fire Fighters-Local 51, the City Manager’s Office and the Snaps for Shelters organization.

This is now the fourth year the departments have created the Firefighters and Furry Friends calendar, which helps raise awareness for the thousands of homeless animals that come into Animal Services each year.

Proceeds of the calendar will support El Paso Animal Services’ efforts to continue offering low-cost adoptions and services.

To view a sample of the 2020 Firefighters and Furry Friends calendar, visit the Animal Services’ Facebook page.

For over 130 years, the El Paso Fire Department’s brave men and women have demonstrated their willingness to serve others with their steadfast courage, selflessness, and bold commitment to pursuing a safer future for our community. 

Each year, the Medal Day ceremony gives our organization the opportunity to reflect on and honor all that the EPFD members have done to pay tribute to their heroism, professionalism, and exceptional leadership in upholding the Department’s lifesaving mission.

This year’s Medal Day will take place on October 24, 2019 at the El Paso Zoo Events Pavilion located at 4001 East Paisano Dr. The ceremony will begin at 6:00 PM.

EPFD’s Firefighter and Civilian Employee of the Year will be named, members will be recognized for their lifesaving actions, and community partners will be recognized for their efforts to keep our city safe.

What: Medal Day 2019 Ceremony

When: Thursday, October 24, 2019 – 6:00 PM

Where: El Paso Zoo Event Pavilion – 4001 E. Paisano Drive, El Paso, Texas 79905

The El Paso Fire Department is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)—the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years—to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Not Every Hero Wears a Cape. Plan and Practice Your Escape!”

The campaign works to educate everyone about the small but important actions they can take to keep themselves and those around them safe.  Fire prevention week runs from October 6 to October 12.

“In a typical home fire, you may have as little as one to two minutes to escape safely from the time the smoke alarm sounds,” EPFD officials shared. “Escape planning and practice can help you make the most of the time you have, giving everyone enough time to get out.”

NFPA statistics show that in 2017 U.S. fire departments responded to 357,000 home structure fires. These fires caused 2,630 fire deaths and 10,600 fire injuries.

On average, seven people died in a fire in a home per day during 2012 to 2016.

“Early warning is another critical item in everyone’s fire safety kit, by having properly installed and working smoke alarms, you can gain valuable time to escape in case of a fire, EPFD officials added.

Smoke alarm batteries must be checked every 6 months and after 10 years the smoke alarm should be replaced. The El Paso Fire Department, in partnership with the American Red Cross, provides free smoke alarms​ for residents of El Paso.

To request smoke alarms simply dial 3-1-1 or visit elpasofire.org

To learn more about the Fire Department and fire safety, the public is encouraged to visit elpasofire.org. Follow EPFD on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for updates.

As October is Sudden Cardiac Arrest Awareness Month, the El Paso Fire Department is asking residents to take time to recognize the severity of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) and what can be done to help save others during such an emergency.

According to the Sudden Cardiac Awareness Foundation, every year, more than 350,000 people die in the U.S. of out-of-hospital SCA. Despite such a high number, SCA can be treated successfully in time with CPR and defibrillation with an automatic external defibrillator (AED).

If a rescuer can perform these lifesaving tasks, survival rates increase from an average of 10 percent to 50 percent.  Here are few things that can be done to help:

1. Always call 911.
2. Learn how to perform CPR. When bystanders provide CPR and use an AED before EMS arrives, victim survival rates increase.
3. Be familiar with and know where AEDs are located.
4. Download the PulsePoint App.

PulsePoint is a free app provided by the El Paso Fire Department and the PulsePoint Foundation.

With PulsePoint, residents are notified of sudden cardiac arrest events happening in public places near their location so they can respond and provide CPR while help arrives. PulsePoint is available for free for Apple and Android phones.

Visit pulsepoint.org to download the app.

Additionally, residents can learn your sudden cardiac arrest risk by using the Heart Rhythm Society’s free interactive tool​. Simply answer a few questions regarding your health and then get your results. After using the assessment, residents are advised to consult with their physician regarding the results.

To learn more about the Fire Department, the public is encouraged to visit elpasofire.org or to follow the department on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for updates.

As part of the National Child Passenger Safety Board’s Child Passenger Safety Week, the El Paso Fire Department is hosting a Car Seat Inspection Event.

The event is set for September 19th from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the EPFD’s Safety, Health and Outreach Center.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 59 percent of car seats are not installed correctly. With 2,600 children under 13 involved in a car crash every day, or one child every 33 seconds, child safety in cars is a priority.

Additionally, Texas law requires all children under 8 – unless they are taller than 4 feet, 9 inches – to be in a car seat whenever they ride in a passenger vehicle. Failure to properly restrain a child can result in a ticket of up to $250. Children under age 13 should ride properly secured in a seat belt or safety seat in the back seat.

Services will be provided on a first come, first served basis. To participate you must:

• Be a Texas resident
• Bring your own car seat(s)
• Bring the​ child for proper fitting and instruction
• Be the parent or legal guardian of the child

Those interested in participating can contact the EPFD’s Fire Medical Research division at 915-212-5699 to learn more about the event.

To learn more about the Fire Department, the public is encouraged to visit elpasofire.org. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for updates.

WHAT: Car Seat Inspection Event

WHEN: September 19, 2018 – 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

WHERE: EPFD Safety, Health and Outreach Center – 5415 Trowbridge Dr, El Paso TX. 79903

On Friday, officials with the El Paso Fire Department announced that they are now accepting applications for Public Safety Communicator Trainees through August 15, 2019.

Public Safety Communicators process emergency and non-emergency telephone calls and dispatch, monitor, and coordinate activities of emergency personnel (police, fire and medical) using a multi-channel radio system and a computer-aided dispatch (CAD) system.

Candidates must have a high school diploma or GED, and two years of general work experience with at least one year involving public contact. Spanish is not required for hiring but may be a requirement depending on which function is assigned. Non-Spanish speakers are encouraged to apply.

To learn more and apply, interested individuals should visit this website. Selected candidates will go through a paid six-month training period earning $14.65 an hour.

EPFD officials say that upon completion of the training period, trainees will be promoted to Public Safety Communicator starting at $34,537 annually.

To learn more about the Fire Department, the public is encouraged to visit EPFD website, or follow them on Twitter and Facebook for updates.

The El Paso Fire Department and El Paso Animal Services are collaborating once again to help keep pets in their home, and out of the animal shelter.

All 34 fire stations in El Paso now have the capability to assist residents who find a lost pet by scanning the animal for a microchip.

Animal Services and the Fire Department want the community to be aware of this helpful resource as the Fourth of July holiday nears, which historically marks the peak period for lost pets in the El Paso region.

Last year, more than 2,800 animals entered the Animal Services Center during the month of July.

This first-of-its-kind collaborative aims at quickly reconnecting lost pets with their owners, preventing the need to bring a lost animal to an already crowded shelter.

Animal Services provided each station with a microchip scanner, and the Fire Department trained their station personnel on how to properly scan for a chip.

With fire stations conveniently located in neighborhoods, residents now have the opportunity to easily scan a lost pet for a microchip 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In addition, residents can also scan a pet at the Safety Health Outreach Center at 5415 Trowbridge, which is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday.

A list of all fire station locations is below, and there is another at the EPFD website and click on the “About Us” tab.

According to the American Heart Association, about 70 percent cardiac arrests happen away from hospitals. CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival.

To that end, the El Paso Fire Department and the Drowning Prevention Coalition of El Paso will host a free May Day CPR Event on Saturday, May 18, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at the EPFD Training Academy located in Ascarate Park, 6900 Delta Drive

The El Paso Fire Department and the Drowning Prevention Coalition of El Paso, will provide free Hands-Only CPR training. There will also be family fun with a jumping balloon, music, hot dogs, refreshments, door prizes, and much more.

Individuals can register in advance for the free CPR class by going to the Drowning Prevention Coalition website and scheduling their 20-minute hands-only CPR class. Classes are open to all ages. Walk-ins are welcome as well.

To learn more about hands-only CPR and receive alerts of a cardiac arrest happening nearby, download the free PulsePoint app for iPhone and Android smartphones at apple.elpasofire.org and android.elpasofire.org

WHAT: May Day Free CPR Event.

WHERE: El Paso Fire Department Training Academy –  6900 Delta Dr., El Paso TX, 79915

WHEN: May 18, from 9:00AM to 1:00PM

The El Paso Fire Department is offering a unique opportunity for local youth to gain understanding of fire and life safety issues while developing valuable skills.

Via their Summer Youth Camp, participants will learn about the El Paso Fire Department, search and rescue operations, team-building skills, and become advocates for safety.

The Summer Youth Camp is limited to 20 students between the ages of 13-17. Preference will be given to those who have not attended the camp previously. Campers will be chosen on the basis of their suitability for the program, as will be determined by the application found at youth.elpasofire.org .

EPFD officials share that learning at the Summer Youth Camp is “highly interactive and hands-on in nature. Most activities are conducted in pairs or teams, in which the campers must work together and rely on each other to succeed.”

They add that the nature of the activities and the locations where they are conducted require campers to follow explicit rules in order to ensure everyone’s safety. Campers should wear comfortable clothing, sunscreen and closed toed shoes, no sandals.

The Summer Youth Camp is free and will run from 8 AM – 1PM, July 17 thru July 19. All activities will be held at the El Paso Fire Department’s Training Academy.

Applications should be submitted to the Training Academy located at 6800 Delta Drive, inside Ascarate Park, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The final deadline to submit applications is June 15, 2019.

To learn more the Fire Department and receive updates, resident are encouraged to visit elpasofire.org and follow the Department’s official social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

The El Paso Fire Department is encouraging the community to take advantage of the Vaccinations for Health program, and to that end, they have extended the program through February.

Via a news release EPFD officials shared, “As the flu season still in full force and the number of flu cases for this year on the rise, the Fire Department is extending the program by adding additional dates on February.”

Vaccinations for Health provides free blood pressure and glucose screenings to patients of any age, free flu vaccines to patients 18 and older, and free pneumonia vaccines to those 65 and older.

“The EPFD would like to remind everyone that the vaccinations and health screenings service is free to residents of El Paso and Hudspeth County that do not have medical insurance or are on Medicaid,” fire officials added.

According to the El Paso Department of Public Health, as of the third week of January, the number of flu cases in El Paso is 661; compared to 1,540 at the same time last season.  And just last week, the death of an elderly woman brought the number of flu-related deaths in the area so far this season to three.

Wednesday, February 6: EPFD Safety, Health, and Outreach Center, 5415 Trowbridge Dr. from 1:00PM to 5:00PM

Tuesday, February 13: Wellington Chew Senior Center, 4430 Maxwell Ave. from 9:00AM to 1:00PM.

Wednesday, February 20: EPFD Safety, Health, and Outreach Center, 5415 Trowbridge Dr. from 1:00PM to 4:30PM

Wednesday, February 27: EPFD Safety, Health, and Outreach Center, 5415 Trowbridge Dr. from 1:00PM to 5:00PM

In addition to the flu vaccine, public health officials remind the public to practice the four C’s in order to help reduce the incidence of infection.

1. CLEAN – Wash your hands often. Scrub your hands for at least 30 seconds with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand cleaner.
2. COVER – Cover your cough. Use a tissue to cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze. Don’t have a tissue? The crook of your elbow will do.
3. CONTAIN – Contain germs by steering clear of others who are sick. If you do get sick, stay home until you’re well again, so you don’t spread more germs.
4. CALL – Call or see your doctor if you or your child has a fever greater than 100 degrees.

For more information about the vaccination clinics, residents are encouraged to call 3-1-1 or visit their website or the same site in Spanish.

To learn more about flu prevention, flu surveillance and additional health resources, visit the City of El Paso Department of Public Health websites at ephealth.com and epsalud.com​.

El Paso Animal Services and the El Paso Fire Department are excited to announce the availability of the new “Firefighters and Furry Friends” 2019 calendar.

The calendar, which features 26 firefighters and 25 adoptable pets, includes two free adoption vouchers with each purchase. The proceeds from the calendar will help Animal Services continue to provide reduced-fee adoption events throughout the year.

The calendar began as a partnership between the two departments in 2016 to raise awareness of the thousands of lovable pets that come into the Animal Services Center every year, but it also give thanks to the brave men and women that save lives every day.

The calendar project has since expanded to a weekly social media feature titled “EPFD Furry Fridays” that highlights a member of the Fire Department and an adoptable pet from Animal Services.

The calendar was made possible through a collaboration between El Paso Animal Services, the El Paso Fire Department, the International Association of Fire Fighters-Local 51, the City Manager’s Office and the Snaps for Shelters organization.

The community can purchase their copies of the “Firefighters and Furry Friends” calendar for just $10 at the Animal Services Center, at 5001 Fred Wilson, or at the Fire Department Headquarters, at 416 North Stanton (2^nd floor).