CRESTVIEW GETS NEW PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING AND FIREFIGHTERS

It is very refreshing to see the City of Crestview take growth in stride and taking the necessary steps to prepare for the tremendous growth this city will having in the upcoming years. Great job to the Mayor and the rest of the City.

Crestview opens new public safety building
Hub City also welcomes 12 new firefighters

By CHAYNE SPARAGOWSKI Florida Freedom Newspapers

CRESTVIEW — Happy birthday, chief. The city of Crestview on Wednesday celebrated the opening of a new public safety building and the hiring of 12 firefighters. It was the perfect gift for Crestview Fire Chief Joe Traylor, who also marked his birthday Wednesday. “It gives us the ability to serve our citizens the way we’re supposed to do it,” Traylor said. The building on Brookmeade Drive includes a new fire station and an emergency operations center for Crestview and outlying areas. Traylor described the facility as “a building within a building.” The walls are reinforced concrete and the metal roof will allow the department to sustain itself in case of a Hurricane Katrina-type event. The building can also take control of all fire and police dispatching for Crestview. “This will also function as EOC during disasters where the citizens of Crestview that want to know about road closures, bridge-outs and any kind of alerts can dial in here and get that information,” Traylor said. The building has two truck bays, a kitchen, a day room with a computer and a bunk room. Another room houses the communications equipment for the EOC. The ceremony also marked the starting date for the 12 firefighters. They stood in a line to take their oaths and receive their helmets. Each has been assigned to one of the two other city fire stations to get onthe-job training over the next 90 days. “I think it’s really great we have 12 additional firefighters to serve the 23,000 people that call Crestview home and the 9,000 people that live in the surrounding metropolitan area of Crestview,” said City Councilman Charles Baugh said. Among the 12 was Brittany Shaffer — Crestview’s first woman firefighter in several years. “I’m very nervous but I’m excited,” she said. Traylor said he is happy to have her on board. “When we did the competitive hiring process, we picked the 12 best candidates, and she was one of the 12 best,” he said. The city used impact fees to pay for the new building. The initial cost for the new firefighters will be covered by a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant.