[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 61 (Monday, April 28, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E608]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      HONORING THE 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MILTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

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                            HON. JEFF MILLER

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, April 28, 2014

  Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
100th anniversary of the City of Milton Fire Department. For 100 years, 
the Milton Fire Department has served the local community and its 
citizens, and I am proud to have such a first-class fire department in 
Florida's First Congressional District.
  The City of Milton Fire Department traces its roots back to April 21, 
1914, when, following the third of a series of devastating fires that 
destroyed downtown Milton, the Town Council decided to establish the 
Milton Volunteer Fire Department. The town ordered three hand-drawn 
hose reels and 1,500 feet of hose, nozzles and wrenches for the new 
fire department, and a group of local citizens signed up as the first 
firefighters in Milton. Although they were an all-volunteer fire 
department, the residents of Milton were dedicated to providing state-
of-the-art firefighting equipment, and to help carry out the 
department's mission, Milton purchased a 1914 American La France 
Chemical Engine on a Ford Chassis, which was the first automobile fire 
truck in all of Northwest Florida. The Milton Volunteer Fire Department 
served the Town of Milton and surrounding areas for 13 years at their 
original location on Grace (now Caroline) Street before moving in 1927 
to Milton's newly constructed Town Hall on the corner of Berryhill and 
Broad Streets.
  In 1954, the department began the shift towards a professional 
firefighting department when it hired a ``Nighttime Firefighter'' and a 
``Weekend Firefighter.'' The department became a 24 hour firefighting 
operation in 1960 when they hired a ``Daytime Firefighter.'' With these 
changes, the department moved to a new fire station at Susan (now 
Bruner) and Berryhill Streets in 1962, and by 1965, the department had 
grown further, establishing two full-time firefighting shifts. A third-
full time shift was created in 1974, and the City of Milton Fire 
Department has grown today to a full-time force consisting of 16 career 
members, including the Fire Chief and three shifts of a Captain, 
Lieutenant, and three Firefighters to provide fire suppression, 
emergency medical response, fire prevention and public fire safety 
education to the citizens of Milton.
  On September 11, 2009, the City of Milton Fire Department began 
operating from its modern facility located at 5321 Stewart Street. The 
department currently operates with three pumpers, a midi-pumper rescue 
vehicle, two staff vehicles, and a rescue boat, and thanks to the hard 
work and dedication of the personnel, the fire department consistently 
exceeds national safety standards, while upholding their core values of 
Respect, Integrity, Accountability, Responsibility, and 
Professionalism. Today, the department boasts more than 165 combined 
years of firefighting experience with an impressive average response 
time of less than four minutes. Whether they are fighting fires or 
providing excellent first-response medical care, the residents of 
Milton all rest well knowing that the City of Milton Fire Department 
always stands ready in their hour of need.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the United States Congress, it is an honor 
for me to recognize the 100th anniversary of the City of Milton Fire 
Department. All of the residents served by the department are thankful 
for their exceptional service to our community. My wife Vicki and I 
wish them all the best as they continue to serve Northwest Florida for 
the next hundred years and beyond.

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