PBC Fire Rescue: High Survival Rates & New Services in FY24

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR) marked Fiscal Year 2024 with significant achievements, including a cardiac arrest survival rate exceeding the national average and the successful implementation of new life-saving initiatives.

The department, which celebrated its 40th anniversary, responded to over 157,000 calls for service, serving nearly one million residents. PBCFR reported a 14.4% survival rate for patients experiencing cardiac arrest, surpassing the national average of 9.7%. Department reports attribute this success to extensive training and advanced emergency medicine.

PBCFR also highlighted exceptional service instances. Firefighters saved a colleague from cardiac arrest. They performed the first on-scene whole blood transfusion in Palm Beach County for the daughter of a Chief, a procedure that has since benefited over one hundred local patients.

Beyond official duties, firefighters demonstrated community commitment. An off-duty firefighter rescued a neighbor's choking infant, and another assisted at a vehicle crash scene until local medics arrived.

To accommodate county growth, PBCFR opened two new fire stations: a temporary Station 49 on Lyons Road in November 2023 and Station 40 near Military Trail and White Feather Trail in January 2024. The department also increased on-duty staffing to a minimum of 347 firefighters around the clock.

In specialized response, PBCFR finalized training for its Swiftwater Rescue Team, deploying it to assist with flooding following Hurricane Helene on Florida's west coast. The Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Team also completed staffing and training, preparing for local and regional deployments. Numerous employees also provided assistance after historic floods in North Carolina.

The department saw significant personnel development, promoting nearly 90 individuals and graduating approximately 100 new firefighters from three academies. Through a FEMA grant, the Community Risk Reduction team installed nearly 800 smoke alarms in Glades communities. Fire Investigators closed 212 fire investigations, achieving a conviction rate that surpasses state and national levels. PBCFR earned recognition as the only Fire Department-based OSAC Registered Arson/Explosion/Fire Investigation Forensic Practitioners in the nation.

Patrick J. Kennedy, Fire Rescue Administrator, expressed pride in the department's accomplishments. "Your safety is our number one priority. I am proud to say 2024 was an outstanding year," Kennedy said.