Miami-Dade Fire Rescue is proud to serve the Doral area. Your fire-rescue system provides service to all of unincorporated Miami-Dade County and to twenty-five cities within the County.

In fact, the department is considered a “regional service” due to the level of service it provides to a majority of Miami-Dade County.

The Doral area is home to two fire stations, but receives daily service from many more. Depending on the magnitude of the emergency, it is possible that a single incident could require a substantial number of resources in the Doral area.

A regional fire rescue system is capable of sending a large number of fire-rescue units, while continuing to provide fire-rescue to the rest of the county. For example, past events such as the Fine Air crash or the ValuJet crash into the Everglades showcased the department’s ability to put a large number of emergency units into an area within a short period of time.

The primary units for Doral are Station 45 and Station 48. Both stations went into service within the past year, and were constructed through the use of impact fees and are budgeted through the fire taxing district.

Station 45 is located at 9710 NW 58th Street, and it houses an Advanced Life Support fire engine. This type of unit is becoming more prevalent as the need for a system that includes both fire suppression and emergency medical response increases. Four crew members are assigned to the unit at all times, including two paramedics. There is also a battalion chief at the station.

The station is also active in the community, recently conducting a well-attended open house and always welcoming visits from local students (John I. Smith Elementary students have made several friendly trips recently).

Station 48 is located at 8828 NW 18th Terrace, and a three person rescue unit is housed there. This unit is also capable of providing Advanced Life Support services with its three paramedics and is equipped to carry patients to the hospital. Operations Division Chief Lee Stringer is also housed in the station.

Station 17, located at 7050 NW 36th Street, responds to the Doral area also. The station houses a four person, 65-foot, ladder truck as well as “Haz-Mat 17”. As you might have guessed, both units at Station 17 are trained to handle hazardous materials emergencies in addition to primary fire-rescue calls.

Station 29, which is located in the City of Sweetwater at 351 NW 107th Avenue, also responds to Doral calls, and is one of the nation’s busiest fire stations.

Th station houses a 50-foot telesquirt and an Advanced Life Support rescue unit.The telesquirt is staffed by four people, and the rescue unit is staffed with three paramedics.

This type of combination unit is a common sight within our department due to its versatility. The telesquirt is basically a conventional fire truck with a 50-foot ladder attached, while the rescue unit is capable of transporting patients to the hospital.

This unit was also the first rescue unit in the country to administer the drug “Retavase.” Retavase is a drug that had been primarily used in a hospital setting to dissolve clots that damage heart muscle and are caused when a person has a heart attack.

Miami-Dade was the first fire-rescue department to widely use this drug and pushed for its expansion into the fire-rescue service.

Now, thanks to your support of the fire-department and its resources, individuals experiencing a heart attack will now be given a second chance at life—and not just the ability to breathe again, but the ability to lead a “normal life”.

With so many people dying and being crippled by unexpected illnesses and injuries, it is a comfort to know that your fire department is doing all they can to change that.

On behalf of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, it truly is a pleasure being able to provide the service we give to your area and to the rest of Miami-Dade County. We are your fire-rescue provider and are continually trying to excel within the communities we serve.

On a more personal note, I would like to bid a fond farewell to outgoing Doral Community Chair Ralph Arza. The fire-rescue department has been able to provide your area with excellent service through the work of your Community Council and other groups such as the West Dade Federation.

I look forward to continuing to work with both the Community Council and the West dade Federation to see that your fire-rescue department maintains the highest level of service possible.

I also look forward to any questions you may have and responding to the surveys that were completed in the previous issue. I may be reached at 305 596 8600.