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 Just as it was from its inception in 1957, the Suppression Division of the Plantation Fire Department is 100% volunteer and functions as a traditional volunteer fire department.
Members are assigned to a station within two minutes driving time of their homes. When a fire is reported, members are summoned from their homes or work, via alerting pagers, and respond to their station. As soon as a crew of three, or more, are assembled, they board the fire truck and respond to the scene of the incident. Using this method the department proudly boasts an average response time of six minutes or less when responding to an emergency call.
Technology Gives Firefighters the Edge:
 The members respond to more than 200 requests for fire services each month. The Suppression Division uses the latest in technology to aid them in providing the best possible service. Each piece of fire apparatus has an on-board, laptop computer that allows firefighters to have up to the minute information about a fire situation, building floor plans, stored chemicals or occupancy details. They also have computerized mapping software that provides them with the shortest possible route to the scene of an incident.
When faced with fire, or heavy smoke firefighters use thermal cameras to quickly search a room looking for trapped victims. The thermal cameras also help firefighters search for hidden fire in walls and attics. Currently the department has eight thermal cameras on its first line apparatus.
Top Rated:
As part of its commitment to the citizens of Plantation the Fire Department submits to a standards evaluation on a regular basis. The Insurance Services Office, Inc. provides this evaluation process. The ISO sets fire insurance rates based upon how well a fire department scores. The department is scored based on a series of factors including, training, equipment, maintenance, water supply, dispatching, fire prevention activities and response records.
Ratings are then issued from one through ten. There are very few “Class One” fire departments in the Country. Most departments rate between a three and six.
Plantation recently submitted for an ISO inspection and maintained its long-standing rating of three.
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