WPBFD History

Arsonists struck the King Motor Center in the early morning hours of May 16, 1978. The offices at 1937 Okeechobee Boulevard were broken into before being set afire. Firefighters were on the scene for one and a half hours. Fire broke out in a two story house at 438 1/2 Hibis- cus Street about 5:00 a.m. on May 25, 1978. Flames were quickly subdued by firefighters. James William Davis, who was found in the bushes next to the house, suffered burns from the waist up. He was treated by fire medics and transported to the hospital. Virginia Cottle, secretary to the fire chief and long time friend of the firefighters, retired in June of 1978. She left her much-worn dictionary as a gift for the assis- tant chiefs who no doubt could use it. The following was inscribed on the inside: "To all my firemen friends I leave this book - in hopes it will be used to good advan- tage. Love always, Gini - June 9, 1978." Chief Kennedy was able to find a new secretary in the person of Barbara Kinser. Barbara is still there, acting as “house mother” for more than 180 firefighters. She has endured through four different fire chiefs since Kennedy and still has a sense of humor. John S. Lynch was working late in the evening on September 6, 1978, at the law firm of Cone, Wagner and Nugent. Suddenly he smelled smoke in his second floor office. Searching for the source of the burning smell, he found heavy smoke coming from the rear of the second floor. Lynch raced down the stairs and told another em- ployee who was working late to notify the fire depart- ment. Firefighters were able to contain the fire to the west end of the second floor and prevent damage to the valuable law library. Salvage covers were placed over equipment and files on the first floor to prevent water damage. The fire was caused by another employee who had accidentally left a hot plate on in the rear room. Chief Kennedy, always a stickler for details, some- times had trouble putting his ideas into words. The fol- lowing paragraph was published in a bulletin dated Sep- tember 27, 1978: At any time bunker pants are not worn; bunker coat, helmet and gloves need not be worn when responding to a medical alarm. When the hel- met is not worn, a fire department dress uniform cap or issued red cap must be worn. An excep- tion to this rule is made on apparatus where men have to ride the tailboard. Personnel responding to any alarm riding the tailboard must always wear the bunker coat and helmet. Contract negotiations for 1978-79 resulted in the first reduction in hours for firefighters since 1956 when the 60 hour week had been reduced to 56. Firefighters

lished editorial comments that blasted the firefighters: UNIONS AND THE MAFIA . . . use the same tactics; muscle and fear. Local firemen are sup- porting candidates for WPB City Commission who promise to get rid of City Mgr. Richard Simmons if elected . . . because he didn't go along with their demands for a raise in salary. Let's get new firemen! Anyone interested in $14,000 a year for mostly sitting around? Look at it this way fellas - how many of us can play chess and get paid while doing so? Not many. You got it pretty easy as it is. We hope City Manager Richard Simmons agrees. Mr. Heacock seemed to know very little about the firefighting profession or the freedoms guaranteed in the United States Constitution, for that matter. His comments infuriated the firefighters despite the fact that his publica- tion had extremely limited circulation. Chief Kennedy even issued a response to the editorial. March 10, 1978 BULLETIN: TO: All Personnel SUBJECT: "Condo News" Item An article has appeared in the "Condo News" which was written by an imbecile who identifies himself as Jerry Heacock. Mr. Heacock has ex- ercised his constitutional right to write and pub- lish a substitution of his opinion for fact. The article is extremely radical and completely void of fact. We all know that it does not represent the views of the people who live in condos with whom we have been associated. It is hoped that no one on this department will pay Mr. Heacock a supreme compliment by let- ting him know that we are even irritated by his article. It is evident that Mr. Heacock has reached the apex of his journalist career at the level of the Condo News. Signed Bennett T. Kennedy, Jr. CHIEF OF FIRE DEPARTMENT The relationship between the city and the union would deteriorate further over the next decade. City offi- cials would change and some who supported the union would be elected, but an adversarial position remained. In March 1978 a bond issue was passed that pro- vided $1,500,000 for a new Central Fire Station. It would still be another three years before downtown firefighters would enjoy comfortable quarters.

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