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1973 - Tarpon Lake Volunteer Fire Dept. Organized by nine concerned citizens primarily to protect Windmill Pointe and Anchorage subdivisions. Operated out of a lean-to located at the intersection of Tarpon Lake Blvd and Anchorage Lane.
  • Phil English
  • Dean Walker
  • Al Knight
  • Roger Garrett
  • Bob Timoney
  • Charles Bedell
  • Charles Bennett
  • Tom Jarrell
  • Mike Nabor
First Volunteer Fire Chief - Edward "Bud" Pirwitz

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1st Engine - 10/23/73 Purchased a 1945 Dodge from Seminole Park Volunteer Fire Dept. for $250.  Had a 500gpm front mount PTO pump.  Truck was named "Snoopy" snoopy.JPG (100863 bytes)snoopy&volys.JPG (132980 bytes)
1974 -  02/26/74 Tarpon Lake Volunteer Fire Dept. requested charter from the State of Florida.  The nine original founders paid the fees.                    03/11/74 Chartered by the State.
  • First Rescue call - 14 y/o drowning victim at Hunt's Employee Park on Lake Tarpon; Memorial Day Weekend
  • First Structure Fire - 06/22/74 10:00pm mobile home on Old East Lake Rd
2nd Engine - Donated by the Division of Forestry.  Also had a 500gpm front mount PTO pump. 2ndengine.JPG (73049 bytes)2ndengine2.JPG (109885 bytes)
1st Tanker - Donated by McDill Air Force Base.  500 gpm tank with a 250gpm pump. tanker.JPG (69023 bytes)
1975 -  They now had 15 volunteers and began participating in live training burns. 1sttrainingburn.JPG (125478 bytes)
1976 - Purchased 1949 American LaFrance $8,000 lafranceorig.JPG (171974 bytes)
1979 - First paid member - Fire Chief Tom Jarrell.  
  • They now had 22 Volunteers and had replaced all of the original trucks
  •   Purchased first new truck, an Emergency-One 250gpm Rescue Pumper.
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1980 - Dedicated Station 57, built on land donated by the Lansbrook Corp.. Cost was $130,000  Also hired first full time firefighter- Bill Edling Sr. 
  • Purchased a 1978 Mack for $49,519.00
  • Purchased first new Engine from Emergency-One
  • Purchased first BLS Ambulance through donations raised in the community
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1981 - Hired 3 more personnel; Tom May, Dave Anthony, and Howard Boehm.   ambulance.JPG (77103 bytes)522&crew.JPG (127356 bytes)
1982 - Began providing ALS Service (Paramedics)  
  • 5/25/82 Purchased Chevy Ambulance from Pinellas County
  • 10/82  Fire Chief Robert Lani  hired
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1983 - Changed name from Tarpon Lake Volunteer Fire Dept to: 

East Lake Fire & Rescue Inc.

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1984 - Dissolved Volunteers 
  • Purchased 2nd new Engine from Emergency-One
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1986 - Fire Chief Ronald W. Taylor hired chiefscar.jpg (42286 bytes)
1989 - "The eagle has landed" takes on new meaning  for East Lake Fire & Rescue as development of its new fire station is halted due to an eagle building a nest approx. 200ft from the proposed building site. 540old.jpg (32684 bytes)545old.jpg (36825 bytes)
1992 - Purchased first ladder truck from E-ONE 75'  T57
  • Five new Fire Commissioners now directing department
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1993 - Traded in ladder truck 
  • Purchase 2 - new Engines meeting latest  NFPA standards from E-ONE "E57" & "E58"
  • Opened Station 58 on Keystone Rd This new facility meets latest NFPA and OSHA standards.  Building is completely sprinkled, including attic.
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1994 - Sent 523 "P57" back to E-ONE for refurbishing 
  • received a new 4-person enclosed cab
  • new hydraulic ladder rack installed and upper compartments added
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Before

After

 
1999 - Station 56 is opened on East Lake Rd. This facility also meets NFPA and OSHA standards.  Building is completely sprinkled.
  • Purchased Squad from E-ONE  "S57"
  • Purchased new Ford Expedition for District Chiefs "D57"
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2000 - June 20, 2000 Eastlakefirerescue.com created by Lt. Bill Edling  
2000 - September 5, 2000 East Lake Fire & Rescue becomes a
"Special Independent Fire District" by a 59.75% YES Vote!
2000 - December 31, 2000 Fire Chief Ron Taylor retires
                              click here for full story
                Assistant Chief Jeff Parks assumes Acting Fire Chief position.
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2001 - October 1, 2001 Jeffrey S. Parks promoted to Fire Chief.
                              click here for full story 		parks_swearingin.gif (41477 bytes)
2001 - December 26, 2001 East Lake Fire & Rescue Board of Commissioners voted to return the Daytona Squad to E-One; A new Squad will soon be ordered.
2002 - September 11, 2002 East Lake Fire & Rescue debuts new Honor Guard consisting of 8 members: Lt/P Bill Edling, Lt/P Scott McLain, DE/E Bill Figuredo, DE/P Greg Godwin, FF/P Mark Calderini, FF/P Jim Campbell, FF/P Joe Fuller, FF/E Megan Gray
2002 - September 11, 2002 East Lake Fire & Rescue debuts new patch
2003 - February 7, 2003 Saulsbury Rescue Pumper Delivered (S57)
2003 - February     East Lake Fire Rescue purchases 3 thermal imaging
                                   cameras           click here for full story
2003 - October       Took delivery of 20 new Survivair SCBAs
                                                           click here for full story
2003 - December    East Lake Fire Rescue takes delivery of 2 more
                                  Saulsbury Rescue Pumpers (E56 + E58)
2005 - January 1, 2005 Fire Chief Jeffrey S. Parks retires

                Fire Marshal Jeff Malzone assumes Acting Fire Chief
2005 - June          Installed laptops in front line units
                                                           click here for full story
2005 - June 30, 2005 Jeff Malzone receives contract as Fire Chief
2005 - October 2005  Pinellas County leases East Lake Fire Rescue a 2000 gallon Water Truck
2006 - January 30, 2006   East Lake Fire Rescue takes delivery of a new Firematics B.R.A.T. Brush Truck
2006 - October 3, 2006   DE/P Howard Boehm becomes the first member to officially qualify and retire from East Lake Fire Rescue after 25 years of service.
2007 - December 11, 2007   Old Station 57 torn down