The new station is located at the intersection between 7th Street and Buffalo Soldier Trail, just across the street from Tompkins Park.ĭorothy Tompkins, the widow of Hubert Tompkins which the park across from the station is named after, spoke about the importance of timely medical response. “And when you look at some of the gray-haired folks to live out here, it's more important every day to be able to get that response time so we hit that golden 10 minutes, wherever it may be, so, that they are alive and they are going to be a productive citizen after the fire department leaves, rather than finding a place at the nearby Veteran Cemetery or elsewhere.” “The purpose of this facility is to provide coverage for certain parts of the city that did not have adequate coverage for medical,” said Mueller. Sierra Vista Mayor Rick Mueller said during the ribbon cutting that the new station will fill a gap in medical coverage for the area. “And with our location here with our proximity to Fort Huachuca and the ability to get on post in a fast way if we need to, it really helps.” “The whole BST corridor, the response times have not been what they’re supposed to be,” said Sierra Vista Fire Chief Brian Jones. To date, the station has run 353 calls according to a press release from the city. The new Sierra Vista Fire Station 4 has been operational since the beginning of August and currently has 24/7 coverage with an EMT, a paramedic, and is equipped with one ambulance. “I am proud to say that I am serving my country and have done my part, and would definitely do it again.Sierra Vista Fire and Medical Services and the City of Sierra Vista debuted their new EMS substation 4 last Friday, which the department said will provide enhanced coverage to south Sierra Vista and backup to Fort Huachuca. €œTo be able to say in June of 2009 that I am a veteran in the U.S. In the meantime, he said, he’s just proud to serve. “He is very accountable, and because of his civilian job, I tend to give him more tasks and responsibilities than the average private first class.â€įitzgerald said he plans to finish work on a master’s degree and to look into the possibility of warrant officer school when his deployment is over in six months. €œI can’t say that I would have done the same thing if I was in his position, but I am proud that he did,†Evans said. Evans, 3-142 AHB intelligence officer, commended Fitzgerald’s decision to join. €œI also had to deal with being a lower enlisted and having to take orders, where I was previously in a position to give orders to 400 to 500 firefighters,†he added.Īrmy Maj. “However, I was in awe that there were soldiers here doing more at 21 years old than I ever thought of doing. €œMy biggest challenge was working with young adults who could be my children,†Fitzgerald said. While basic combat training and advanced individual training came relatively easy for Fitzgerald, both physically and mentally, there were a few challenges he had to overcome. “I wasn’t looking to prove anything or get attention I just wanted to do my part, and it was worth it.†€œEveryone thought I was crazy or going through a midlife crisis,†Fitzgerald said. The decision to start an Army career when he was nearing retirement in his civilian career came as a shock to Fitzgerald’s family and friends. “My goal was to do my part by coming to Iraq and serving my country.†€œThere were so many people I knew personally who passed during 9/11, and all I did was pay my taxes and practice my golf swing,†Fitzgerald said. in July 2007 at age 41, a decision he said was long overdue. Molina, informed him of a new Army age limit.įitzgerald joined his fiancee’s unit - the New York Army National Guard’s 3-142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, from Ronkonkoma, N.Y. But the citywide battalion chief jumped at the chance to enlist in the Army after his fianc, Army Spc. Fitzgerald, from Floral Park, N.Y., is serving as an intelligence analyst in Iraq.įitzgerald has served in the fire department since 1990, following in his father’s firefighting footsteps. BAGHDAD- An 18-year veteran of the New York City Fire Department is achieving another veteran status here, this time as a soldier.
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