The Chaires Capitola Volunteer Fire Department would like to take a moment to thank the members of our community who have helped with donations during our current fund drive. We have had a very good turn out and the donations continue to come in on a daily basis.

Our fund drive is conducted by a semi-annual mail-out,. We do not make solicitation phone calls. If you receive a phone call stating they are from the Chaires Capitola VFD requesting donations, please contact us at 942-4033 to let us know. We also occasionally conduct boot drives and car washes in or near our territory.

We, in the department, want everyone to know that we could not continue in operation without the help and support of YOU, the members of the community. If you would like to donate to our department, you can donate securely using a credit card by visiting our website at http://www.chairescapitolavfd.com.

We service 72 square miles of territory on the eastern side of Leon County, including all unincorporated addresses north of Tram Rd, south of Miccosukee Rd and east of Capital Circle to the county line. Our membership is 100% volunteer with all donations going to help fund the operation of the department. No member of our department receives any pay for the services provided.

If you are interested in seeing if you have what it takes to work with the fire department contact Chief Robertson at 942-4033. We provide all training and equipment for new members. We are also interested in persons who are willing to help on an administrative basis if you are unable to run calls.

Please see the attached Backgrounder for more information about the Chaires-Capitola Volunteer Fire Department.

If you need any additional information about the event, please feel free to call me at (850) 339-7727.

Leonard Kinerson
Lieutenant
Chaires-Capitola Volunteer Fire Department

CHAIRES-CAPITOLA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT BACKGROUNDER
CONTACT: Leonard Kinerson
(850)339-7727
lkinerson@chairescapitolavfd.com

• The Chaires-Capitola Volunteer Fire Department (CCVFD) is authorized by the Leon County Board of County Commissioners to provide fire, rescue and emergency medical services.
• CCVFD is an independent 501c non-profit corporation administered by its own Board of Directors and is operationally managed by its own Chief and Officers.
• CCVFD is administratively supervised by the county via Leon County EMS.
• CCVFD works in conjunction with and under the operational oversight of the Tallahassee Fire Department and Leon County EMS, which is contracted by Leon County to provide fire, rescue and emergency medical services throughout unincorporated Leon County.
• CCVFD serves the residents of eastern unincorporated Leon County.
• CCVFD’s territory is roughly bordered from Miccosukee Road to Tram Road, Capital Circle to the Jefferson County line, excluding areas within the city limits of Tallahassee.
• CCVFD covers approximately 72 square miles and serves 8,600 households or approximately 19,000 residents.
• CCVFD’s territory includes nine miles of Interstate 10, fifteen miles of US-90 (Mahan Road), eight miles of US-27 (Apalachee Parkway), ten miles of CSX railroad, and five miles of Florida Gas Transmission Company natural gas pipeline.
• CCVFD’s territory includes: two schools (Chaires Elementary, W. T. Moore Elementary), numerous commercial structures, churches, and nine registered hazardous materials sites.
• CCVFD maintains two stations. It co-resides with the Tallahassee Fire Department and Leon County EMS at Station #12, 4701 Chaires Cross Road. The second CCVFD-only station (#30) is located at 6370 Williams Road, near Louvinia Road.
• CCVFD has 21 active volunteers. 2 are certified Paramedics. All other volunteers are trained to the First Responder level. CCVFD also has 9 state qualified firefighter all are certified for interior attack.
• CCVFD averages 950 calls per year. Of which, approximately:
  • 65% are medical emergencies, including vehicle accidents.
  • 3% are house fires.
  • 3% are vehicle fires.
  • 10% are other types of fires including brush and trash fires.
  • 8% are false residential or commercial fire alarms.
  • 10% are other types of calls including downed trees and power lines, lifting assists, traffic control, etc
• CCVFD receives approximately 30% of its annual operating budget from the Leon County Board of County Commissioners. 15% from the Tallahassee Fire Department.
• The remaining 55% of the annual operating budget funding is received through the generous donations of our citizenry. CCVFD conducts two direct-mail campaigns to our residents annually.
• CCVFD does NOT utilize telemarketing or door-to-door solicitation.
• CCVFD regularly applies for one-time federal and state grants to fund equipment upgrades or specialty training. CCVFD may occasionally request a special appropriation from the Leon County Board of County Commissioners for specific projects.
• Notable recent grants / special appropriations received by the CCVFD include:
  • 2002 Fire Act Grant (federal) - $112,000 – Funded the purchase of Tanker 12-71 and associated equipment.
  • 2005 Fire Act Grant (federal) - $72,000 – Funded the purchase of new personal protective gear for all members, gear washer & dryer, and specialized firefighter training.
  • 2005 Leon County Board of County Commissioners special appropriation – Funded the purchase of a new hydraulic pump to power rescue tools, commonly referred to as the “Jaws of Life.”
  • 2006 Fire Act Grant (federal) – $168,000 – Funded the purchase of new Interspiro S4 Air Packs and a Air, Power and Light trailer
  • 2007 Fire Act Grant (federal) - $20,000 – Funding the purchase of air quality monitors for our firefighters, a positive pressure smoke ejection fan, and thermal imager.
• CCVFD has 6 vehicles: 1 Engine / Pumper, 1 Tanker / Tender, 1 Light Rescue, 1 Air, Power and Light trailer, and 2 Brush Trucks.
• CCVFD owns and has strategically placed 5 automated external defibrillators (AEDs).
• Given the number of high-speed vehicle accidents, often requiring extrication, CCVFD owns its own set of state-of-the-art rescue tools, commonly known as “the jaws of life.”