Lake County Firefighters

10/14/2026

Some calls stay with you long after they’re over.

Firefighters, Paramedics and EMTs see things most people will never experience. We respond to someone’s worst day, do everything we can to help, and then move on to the next call. There’s not always time to process what we just witnessed, and the things we carry don’t simply disappear when the call is over.

There’s a reason Florida took steps in 2018 to recognize PTSD among first responders. The mental toll of this job is real, and sometimes being able to talk openly with someone who understands what you’ve just been through makes a difference.

But those conversations aren’t always easy to have. Especially when there’s a camera pointed at you. What used to be a private moment between partners can suddenly feel like something you have to be careful about sharing.

And sometimes, that conversation on the way back to the station is exactly what someone needed.

10/09/2026

You start watching what you say.

That’s what happens when you’re no longer sure a conversation is just between you and the person sitting beside you.

You think twice before venting about a difficult call. You hesitate before talking about something going on at home. Maybe you decide it’s easier not to say anything at all.

Most conversations inside our trucks aren’t serious. They’re just how our members pass the time during a 24 hour shift.

But sometimes they’re exactly the conversation someone needed to have after a bad call or a rough day.

For years, our members could have those conversations without thinking twice about who might be listening or watching.

That changed. And so did the conversations.

10/05/2026

Trust is a big part of our job.

When you spend 24 hours with the same crew, you get to know each other pretty well. You know when someone is having a bad day. You know when something is bothering them. And sometimes you know they need to talk before they ever say a word.

That comes from working together, running calls together, and knowing the men and women beside you have your back.

And sometimes, you just need to be able to talk.

It might be something serious. It might be something going on at home. Or it might be absolutely nothing important. But when you’re sitting in that cab talking with your crew, you expect that conversation to stay with your crew.

What happens when that expectation is taken away?

10/01/2026

There are parts of this job the public rarely sees.

One of them is what happens in the cab between calls.

Our members spend a lot of time there together during a 24 hour shift. It’s where we talk about the last call, what’s happening at home, our kids, plans for our days off, frustrations, and pretty much everything in between.

After a bad call, sometimes that conversation gets a little more serious. Sometimes someone needs to vent. Sometimes you talk through what happened. Sometimes you laugh about something completely unrelated because that’s exactly what you needed at that moment.

The cab has always been a place where our members can let their guard down for a few minutes and talk openly with the people they trust.

Those few minutes matter more than most people probably realize.

For our members, the cab has always been a safe space.

09/18/2026

We stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters of the Professional Firefighters of Leesburg, Local 2957 Firefighters deserve a voice, not intimidation. Leadership should be fixing the problems, not silencing those who expose them.

OUR VOICES WILL NOT BE SILENCED.

The Leesburg Professional Firefighters believe that transparency and open communication are essential to maintaining the public’s trust.

Recently, our union has been asked by fire administration to remove posts from our social media page.

Our posts are intended to bring awareness to the challenges facing our firefighters, including staffing shortages, aging apparatus, equipment concerns, and the need to remain competitive in recruiting and retaining qualified personnel.

These are not personal attacks. These are issues that directly affect our members and the community we proudly serve.

Our firefighters show up every day, ready to answer the call. They deserve to have their concerns heard, and the residents of Leesburg deserve to understand the challenges facing their fire department.

As a labor organization, we believe in our responsibility to advocate for our members and communicate openly about matters affecting public safety.

We welcome constructive conversations with city leadership and fire administration. Our goal is not conflict. Our goal is a stronger, safer, and better staffed fire department.

We will continue advocating for our firefighters, their families, and the citizens of Leesburg.

Transparency is not disrespect. Advocacy is not insubordination.

Leesburg Professional Firefighters
IAFF Local 2957

09/17/2026

We are proud to endorse Khrystyna McCoy-Tremaine for Groveland City Council, District 3.

As a 15-year U.S. Air Force veteran and former first responder, Khrystyna understands firsthand the demands of public service and what it means to answer the call.

As fellow first responders, we’re encouraged that our brothers and sisters with the Groveland Professional Firefighters, IAFF Local 5142 have someone like Khrystyna seeking to serve on their City Council; someone who understands their needs, values their service, and recognizes that supporting Public Safety means supporting the people behind the uniform.

Khrystyna has shown a willingness to listen, collaborate and do the work. That kind of partnership strengthens not only Groveland, but our greater Lake County community.

The Professional Firefighters, Paramedics and EMTs of Lake County, IAFF Local 3990 is proud to stand with and endorse Khrystyna McCoy-Tremaine.

09/11/2026

Twenty five years ago, our nation watched the unthinkable unfold.

On September 11, 2001, 2,977 lives were taken. Among them were 343 FDNY firefighters who answered the call, climbed those stairs and never came home.

For those of us who wear the uniform today, September 11 is more than a date in history. It is a reminder of service, sacrifice and the responsibility we carry to remember those who came before us.

Twenty five years later, we remember every life lost, every family forever changed and every first responder who answered the call.

We will never forget.

09/09/2026

We are proud to endorse Joe Strada for Congress.

Joe has built a successful business right here in Florida through hard work, integrity and a commitment to the community. Along the way, he has created jobs, helped others succeed and remained a strong supporter of Central Florida’s first responders.

For us, that matters. Lake County continues to grow, and our firefighters, paramedics and EMTs need leaders who understand the importance of investing in public safety and making sure we have the staffing and resources necessary to serve our communities.

Joe has shown us that he understands that responsibility, and we believe he will bring the same work ethic and commitment to public service that has made him successful in business.

The Professional Firefighters, Paramedics and EMTs of Lake County, IAFF Local 3990, are proud to stand with Joe Strada and give him our full support.

09/07/2026

Labor Day is more than a long weekend. It is a reminder of what working people have accomplished by standing together and fighting for something better.

For generations, organized labor has fought for fair wages, safer working conditions, reasonable hours, time with our families, and a voice in the workplace. Many of the things working people have today exist because those who came before us were willing to fight for them.

As proud members of the International Association of Fire Fighters, we stand alongside more than 368,000 firefighters, paramedics and EMTs throughout the United States and Canada.

We may serve different communities and work in different departments, but at the end of the day, we all want the same things for our members. Fair wages. Proper staffing. Safe working conditions. And enough time away from the job to be there for their families.

Progress does not happen by sitting back and hoping things get better. It happens when working people stand together, have a voice at the table, and keep pushing forward.

Today, we are proud to be pro labor, pro union and proud to serve.

Happy Labor Day from the Professional Firefighters, Paramedics and EMTs of Lake County, IAFF Local 3990.

08/28/2026

Yesterday afternoon, Lake County Fire Rescue crews responded to a residential structure fire in the City of Leesburg. Upon arrival, firefighters encountered a single family home with heavy smoke and fire conditions.

During a secondary search of the home, firefighters from Lake County Ladder 56 located an unresponsive adult inside. Firefighters from Ladder 56 and Engine 59 worked together to quickly remove the homeowner from the structure so care could be provided. Tragically, the homeowner later succumbed to his injuries. Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with his family and loved ones.

This is not an outcome to celebrate. It is, however, a sobering reminder of why adequate staffing and the closest available response matter.

Searching a burning home and removing a victim requires firefighters to operate quickly in an environment where conditions can change in seconds. Every firefighter available on that apparatus makes a difference.

Lake County Fire Rescue operates 28 frontline units, yet only 12 are staffed with three firefighters around the clock. The remaining 16 operate with two. When lives are at stake, staffing cannot be an afterthought.

This incident also reinforces the importance of a comprehensive first response agreement between Lake County and the municipalities within the Lake County fire system. Fire and medical emergencies do not recognize jurisdictional boundaries. The closest appropriate unit should respond to every emergency, regardless of the name on the side of the truck.

We will continue advocating for adequate staffing and a response system that puts the needs of the people we serve first. Yesterday is a painful reminder of why both matter.

Our deepest condolences remain with the homeowner’s family and everyone affected by this loss.