For immediate release - August 31, 2005

Lake County firefighters join emergency operations in Gulf Coast

TAVARES — The Lake County Department of Public Safety announced today that five firefighters from the Fire Rescue Division were either deployed or in the process of joining emergency operations in the area of the Gulf Coast decimated by Hurricane Katrina.

Battalion Chief Randy Jones left at the beginning of this week for a deployment with the Florida Division of Forestry. Following Jones, Assistant Chief of Operations Jim Dickerson and Lt. Chuck Blinko joined the region's Florida Task Force Tuesday for an operation in the Gulf Coast.

Also recently deployed is Firefighter Jeff Lord, who will be working with the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Firefighter Jeff Fabi is also expected to be deployed today for a Florida National Guard mission to the Gulf Coast.

"Lake County is ready to assist these devastated communities in any way we can," said Gary Kaiser, Director of the Department of Public Safety. "As recovery operations continue, other Lake County Government Operations such as Environmental Services and Public Works may be asked to assist. It's our turn to help others as we were helped last year."

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Contact information:
Christopher Patton
Communications Coordinator
Office: (352) 343-9609; Cell: (352) 455-0445
cpatton@co.lake.fl.us