SEPT. 12 – Fire Chief Scott Hechler thanked fireman John Lightsey for saving the county department “well over $100,000.” Lightsey suggested and implemented the installation of LED lighting in all of the county fire stations. Lightsey was a dispatcher for the NYC Fire Department on Sept. 11, 2001. He moved to Hernando County in 2013.
Chief Hechler thanked Jayson Willman, driver and engineer at station 10 for his exemplary actions during a recent house fire that resulted in Willman’s extreme heat exhaustion. “He performed his duties above and beyond in extreme heat. He went through multiple bottles (of oxygen) and was still fighting fire when he went down,” said Chief Hechler.
Hechler explained that the team fighting the fire with Willman went into immediate action and used their skills to impact a positive outcome. He stated that the engines are equipped with ALS (advanced life support) and firefighters are ALS trained.