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‘Sound-Off’ at Moosehaven honors International Firefighters’ Day

By Nick Blank
Posted 5/1/19

ORANGE PARK – Don’t be alarmed when you hear sirens this Saturday.

Local residents will hear a 30-seconds of blaring fire truck sirens at noon, an act of remembrance and solidarity with …

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‘Sound-Off’ at Moosehaven honors International Firefighters’ Day


Posted

ORANGE PARK – Don’t be alarmed when you hear sirens this Saturday.

Local residents will hear a 30-seconds of blaring fire truck sirens at noon, an act of remembrance and solidarity with firefighters across the world for International Firefighters’ Day.

Hoods For Heroes, a local nonprofit that donates carcinogen-blocking hoods for firefighters, is hosting its second annual “Sound-Off” to honor firefighters’ sacrifices. The event is 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Moosehaven Lodge. Admission is free.

The Sound-Off originates Down Under. In December of 1998, the deaths of five Australian volunteer firefighters in the Linton Bushfire prompted a global need to remember fallen first responders on International Firefighters’ Day.

In addition to line-of-duty deaths, Hoods For Heroes co-founder Bill Hamilton said The Sound-Off was important to pay tribute to those who suffer from cancer. The organization has donated about 1,000 hoods to first responders so far since its inception last August.

“The Sound-Off for us is to bring awareness to the cancer danger firefighters face and bring that memorialization as well,” Hamilton said.

He added the reality is all firefighters are a part of every community when natural disasters strike.

“When the Hurricane Michael hit the Panhandle, you had firefighters respond all over the country. When the California wildfire happened a few months, you not only had firefighters respond all over the country, but internationally,” Hamilton said. “Every firefighter is a part of every community.”

Hamilton said the goal of Hoods For Heroes is putting “Hoods on heads,” though any time the organization can spread awareness they would take it. According to the International Association of Fire Fighters, multiple studies indicate about one in three firefighters will be diagnosed with cancer and more than 60 percent of deaths are due to cancer.

The purpose of the event was saying thank you and making the public aware of the struggles of firefighters after the fire is extinguished, he said.

“We want to create an ecosystem of collaborators that are geared to help keeping our first responders safe beyond the everyday danger the public sees. We realize that people are ready to make a difference and all they have to do is hear the message and they are willing to help.”

CEO Jeff Rountree said about 1,300 people came to St. Johns Country Day School and they expect at least 4,000 at this year’s iteration. The event features an obstacle course for skilled first responders called rapid intervention teams and a less strenuous course for corporate partners to endure in full firefighter gear.

“It was great, but we couldn’t really grow the event any more than what it was at maximum capacity last year,” Rountree said. “This whole mission has grown 100-times bigger and faster than we had any idea what might happen.”

Rountree said the support has been tremendous and the two-man operation had received requests for hoods from 30 states and 80 fire departments in the country.

“This started in our backyard. The growth is happening very organically,” Rountree said. “It’s just in every county we go, thinking how fast we can get hoods in hands. Sponsorships and partnerships help us achieve those goals faster.”