Pictured is Inspector Carl Schell checking a Sun Lakes commercial business address and suite number. (Photo by Brian Curry)
Fire Corps Fire Inspectors Resume Operations
Brian Curry
The Arizona Fire & Medical Authority (AFMA) Volunteer Fire Corps in Sun Lakes have resumed their fire inspection activities in support of AFMA Fire Marshals after a year of shutdown due to COVID-19 concerns. The Sun Lakes Fire Corps has three Arizona state-certified fire inspectors among their volunteers: Roger Fell and Brian Curry, who are level-one certified, and Car Schell, who is certified in levels one and two.
EMT Zach Rock looks happy to be ready to bite into his cheeseburger.
Firefighters and Medics Thank GSLCF for Donation
Brian Curry
It has been a great long-standing tradition within the Sun Lakes community that when our residents want to show appreciation or just say thank you to our Arizona Fire & Medical Authority (AFMA) firefighters and medics, that they can simply make a meal or bake a cake and drop it off at one of the two Sun Lakes fire stations to our always-appreciative emergency first responders. Like a lot of other things, the pandemic brought a halt to that wonderful gesture, with no outside food or personnel allowed inside the stations for safety reasons. One way that the Greater Sun Lakes Community Foundation (GSLCF) figured out they could still “feed the troops” is by donating $2,000 to the men and women at Station 232 on Alma School Road. AFMA Chief Robert Biscoe, the officers, and the men and women of AFMA give a big thank you to the GSLCF and all of Sun Lakes.
Maricopa County Supervisor Jack Sellers accepts a commemorative fire helmet from Arizona Fire & Medical Authority Chief Robert Biscoe in thanks for Mr. Sellers’ assistance on behalf of AFMA during the pandemic.
AFMA Chief Biscoe Thanks Maricopa Supervisor Sellers
Brian Curry
The Arizona Fire & Medical Authority’s (AFMA) Chief of Department Robert Biscoe reflected on the relationship between his organization and Maricopa Supervisor Jack Sellers.
AFMA, which provides fire suppression and emergency medical services for the community of Sun Lakes, was hit hard during the past year due to the pandemic, and the virus didn’t stop the regular yearly volume of 911 calls. “We pride ourselves in having a budget that prepares for anything, but the COVID emergency had us dealing with issues that we never had to face before,” Biscoe said.
“It’s during these very unusual times that we reach out to our elected officials, and their response can mean a huge difference,” Biscoe stressed.
The Chief reflected that Supervisor Sellers “responded” like an emergency responder himself. “In everything from the large amount of our personnel affected by the virus to additional equipment needed by our crews, Chairman Sellers was receptive to our needs and requests.”
That culminated in Sellers appearing at the Sun Lakes Station 231 with a ceremonial check representing a reimbursement from the First Responder CARES act of just short of $947,000. “Without the support of Supervisor Sellers, as well as the entire board of supervisors, AFMA would have been severely financially challenged.”
Every chief, officer, firefighter, or medic of AFMA thanks Supervisor Sellers and the board of supervisors for coming to our aid when we needed it. It is an honor and a pleasure for us to work with them for our mutual goals.