The Bonifay news page is now listed by the current year. Every news release before January 1st 2010 can be found in the news archieves of 2009. This will help with the page load times.

Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010

Structure Fire

On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, at 2:26am, Bonifay Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a structure fire at 1735 Highway 173 N. Engine 1 with 5 personnel, Pumper 1 with 2 personnel, and Tanker 1 with 2 personnel were en route at 2:29am. While en route dispatch advised the structure was a barn. Esto Fire Department was requested to respond for water supply. Engine 1 was the first unit to arrive at 2:38am to find a metal storage building approx. 20' x 20' fully involved. Esto Fire Dept. was cancelled after the initial scene size-up. Crews attacked the fire with a 1-1/2 inch line. Approximately 4,000 gallons was used to extinguish the building and its contents. All Station 1 units were clear the scene and en route to the station at 4:48am.

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Structure Fire

On Monday, March 1, 2010, Bonifay Fire-Rescue responded as mutual aid for Esto Fire Department on a structure fire on Highway 177. The 911 caller advised the house fully involved. Captain 104 responded direct for an assessment along with Pumper 1 and Tanker 1. Upon 104's arrival, he found a single wide mobile home with fire showing in the front door area and smoke coming from all windows and the gable vents. Pumper 1 arrived next, parked in the rear of the home and three firefighters with SCBA and a 1-1/2" attack line made a rear door interior attack and a primary search. No one was found inside on the primary search and the interior flames were knocked down quickly. The extinguishing operation focus then turned to the attic since interior operations advised the ceiling was tin but the outside roof covering was shingles. The mobile home had two seperate roof coverings. The fire had spread to concealed space between the two roofs. Within minutes of the attic attack from the gable vents, the fire was out. Esto Fire Department at that point was Incident Command and notified the State Fire Marshal's Office for an investigation into the cause.

Monday, March 1st, 2010

Structure Fire

On Monday, March 1, 2010, Holmes County Communications Center received a 911 call from 2235 Highway 177A reporting smoke in the residence. Bonifay Fire-Rescue was dispatched at 6:38am. Engine 1 and Pumper 1 responded with 4 personnel as well as Asst. Chief 102 responding direct for an assessment at 6:43am. When Asst. Chief 102 arrived he found a single story wood frame home with smoke in the shower/laundry room area. The tenant of the home stated there was a small electric fan under the house. Engine 1 and Pumper 1 arrived at 6:48am. With no access to the under side of the house from the outside, two small floor boards were removed near the shower at the warmest point on the wooden floor. That's where firefighters found the small electric fan that had an electical short and caught on fire. The fan was placed there to circulate the air under the house. The fire was extinguished with a water type extinguisher before any damage could be done to the foundation of the home. Also the home was ventilated with a positive pressure fan to clear the smoke. All Station 1 units were back in service at 7:12am.

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Structure Fire

On Wednesday February 24 at 7:12PM, the Holmes County Communications Center received a 911 call from a residence on North Highway 79, just north of Hoovers Mill Road. The caller stated her kitchen was on fire. Dispatchers immediately alerted Bonifay Fire-Rescue, who responded with two engine crews and a water tanker. The first engine crew arrived on scene at 7:20PM and confirmed there was a working fire in the kitchen. Firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire with a dry-chemical extinguisher. The second engine crew arrived and cleared smoke from the home with a ventilation fan. After a brief investigation by fire officers on scene, it was determined that the fire was accidental and was caused by hot cooking oil in a frying pan left unattended on the stovetop for a few minutes. The fire was contained to the stove area, and caused a very minimal amount of damage to the interior wall behind the stove. The occupants of the home were present during the incident, but were unharmed by the fire.

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Building Smoke

On Sunday February 21, the Holmes County Communications Center received an emergency call from the McDonald’s restaurant in Bonifay. The caller stated there was smoke in the kitchen area. Bonifay Fire-Rescue was dispatched at 10:49AM. Two engine crews responded to the scene. The first engine arrived at 10:53AM and quickly deployed a team of firefighters to the roof. The second engine crew arrived and performed a quick interior search of the building. Crews were able to quickly locate the source of the smoke; a defective fluorescent light ballast. The ballast had overheated, sending smoke overhead into the ceiling space and through the HVAC system. The overheated ballast was disconnected by firefighters. There was no damage to the building. Business operations were quickly resumed once firefighters cleared the building.

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Vehicle Accident

On Wednesday, February 17, 2010, A 48-year-old Bonifay woman was killed in a wreck on Wednesday in the westbound lane of Interstate-10, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.
FHP reports the red Hyundai was driving west at about 1:15 p.m. when for unknown reasons she drifted from the outside lane and hit the north shoulder of the interstate. The vehicle then plunged down the embankment and struck several trees. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Holmes County EMS. Bonifay Fire-Rescue handled the extrication process after FHP cleared them to do so.
The victim was driving a 2001 red Hyundai and was not wearing a seatbelt according to FHP.

Saturday, February 13th, 2010

Structure Fire

On Saturday, February 13, 2010, The Holmes County Central Communications Office received an emergency call from 603 West Kansas Avenue in Bonifay at 1:30AM on February 13th. The caller stated there was smoke in the house. Bonifay Fire-Rescue was dispatched and responded with two engine companies. The first fire crew arrived at 1:37AM and reported visible smoke in the attic. Firefighters deployed an extension ladder, made rapid entry into the attic space through an exterior gable vent and located a burned electrical wire which had ignited the ceiling insulation. The fire was extinguished using a 1 ½” attack line. The second fire crew arrived and established ventilation through the structure and checked for extension of the fire into the living space of the structure. The fire was contained to its point of origin in the attic, resulting in a very minimal amount of damage to the home. Gulf Power arrived and disconnected the meter box as a safety precaution.

Officer Carver with the Bonifay Police Department was on scene and assisted fire personnel. Holmes County EMS was also on scene for medical stand-by.

After a thorough check of the structure, all units departed the scene at 3:20AM.

Monday, February 8th, 2010

Structure Fire

On Monday, February 8, 2010, Bonifay Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a possible structure fire on Hamlin Street in Bonifay. The 911 caller advised she and her child had evacuated the residence when they smelled smoke. Captain 104 arrived one minute later to find a single wide mobile home with light smoke showing and strong electrical burn odor. The main breaker was shut down immediately. The central HVAC unit was located. There was an electrical short that was burning mostly plastic. The residents were advised to leave the main power breaker off until the landlord could have an electrician repair the unit. Pumper 1 and Tanker 1 were both on scene.

House Fire

On Thursday Feb. 4, 2010, Bonifay Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a kitchen fire in a residence on west highway 90. The call was received at 2:00pm. Bonifay Police arrived and advised smoke showing on the second story. Bonifay Fire Engine 1 called en route at 2:02pm. Engine 1 arrived at 2:05pm to find an active fire on the stove advancing up the wall into the ceiling. Firefighters made entry with a 1-1/2 inch attack line and extinguished the fire. A ventilation fan was then used to clear the home of smoke. The kitchen was the only room damaged by the fire and it was extinguished before it could advance to the attic or any other room. Holmes County EMS was also on scene. The home owner provided a clear explanation on how the fire started, therefore the State Fire Marshal's office was not notified. All Station 1 units returned to service at 2:45pm.

Trafic Accident

On Tuesday, February 2, 2010, Bonifay Fire-Rescue was dispatched along with Holmes County EMS to a motor vehicle crash on Hwy 79 South about 1 mile south of Hwy 280. The 911 caller advised a truck had struck a tree and overturned in the woods. The first Bonifay Fire-Rescue unit arrived to find a small late model Chevy pick-up on its side in the woods. The truck was unoccupied and the driver was sitting on the ground near the wreckage. The driver was wearing his seat belt and climbed out of the truck on his own. Aid was rendered until Holmes Co. EMS arrived. The patient was taken to Doctor's Memorial Hospital and from there was transported by ambulance to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola with serious injuries. Florida Highway Patrol is investigating.

Trafic Accident

On Tuesday, January 26, 2010, Bonifay Fire-Rescue along with HCSO deputies and Holmes County EMS was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash with serious injuries and entrapment on Hwy 177A near the Dogwood Lakes entrance. Emergency responders arrived to find a late model Nissan Altima in the woods occupied twice. The car had lost control and went thru a wooden fence, hit some small trees and struck a large oak tree with the rear bumper causing major passenger compartment intrusion. Bonifay Fire-Rescue cut the roof from the wreckage and extricated the patients while Holmes County EMS personnel treated the wreck victims. One of the wreck victims was air lifted to a local hospital and one victim was called deceased on scene by EMS personnel. Florida Highway Patrol is still investigating the crash.

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

New Members of the Bonifay Fire Department

Bonifay Fire-Rescue welcomes two new firefighters.....

On Thursday, January 21, 2010, Bonifay Fire-Rescue had its first monthly meeting of 2010. Chief McCormick brought to this meeting two firefighters who had applied in December to become members of Bonifay Fire-Rescue. Lee Moss, a certified Firefighter I and Nicholas Taylor, a certified Firefighter II/EMT were brought before the current members and were both voted in unanimously.

This year will consist of many hours of training for Bonifay Fire-Rescue. For the past five years Bonifay Fire-Rescue has strived to be one of the most certified departments in this area. The 20 member roster includes 10 certified Firefighter I's, 2 certified Firefighter II's, 1 Paramedic, 2 Emergency Medical Technicians, & 3 firefighters who have recently completed EMT school and are waiting for a state board exam testing date. Bonifay Fire-Rescue will be training in-house monthly this year.

Monday, January 18th, 2010

Animal in Distress

On Monday, January 18, 2010, Bonifay Fire-Rescue received a walk-up complaint from a concerned citizen advising there was a white cat on the roof of a pavillion at Veteran's Park. The complainant advised the cat would not come down and she was concerned for its well being. Two firefighters from Bonifay Fire-Rescue and Engine #1 responded in a non-urgent manner to the scene. Once a scene size-up was complete, they found an average sized cat, white in color, on the roof. This cat appeared to be a house cat but all safety precautions were prepared in case it was not. At that time a roof ladder was deployed. The instant the ladder touched the tin roof, the startled cat became aware of the situation and left the roof immediately.

Structure Fire and Trafic Accident

On Sunday, January 10, 2010, Bonifay Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a structure fire on Tobe Retherford Rd as mutual aid for Gritney Fire Department. Upon arrival, Attack 1, Pumper 1, and Tanker 1 with 6 firefighters assisted Gritney Fire who was already on scene fighting the fire with 4 personnel and Engine 13. Pittman and Caryville Fire Department also responded with water support. Esto Fire Department was en route but was downgraded to a district standby when the Incident Commander advised all on scene units could handle. The home was unoccupied at the time of call but unfortunately was a total loss.

Shortly after Attack 1 cleared from the structure fire, Bonifay Fire-Rescue and Holmes County EMS were dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on I-10 near the 100 mile marker east bound. Bonifay Fire-Rescue Attack 1 and Squad 1 responded and arrived to find a late model Corvette near the woodline at the 100 mile marker. The driver was the only occupant and was not injured.

Trafic Accident

On Saturday, January 9, 2010, Bonifay Fire-Rescue was dispatched to a motor vehicle crash on I-10 near the 115 mile marker. While en route, dispatch advised a report from on scene stated there was entrapment. Fire 112 arrived soon after and advised there was a van vs. the rear of a tractor trailer with major extrication required. The accident location was east bound near the 116 mile marker just inside Washington County. Squad 1 and Attack 1 arrived and began the extrication process. Unfortunately the driver was pronounced deceased on scene by EMS personnel shortly after the extrication process began. The extrication process was postponed until Florida Highway Patrol completed their on-scene investigation. Attack 1 remained on scene until the wrecker service could pull the two vehicles apart in case of a fire. The accident is still under investigation by Florida Highway Patrol.