Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue will honor the life and service of Battalion Chief Phillip R. Collier with the dedication of a firefighter survival training maze at Cedar Hammock Station 3.
The dedication ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, at 4:30 p.m. at Station 3, 6601 53rd Ave. W. in Bradenton. The public is invited to attend the ceremony honoring Collier’s dedication, courage and commitment as a firefighter, leader and friend.
The training maze will be dedicated in Collier’s memory, connecting his legacy with the preparation and safety of current and future firefighters.
Firefighter survival training is designed to prepare firefighters for emergencies in which they become trapped, lost, disoriented, injured or low on air while operating inside a structure. The International Association of Fire Fighters’ Fire Ground Survival program similarly focuses on Mayday prevention and survival techniques that can help firefighters escape life-threatening situations.
Cedar Hammock has a long history of emphasizing hands-on firefighter training. Planning for the department’s training facility dates to the late 1980s, when department leaders began developing plans for a dedicated site. The facility envisioned at the time included areas for fire and vehicle extrication training, a multistory smoke tower and classroom space.
Today, Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue operates four fire stations and serves approximately 25 square miles in southwestern unincorporated Manatee County. The department reports responding to more than 8,000 emergency calls annually and serving a population that fluctuates between approximately 50,000 and 70,000 people.
The Oct. 15 ceremony will formally dedicate the survival training maze in Collier’s name, creating a lasting memorial centered on firefighter education, preparedness and safety.
