Item B5 B5
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE Mayor James K.Scholl,District 3
The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern Michelle Lincoln,District 2
Craig Cates,District 1
David Rice,District 4
Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
March 25, 2025
Agenda Item Number: B5
2023-3749
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: Administration
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: Lindsey Ballard
n/a
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Recognition of James Callahan, retiring Monroe County Fire Chief,
for his dedicated and loyal leadership and service to our community and Board.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
Monroe County would like to honor and recognize the long-standing leadership and accomplishments
made by retiring Fire Chief James Callahan, who enabled Monroe County Fire Rescue to become the
professional organization that it is today for the Florida Keys community.
Although Chief Callahan came to Monroe County to work for what he thought would be only a short
period after retiring from the city of St. Petersburg, he has served our community for almost 20 years
and has led the fire department as its Fire Chief since 2010. Prior to that, he was appointed acting Fire
Chief three times (2006, 2007 and 2008).
Over the years, Chief Callahan worked with the FKAA to increase the number of fire hydrants for fire
suppression, increased staffing levels to meet the state's minimum standards, and worked with project
management to rebuild the fire stations in Conch Key, Stock Island, Big Pine and Cudjoe Key and
make renovations to Tavernier, Layton and Sugarloaf.
In partnership with the Monroe County Sheriffs Office, Chief Callahan included firefighter/flight
paramedics and flight nurses on the Trauma Star air ambulance service to assist with critical patient care
during helicopter transports. Chief Callahan also consolidated the airport fire services under Fire
Rescue giving the firefighters at the Key West International Airport access to state mandated training
and logistics to better handle medical calls and other emergencies. He established a Fire Prevention
Division with a dedicated fire marshal and added deputy fire marshals to handle building plan reviews,
construction inspections, commercial fire inspections and public education. He has also enhanced the
Training Division with additional personnel and facilitated a state-of-the-art training facility to develop
Florida Keys individuals into licensed professional firefighters and emergency medical technicians in
coordination with the College of the Florida Keys. Today's `Hot Shots' program has graduated 7
classes.
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During his tenure, the milestones that Chief Callahan accomplished for the fire department were made
with the support of the individual Keys' communities, the board of county commissioners, county
administrator and fire department staff. It has been Chief Callahan's knowledge and experience in fire
department administration and operations that has advanced Monroe County Fire Rescue from a small
combination department into a professional fire service organization.
The Monroe County Fire Rescue service has been improving every year and the new leadership is well
prepared for the future as a direct result of the past leadership of Fire Chief James Callahan.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
On May 19, 2021, then Mayor Michelle Lincoln and the Monroe County Board of County Commission
presented Fire Chief James Callahan with the Honorary Conch Proclamation which is the highest
recognition that can be received for public service in the Florida Keys.
INSURANCE REQUIRED:
No
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
n/a
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: n/a
DOCUMENTATION:
Recognition of Fire Chief James Callahan.docx
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
n/a
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Recognition of James Callahan, retiring Monroe County Fire Chief
Monroe County would like to honor and recognize the long-standing leadership and
accomplishments made by retiring Fire Chief James Callahan, who enabled Monroe County Fire
Rescue to become the professional organization that it is today for the Florida Keys community.
Although Chief Callahan came to Monroe County to work for what he thought would be
only a short period after retiring from the city of St. Petersburg, he has served our community for
almost 20 years and has led the fire department as its Fire Chief since 2010. Prior to that, he was
appointed acting Fire Chief three times (2006, 2007 and 2008).
Over the years, Chief Callahan worked with the FKAA to increase the number of fire
hydrants for fire suppression, increased staffing levels to meet the state's minimum standards,
and worked with project management to rebuild the fire stations in Conch Key, Stock Island, Big
Pine and Cudjoe Key and make renovations to Tavernier, Layton and Sugarloaf.
In partnership with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, Chief Callahan included
firefighter/flight paramedics and flight nurses on the Trauma Star air ambulance service to assist
with critical patient care during helicopter transports. Chief Callahan also consolidated the
airport fire services under Fire Rescue giving the firefighters at the Key West International
Airport access to state mandated training and logistics to better handle medical calls and other
emergencies. He established a Fire Prevention Division with a dedicated fire marshal and added
deputy fire marshals to handle building plan reviews, construction inspections, commercial fire
inspections and public education. He has also enhanced the Training Division with additional
personnel and facilitated a state-of-the-art training facility to develop Florida Keys individuals
into licensed professional firefighters and emergency medical technicians in coordination with
the College of the Florida Keys. Today's `Hot Shots' program has graduated 7 classes.
During his tenure, the milestones that Chief Callahan accomplished for the fire
department were made with the support of the individual Keys' communities, the board of
county commissioners, county administrator and fire department staff. It has been Chief
Callahan's knowledge and experience in fire department administration and operations that has
advanced Monroe County Fire Rescue from a small combination department into a professional
fire service organization.
The Monroe County Fire Rescue service has been improving every year and the new
leadership is well prepared for the future as a direct result of the past leadership of Fire Chief
James Callahan.
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