Metro-Dade Firefighters Local 1403

Metro-Dade Firefighters Local 1403 Proudly representing all of Miami-Dade County Firefighters, Paramedics & Dispatchers

The Dade County Association of Firefighters represents over 1900 active uniformed Firefighters, Paramedics, Dispatchers and 800 retirees. To make a donation & for more info on the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) Fill the Boot Campaign, please visit: http://igfn.us/vf/BOOT/MiamiDadeLocal1403

Local 1403's Fire Tower served as the venue for the 4th Annual Emergency Response Summit on Thursday, bringing together ...
06/19/2026

Local 1403's Fire Tower served as the venue for the 4th Annual Emergency Response Summit on Thursday, bringing together emergency medical professionals from across South Florida for a day of education, collaboration, and hands-on training. Sponsored by HCA Florida Kendall Hospital, the workshop provided participants with the opportunity to sharpen critical life-saving skills through multiple interactive training stations led by experts in emergency medicine. Topics included advanced airway management and intubation, ultrasound-guided I/V access, needle decompression, pediatric drowning emergencies, and other essential prehospital care techniques. Firefighter/paramedics, EMTs, and EMS students from multiple agencies filled the Fire Tower, eager to enhance their knowledge, exchange ideas, and learn the latest advances in emergency patient care. The event fostered both professional development and networking, reinforcing the commitment of South Florida's emergency responders to delivering the highest level of service to the communities they protect.

Working as a first responder takes a toll not only on physical health, but also on mental well-being. Recognizing the un...
06/19/2026

Working as a first responder takes a toll not only on physical health, but also on mental well-being. Recognizing the unique challenges faced by those who serve on the front lines, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue continues to prioritize programs aimed at strengthening the mental health and resilience of its members and fellow first responders. This week, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue’s Health and Safety Division hosted Mindset Matters, a comprehensive first responder mental health event at the Fire Rescue Training Center. Personnel from fire and law enforcement agencies throughout South Florida gathered to learn practical strategies for maintaining wellness in a demanding profession. The program featured presentations on the impact of high-intensity incidents on stress levels and job performance, techniques for overcoming sleep deprivation and restoring healthy sleep patterns, and methods for transforming personal and professional challenges into opportunities for growth. Participants also explored ways to foster resilience and strengthen a culture of support within the firehouse and across the first responder community. By investing in the mental health of those who protect our communities, programs such as Mindset Matters help ensure that first responders are equipped not only to meet the challenges of the job, but also to thrive both professionally and personally.

On Wednesday, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue welcomed a distinguished delegation from Paraguay led by Brigadier General Richard ...
06/17/2026

On Wednesday, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue welcomed a distinguished delegation from Paraguay led by Brigadier General Richard Lopez Abdala, a senior fire service officer and the equivalent of a Fire Chief. Accompanying General Lopez Abdala were Consul Cesar Ayala, Consular Staff Member Juan Sandoval, and Ignacio Villa of the United Firefighting Training Network. The delegation was hosted by Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Training & Safety Chief Michael Ung, who conducted a comprehensive tour of the Fire Rescue Training Center. During their visit, the guests met with members of Recruit Class 159, who were participating in Professional Development Training as they continue their transition into the Miami-Dade Fire Rescue family. The visit provided an opportunity to showcase Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's commitment to firefighter training, professional development, and international cooperation while fostering relationships between fire service leaders from the United States and Paraguay.

The annual Progressive Firefighters Association Summer Swim Program kicked off Monday morning at the Dawkins Olympic Poo...
06/15/2026

The annual Progressive Firefighters Association Summer Swim Program kicked off Monday morning at the Dawkins Olympic Pool Complex in Miami's Charles Hadley Park. The program attracts hundreds of youngsters from Miami-Dade County's inner-city neighborhoods with a singular focus: keeping children safe in and around the water. Far too often, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue crews respond to heartbreaking incidents involving children who have drowned in backyard swimming pools, canals, lakes, and other waterways. The Summer Swim Program seeks to prevent those tragedies by teaching participants the fundamentals of water safety and equipping them with lifesaving skills that can make all the difference. This year, the Progressive Firefighters Association has partnered with the Miami-Dade County Zero Drowning Initiative, a countywide effort dedicated to reducing drowning incidents through education and prevention. Together, they are working to ensure that children from every neighborhood and from all cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds learn essential drowning prevention techniques that will help keep them safer in and around the water. By empowering young people with knowledge, confidence, and respect for the water, the Summer Swim Program continues its mission of creating a safer future for Miami-Dade County families.

06/12/2026

On Tuesday, June 9, students, parents, and Executive Board members gathered at Fire Tower Miami to proudly celebrate the 2026 Lt. Dewey Henry Scholarship winners.

Hosted by the Dade County Association of Firefighters Charities, Inc., the recognition breakfast honored eight exceptional students of firefighter families while reflecting on the life and legacy of Lt. Dewey Henry, a true “fireman’s fireman” and a leader whose courage, judgment, and character were deeply respected by all who served alongside him.

The Lt. Dewey Henry Scholarship Recognition Breakfast has become a annual charity event dedicated to honoring his legacy and the values he stood for: service, dedication, leadership, and community. This special scholarship opportunity continues to empower future generations while carrying forward a legacy rooted in heroism and hope.

Congratulations to all of this year’s scholarship winners! We are incredibly proud of your achievements and look forward to the impact you will make in your universities, communities, and beyond.

To learn more about the Lt. Dewey Henry Scholarship, visit our charity website. Link in bio.

MDFR DCAFC ScholarshipWinners FirefighterFamilies ServiceDedicationCommunity

In a gesture of international cooperation and commitment to the fire service, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, with the support o...
06/11/2026

In a gesture of international cooperation and commitment to the fire service, Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, with the support of Miami-Dade Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez, has donated sets of previously used bunker gear to fire departments in the Dominican Republic that are in critical need of protective equipment. On Wednesday, a delegation from the Dominican Republic led by Dominican Consul General Gilberto Minaya and Hispanic Coalition President Rosa Kasse was welcomed to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Headquarters and the Fire Rescue Training Center. Following a tour of the headquarters campus the delegation headed to the Logistics Division, where they formally accepted the donation on behalf of the recipient departments. This contribution will help provide firefighters with essential protective gear that many of these agencies would otherwise struggle to obtain. It also reflects Miami-Dade Fire Rescue's longstanding tradition of extending assistance beyond its own borders, strengthening ties with neighboring communities while helping fellow firefighters perform their duties more safely and effectively. For the firefighters who will ultimately wear this equipment, the donation represents far more than used gear. It is a tangible expression of solidarity from one fire service family to another.

The Dewey Henry Scholarship Fund was established more than 25 years ago to help the children of Firefighter Charities me...
06/09/2026

The Dewey Henry Scholarship Fund was established more than 25 years ago to help the children of Firefighter Charities members offset the rising costs of higher education. The scholarship is named in honor of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Lieutenant Dewey Henry, who made the ultimate sacrifice while battling a warehouse fire on September 11, 1994. Each year, applicants compete by submitting 1,000-word essays on a predetermined topic. Entries are judged on merit, originality, content, presentation, and grammar. The winners of the 2026 Dewey Henry Scholarship competition were formally recognized Tuesday morning during a catered breakfast at The Fire Tower, where they received their scholarship certificates. Local 1403 proudly congratulates this year’s recipients: Joseph Artanis, Tristan Gettinger, Austin Hackman, Tatum Little, Gavin Miller, Gianna Nino, Mila Pacheco, and Charles Willcox Jr. We wish each of these outstanding students continued success as they pursue their educational goals and future careers.

This Saturday, the Metro-Dade Firefighters Local 1403 MindFit community hosted a meet-up at the Key Biscayne Bridge for ...
06/01/2026

This Saturday, the Metro-Dade Firefighters Local 1403 MindFit community hosted a meet-up at the Key Biscayne Bridge for a work-out led by our Peer Fitness Trainers.

It was more than just a workout, it was about showing up for each other, building strength, supporting physical wellness, and creating real connection within our firefighting family.

MindFit is about training together, staying accountable, and reminding each other that we are stronger when we move forward as a community.

Thanks to those that came out. Let’s keep the momentum going! Train together. Support each other. Not a job. A commitment.

Following a distinguished career spanning 30 years, Firefighter Alvaro Munoz has officially joined the ranks of the reti...
05/29/2026

Following a distinguished career spanning 30 years, Firefighter Alvaro Munoz has officially joined the ranks of the retired. On Friday, Al worked his final shift at Key Biscayne Station 15, where he proudly held the driver’s bid for the past five years. A member of Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Recruit Class 77, Al dedicated three decades of service to the citizens of Miami-Dade County and to the brotherhood and sisterhood of the fire service. He is also a military veteran, having served in the U.S. Navy. His commitment, professionalism and experience made a lasting impact on those who had the privilege of serving alongside him. Local 1403 congratulates Alvaro Munoz on his retirement and thanks him for his years of dedicated service. We wish Al and his family a long, healthy and well-earned retirement.

Engine 5, Engine 58, Ladder 13 and Rescue 71 were randomly selected to participate in a live house fire training exercis...
05/28/2026

Engine 5, Engine 58, Ladder 13 and Rescue 71 were randomly selected to participate in a live house fire training exercise at the Fire Rescue Training Center on Thursday. In the scenario, crews responded to reports of a two-story residence with heavy smoke and fire extending into the garage, with occupants possibly trapped inside. Firefighters conducted fire attack, search and rescue, ventilation and command operations as they worked through the simulated incident. Following the evolution, training instructors conducted a critique of the operation, evaluating tactics, communication and overall performance while providing feedback and pointers to participating personnel.

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