HomeMy WebLinkAboutFirst Fireman Holzman-1973 o *entitle' star
Orlando,}bride
Seminole Tuesday, December 11, 1973
p •Winter S rl n s First Fireman
By MARY CAMPBELL volunteer ranks and initiating an keen spirit of dedication.
Sentinel Star Staff organized training program. He wants to call on former
WINTER SPRINGS — Charles HOLZMAN IS anxious to tackle volunteer firemen and once again
Holzman knows he has a big job the job he took only a few months involve them in department ac
ahead of him as the city's first paid after retirement from 23 years in the ac-
tivities, including re-establishing an
fireman. U.S. Air Force. administrative wing to handle the
A job which involves organization He r e m e m b e r s when Winter business side of the volunteer unit.
of the department, getting and Springs — then North Orlando —
maintaining equipment in working sported an energetic volunteer fire AS THE ONLY paid fireman,
order, building membership in the department with two trucks and a Holzman is relying on the volunteer
force which, he said evidences quick
<; response, involvement and dedica-
tion.
But, he said, the biggest fire
4/A
t d e p a r tment need is dependable
equipment used or new.
�' "We need a well-equipped truck.
The biggest sweat we have is getting
to a fire and wondering if the truck
will operate properly," Holzman
said.
HE KNOWS he is starting on the
"ground floor" in organizing a
professional city fire department but
believes he will succeed.
"It's a big job, but I can't fail. The
y f only way to go is up, because— let's
e\. 96.
x face it — we are starting at the
` bottom. If we have the cooperation of
1` `. ,. citizens the way we once did, the
department can be built," Holzman
�+ s..-,' dde .
a d
""` s w `, He wants to organize the fire
1: f i department's record-keeping proced-
d * ures in line with state requirements.
IExpressing an interest in past city
1, history, Holzman said, he wants to•k t 1 !;g keep documents recording the
Ni ;,' ,. department's activities throughout
; a " ,..� past years.
I' * • HE ALSO would like to see city
.
council adopt a fire code, one
administered by the fire department
n� _ ' and enforced by the police depart
x
k k A ment.
s
,�,e 5 . ' „.� , �« Holzman isn't new to this city,
1 � ° ''" �� having kept a home here for nine
a . \‘', Za
�3 11,_ r t years. Before leaving o his final
' "`
four-year duty tour, Holzman was an
,.��; ''''''''::‘.:'''''''''°.::."''''''''''''''''':, �. active volunteer fireman, serving in
both administrative and firefighting
(Sentinel Star Photo by Bob Frey) capacities.
CHECKING FIRE HOSE "I would like to bring back some
. . . Winter Springs fireman Charles Holzman of the "old timers", those active in
73 /d//
Ready To Tackle Job
past years, who for one reason or ment commitments. working toward 200 hours of certified
another dropped out. The older schooling. His training should be
members can be the administrative "I AM PRAYING there isn't a fire completed this month.
officers for the volunteers, while the until the equipment is checked out,"
he said. Holzman said the school has been
younger men fight the fires," Holz- a valuable aid and has made him
man said. He also needs a telephone, uni- even more aware that firefighting is
form and a rearranged office, one
"THEY HAVE knowledge and without a lost tricycle parked in the a science.
experience which can be used for the corner or a broken refrigerator He admits he became interested in
department's benefit," he added. waiting for removal. firefighting partly because he never
Holzman, hired Dec. 1, will work He shares space with the police outgrew a childhood desire to be
a 45-hour week primarily during department and has an office in the where the excitement is.
daylight hours so fire protection is department's trailer on State Road When he attends fire school, son
available then. 434. Skip is right beside him. Holzman
One problem the city has faced is said he believes his son is one of few
a lack of available volunteers HE ATTENDS the firefighting 17-year-olds in Florida taking t h e
-luring the day, because of employ- school at Seminole Junior College, certified fire training course.
73 /x //
We•
lter Springs
Hires Holzman
As l st Fireman
WINTER SPRINGS — Charles
Holzman, 81 S. Fairfax, has been
hired as the city's first full-time paid
fireman.
iin Holzman begins work Saturday at
lir
annual $7,500 salary.
HOLZMAN, a retired Air Force
master sergeant, was recommended
for the post by Police Chief Donald
Dobson.
Dobson said Holzman will work
no less than 44 hours a week and
will he on duty during the day. He
emphasized Holzman's hours may
fluctuate in December, when he
completes the required fire school
training at Seminole Junior College.
Mayor Granville Brown said part
of Holzman's job is to see that
firefighting equipment is in proper
condition and maintained and to
respond to emergency calls.
HOLZMAN'S OFFICE will be in
the police department trailer on
State Road 434 at Hacienda Village.
• Holzman moved back to Winter
prings in August, after retiring from
ilitary service. He has maintained
is Winter Springs residence far 11
ears and was active in the volun-
teer fire department several years.
73 /�