June 26, 1998-- 12:30 p.m.
CONTACT: Cindy Hancock Finney
Community Information SpecialistEMERGENCY OFFICIALS SAY ADEQUATE HOUSING AVAILABLE FOR ALL FIREFIGHTERS BATTLING VOLUSIA BLAZES
Volusia County Emergency Management officials stressed Friday that ALL firefighters and support personnel assisting in the battle against fires burning across the County will be adequately housed and fed.
"We have made adequate arrangements to feed and house these people," emphasized Volusia County Manager Larry Arrington. "We anticipated this move from the hotels because of the upcoming races. This did not take us by surprise."
All mutual aid agencies including firefighters from outside the area and support personnel will be housed at Stetson University or Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Daytona International Speedway also has offered to make accommodations available for emergency operations staff as needed.
Stetson University has made available accommodations for 200, which will be used to house firefighters from outside the area battling fires in Volusia and Flagler counties. The Stetson location is ideal because the firefighters have daily linen service, the cafeteria at their disposal and security -- all provided at no charge to the County by Stetson University, noted Arrington. And it’s close to the DeLand Airport, the field operations center where the crews are deployed. The City of DeLand is providing support for the Stetson operation.
Embry-Riddle has made available accomodations for 100 on its campus. The university will house public works crews, National Guardsmen and other support staff. All of the amenities available at Stetson -- linen service, cafeteria, etc., also are available for personnel housed at Embry-Riddle.
No numbers were available Friday morning as to how many people were staying at either location.
"We’ll have a better idea tonight once the shift changes," Arrington said.
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