RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. — In Riviera Beach, firefighters started training this week with new equipment as they try to keep up with dangerous trends that they are more likely to encounter.
“With the changes that are going on day-to-day, we have to adapt,” said Master Public Information Officer DaWayne Watson with Riviera Beach Fire Rescue.
They’re rolling out ballistic vests and helmets.
“We’re seeing a lot more of the active shooter situations in schools, we’re starting to see them in government buildings, they’re starting to take place in all different locations,” Watson said.
“These ballistic vests will be on our front line,” he said. “We want to ensure the public that we are ready and capable of doing the job when the time comes.”
All the emergency trucks will have a set for each firefighter. They’ll wait for police if they arrive first.
Historically, they put out fires and now they’re in the line of fire.
They will roll out the vests and helmets full time in mid-February.
Similar equipment can be found in Palm Beach Gardens, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and the Palm Beach County Fire Rescue.