Chief Jose "Pep" Prado uses his experience and leadership to help firefighters in need
Jolting 3 a.m. wake-up calls, the need to act fast, and constantly being mentally prepared are commonplace for firefighters. Middle-of-the-night alarms come with the territory. For Fire Rescue's Health and Safety Chief Jose "Pep" Prado, those calls take a different tone now. Rather than jumping out of bed and into a fire truck, Prado responds to middle-of-the-night calls from fellow firefighters. Their struggle? Mental health. And Prado's line is always open.
Chief Prado leads a team of firefighters and staff who, like him, tackle this critical need. Because sometimes, a voice on the other end of the line is what someone needs the most.
Fighting fires, responding to emergencies, and serving Hillsborough County residents have been at the forefront of Prado's life for over 30 years. During this time, he has witnessed the landscape of Hillsborough County and Fire Rescue change. Population growth has boomed, development has soared, and the number and intensity of emergency calls have escalated. Prado says the severity of what first responders witness is far worse now than when he began his career.
Original source can be found here.
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