The Niceville Fire Department is taking a major step forward in emergency medical care with the launch of its inaugural paramedic program — an initiative designed to significantly expand Advanced Life Support services for the community.
Helping make that vision possible is a $10,000 donation from the Mayor Randall Wise First Responders Foundation, funding that will support training, equipment and continued program development as the department builds its ALS capabilities.
The donation will be used to purchase training aids, manikins, EMS bags, ECG simulators and other essential equipment needed for both the current paramedic class and future training efforts.
Currently, four members of the department hold paramedic certifications. With the new program now underway, an additional 10 firefighters will begin paramedic school through intensive on-site instruction conducted around rotating shift schedules.
Participants will also complete extensive clinical training at local hospitals, emergency rooms, medical facilities and alongside ambulance providers. Altogether, the program requires more than 1,200 hours of advanced training over the next 11 months.
The transition from Basic Life Support to Advanced Life Support represents a significant advancement in emergency care available to Niceville residents. While BLS focuses primarily on stabilization, CPR, oxygen administration and basic emergency treatment, ALS-trained paramedics are able to perform advanced lifesaving procedures before patients even arrive at the hospital.
Those expanded capabilities include cardiac monitoring, IV access, advanced airway management, medication administration and comprehensive ECG analysis.
The program is also being developed in coordination with Okaloosa County EMS to ensure all paramedics are certified in local operational standards and treatment protocols ahead of the department’s anticipated ALS launch in the coming months. Additional ALS-equipped units are expected to be added next year once the training program is completed.
Beyond the operational impact, the initiative also carries special meaning for the community through the legacy of the late Mayor Randall Wise. “The Mayor Randall Wise First Responders Foundation is honored to support the City of Niceville with a significant donation to help fund 12 new paramedics.
This contribution is made in memory of the late Mayor Randall Wise, whose lifelong dedication to Niceville continues to inspire everything we do. Born and raised in the community, Mayor Wise spent decades serving others with humility, faith, and a deep love for his hometown. From his leadership as mayor to his service as a volunteer firefighter, he always put the well-being of Niceville first.
Our Foundation was created to carry on that spirit of service. Supporting first responders was something Mayor Wise cared deeply about, and we are grateful for the opportunity to continue that work in a meaningful way. “We hope this contribution helps strengthen the care and protection of the community he loved so much. It is simply one small way we can honor his legacy and give back to the city that meant so much to him,” the Foundation said.
For more information about the Mayor Randall Wise First Responders Foundation, visit the organization online.
