South Walton Fire District

10/20/2026

Tuesday, October 20, 2026, marks the 22nd Anniversary of the fatal AIRHeart 1 medical aviation crash that took the lives of South Walton Firefighter/Paramedic Robert Heighton, Flight Nurse Jack Chase, and Pilot Tom Palcic.

Heighton, Chase, and Palcic went to work that fateful day, knowing the risks they faced, their sense of duty, and their commitment to their profession. Our hearts are heavy as we remember them, as well as their families and friends who expected them to come home.

To pay our respects and ensure their sacrifices are never forgotten, our SWFD family will gather Tuesday at Pilcher Park. This park is in the same area as the crash site, where our firefighters searched for and recovered the aircraft and crew in the Choctawhatchee Bay.

We want to express our deepest gratitude to our Board of Fire Commissioners and the Walton County Board of County Commissioners, Florida who funded a monument for Pilcher Park, honoring the lives of these three heroes. It was installed last fall, forever standing as a symbol of their sacrifice.

Today of all days, we serve you in their memory. Rest easy brothers, we got it from here.

10/19/2026

ANGEL TREE CARDS NOW AVAILABLE 🎄

It's that time again! South Walton Fire District is serving as a host site for the Caring and Sharing Angel Tree for the 26th year, and we need your help making this Christmas special for children in our community. Here's how to help:

🪽Pick up an angel tree card between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, at SWFD Station 3, located at 911 N. County Highway 393 in Santa Rosa Beach.

🛍️Once you select your angel, go shopping, then bring back all gifts (preferably in a bag) to Station 3 NO LATER THAN Monday, November 30.

🏷️Secure your angel tag to the outside of the bag and make sure each gift is marked with the code number found on the tag. Wrapped or unwrapped gifts will be accepted.

We recommend you don't wait to get involved- These cards historically go very fast thanks to the real life angels in our community who are full of Christmas spirit!

You are welcome to call ahead and ensure cards are still available before making the trip to see us. Contact our Administrative Headquarters at 850-267-1298 with questions or for assistance.

We're looking forward to another holiday season made brighter by each one of you, thank you for the support! ❤🚒

Caring & Sharing of South Walton
South Walton Professional Fire Fighters Association Local-3516

10/16/2026

Thank you WJHG-TV for helping us spread the word about the 12th Annual South Walton Fire District Pancake Breakfast on Saturday, October 17.

Get your tickets now: https://tinyurl.com/SWFDPancakes26

We can’t wait to see our community and celebrate Fire Prevention.

The event gives families a chance to meet local firefighters, eat all-you-can-eat pancakes, and get an inside look at the fire district.

10/15/2026

We are hiring! The South Walton Fire District is searching for the right candidate to fill the position of Accountant, which supports our financial and administrative operations.

Reporting to the Fiscal Officer, our Accountant helps maintain accurate financial records, supports budgeting and audits, and contributes to the effective operation of the District.

If you're ready to be part of our fast-paced, community-focused, and mission-driven family, you can learn more about the job and apply here: https://tinyurl.com/SWFDJobBoard

10/14/2026

We’re not asking for much, just a clear path to local fire hydrants ‼️

Hurricane Isaias left behind a lot of vegetative debris, which can block access to the water supply firefighters need to put out fires. Every second unnecessarily spent on-scene locating a hidden hydrant directly impacts our ability to save a home.

If you have a fire hydrant near your residence or business, please take a few minutes to ensure all branches, leaves, and other hurricane debris, are at least FIVE FEET away from the hydrant.

Help us help you and keep fire hydrants clear in South Walton! 🤘🚒🔥

10/13/2026

Hey SoWal, help us help you! 🚨

As you work to clear debris and get back to normal following Hurricane Isaias, our crews are asking you to keep these safety reminders in mind:

FIRE HYDRANT ACCESSIBILITY
•Keep fire hydrants clear of storm debris, fallen branches, and other obstructions.
•Do not pile yard waste or debris around hydrants or block access from the roadway. We recommend at least five feet of clearance around a fire hydrant.
•If you notice a damaged or obstructed hydrant, report it to your water utilities company so the issue can be addressed.

GENERATOR SAFETY
•Operate generators outdoors, at least 20 feet from your home, with exhaust directed away from doors, windows, and vents.
•Keep generators dry and let them cool before refueling.
•Never connect a generator directly to a wall outlet.

CHAINSAW SAFETY
•Wear proper protective gear, especially eye protection, and keep both hands on the saw.
•Never cut above shoulder height.
•Stay away from downed power lines and leave unstable trees to professionals.

Take your time, make safe decisions, and look out for one another! Any questions about fire/life safety during the recovery process can be emailed to our team at [email protected] 🔥💪

10/12/2026

RED AND PURPLE FLAGS! 10/12/26

South Walton Fire District lifeguards are changing beach flags to single red and purple on Monday, October 12. We are certainly excited to see a bright and sunny start to this week.

The primary hazards we are watching out for today include:

-Unknown debris fields in the water and on the sand. There may be places along the beach and coastal dune lakes where it is hard to see debris, as it could be buried within the sand or under the water. Please use caution and watch where you step.

-Remaining rip currents due to the volume of water Hurricane Isaias brought on shore. Hurricanes like what we experienced carve up our sandbars, creating numerous inshore holes. We expect rip currents to be present even without large waves or high surf. Weak swimmers should stay on shore.

-Isaias also damaged and/or destroyed many of our beach flag poles and walkovers. As pictured below in Grayton Beach, the flag pole is leaning sideways. An absence of beach flags at a beach access does not mean the water is safe to swim. Please text SAFETY to 31279 for daily updates on flag conditions.

Lifeguards will rove the beaches Monday as towers are still not present on the beach due to operational necessity. However, we are fully staffed and on-duty 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., ready to handle all beach-related emergencies and calls. Please let our team know how they can help.

Stay safe today and thank you for the support!

Walton County Emergency Management Walton County Sheriff's Office, Florida 30A SoWal Grayton Beach Visit South Walton NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center

10/12/2026

Our partners at Choctawhatchee Electric Cooperative, Inc. continue working diligently to restore power following Hurricane Isaias.

Please join us in showing appreciation for the team literally bringing light back into South Walton. We ask for your continued patience and consideration as all local agencies are doing their best to keep up with service demands and return to normal operations as quickly as possible!

Thank you, CHELCO! ⚡💪