Our Heroes!

Oakland Park’s newest and first female Battalion Chief Monica Maldonado was asked what it meant to put it all together, but rather than take the credit first hand, she pointed to her peers and said:

“This was actually all these people standing behind me…When we first were there for the fire we saw the loss and everything that was happening and these guys came together and asked me to organize…this really shows what Firefighters do in the community especially during the holidays”.

Oakland Park Fire Chief, Steve Krivjanik echoed the sentiment of Maldonado’s statement by reminding us that this sort of tragedy happens every day and that it is important to always help others. 

“What an amazing event of our community coming together to help someone who has suffered a tragedy… I hope it continues that more families who suffer these, and it happens every day, it just happens to be Christmas time where we can do something from the heart, but this happens every day and we have to realize that people need help (every day) especially in these bad times…”.

Oakland Park Mayor, Jane Bolin, was there to assure the family that they were an important part of our community and that the City was there to help them begin anew. Mayor Bolin shared her thoughts on the occasion :

“So I really want to thank the Benevolent Association of our Firefighters, who really took the time to look at a loss and determine that there was really a need and they didn’t just do this alone, they brought the community together, they brought in Kiwanis, another Fire Department (Coconut Creek & Margate), BSO, the City to all come together and support in this time of need and it is just beautiful and a testament not just to the season but who were as Americans and who we are as the City of Oakland Park. I really am just very thankful and I hope that everyone can share this kind of spirit as we move forward”. 

There is nothing anyone can do to undo the tragedy that changed the Korman’s lives forever. However, the Oakland Park community, starting with the Oakland Park Fire Rescue, proved that as a community we can make things better. This is just one example of how they live their motto of “Our Family Helping Your Family” every single day.