Fire / EMS

Chaplain of Department James A. Stillwagon II

The Chaplains division is headed by Battalion Chief James A. Stillwagon II who has been volunteering as Chaplain since 1996. James has been with Charlotte County Fire/EMS since July 18th, 1984, and has been established through the ranks by providence. James has been married for fourteen years to Mary and they have one son Caleb 10 years old. They serve the personnel and their families in the Chaplains Ministry.

The Chaplain program was established in 1996 within the Charlotte County Fire and EMS department. The Chaplains division is primarily dedicated to serving the needs of all department personnel and their families with primary focus placed upon their spiritual, emotional and physical well being. The Chaplain is also available to the citizens of Charlotte County for special events with the approval of the Fire Chief.

The ministry to personnel and their families includes but is not limited to the following:

RESPONSIBILITIES TO PERSONNEL & FAMILIES

1. Visit Personnel on-duty
2. Perform and/or assist with “line of duty” funerals.
3. Perform weddings, baptisms, funerals when requested by personnel.
4. Provide confidential counsel/advise to personnel and their family and/or referring out to local Clergy an independent psychologist or the County Employee Assistance Program.
5. Be a member of the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (C.I.S.D.) Team.
6. Respond to all firefighter fatality or major injury incident, being available to make or assist with family notifications.
7. Respond on all occupied residential and commercial fire incidents.
8. Make hospital visits to personnel and their family when requested/notified by personnel.
9. Be available to the Fire Chief and other members of Senior Staff for special assignments.
10. Be available for confidential counseling and/or advice, maintaining strict confidentiality, not revealing the content of the counsel communication or advisement to any individual without the expressed prior consent of the individual(s) seeking the counsel/advice of the Chaplain.

The responsibilities/duties of the Chaplain include but are not limited to the following:

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION

1. Directs the operation of the Juvenile Firesetters Program
2. Maintains a good working relationship with retired Firefighters organizations.
3. Maintains a good working relationship with other area Fire Departments and their Chaplains.
4. Directs the operation of the volunteer Chaplains division.
5. Maintains a good working relationship with the local ministerial alliance and Employees Assistance Program (E.A.P.)
6. Maintains a good working relationship with area hospital Chaplains
7. Maintains a good working relationship with the area law enforcement Chaplains.
8. Provides regular training opportunities in reference to ethics, leadership and related areas to the Chaplaincy and its functions.
9. Directs the function of the local Fellowship of Christian Firefighters and/or Firefighters for Christ organization(s).
10. Maintains a working relationship with area charity organizations.
11. Maintains membership in the Federation of Fire Service Chaplains.

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