Walton County Fire Rescue Cadets Bring Home Awards from State Competition
Walton County Fire Rescue Cadet Post 850 represented the Panhandle at the 2026 Summer Gator Fire Games in Gainesville, bringing home awards after competing against 40 teams from 17 departments across Florida.
The annual competition, hosted by Alachua County Fire Rescue through the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, drew 180 cadets and 80 advisors to the Alachua County Sports and Event Center on August 1. Participants faced seven distinct challenges designed to test real-world fire and emergency medical skills, from gear races to scenario-based rescue operations. The event is in its fifth year.
WCFR’s cadets competed in seven events and made podium in multiple categories, though specific event placements were not detailed in the initial report. The competition pits cadets against peers from departments spanning the state, from Miami-Dade to the Panhandle, in hands-on challenges inspired by actual emergency scenarios.
The Cadet Post 850 program serves teens and young adults ages 14 to 19 who have completed eighth grade. Based within Walton County Fire Rescue, the program gives participants hands-on training in fire suppression, first aid and CPR, apparatus operation, emergency medical response, and hazardous materials mitigation. Cadets can ride along with professional firefighters and paramedics on actual emergency calls through the program’s Ride-Along component. The program runs August through July, with weekly meetings during summer break and biweekly meetings during the school year.
For Freeport residents, the cadet program represents a direct pipeline of future first responders into the countywide fire rescue system that serves their community. WCFR operates stations throughout Walton County, including facilities in the Freeport area, and the cadets who train in this program could one day be the paramedics and firefighters responding to 911 calls on Highway 20 or US 331. The program also emphasizes community involvement, with cadets participating in educational and public service projects that benefit Walton County residents.
Battalion Chief TJ McElyea, who was named Fire Rescue Cadet Advisor of the Year for 2025 by the Florida Fire Chiefs’ Association, oversees the program. The recognition highlighted his leadership and mentorship of the next generation of fire service professionals — a role that directly shapes the quality of emergency response available to Freeport and the rest of Walton County.
Originally reported by MyPanhandle (WMBB) and WCJB TV20.
Image: MyPanhandle (WMBB)
