Mold Remediation in Kissimmee, FL

Kissimmee, FL (June 9, 2025) – A vehicle crash resulting in injuries was reported Monday on Celebration Blvd near Kiawah St in Kissimmee. While the Florida Highway Patrol did not provide dispatch or arrival times for the incident, the crash has been confirmed, and the roadway remains open to traffic as of the latest update.

Individuals involved in the crash sustained injuries that prompted the response of emergency medical teams. On-scene paramedics assessed and treated those hurt, although further details regarding the severity of injuries or number of vehicles involved have not yet been released.

Despite the injuries, officials noted that Celebration Blvd is fully open, allowing local traffic to continue through the area. Nonetheless, drivers are encouraged to remain alert, as residual congestion or investigative activity may still be present near Kiawah St.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. Traffic analysts are expected to review whether speed, distraction, or failure to yield may have contributed to the incident, particularly given the neighborhood’s combination of residential and school-zone traffic.

We send our best wishes for a full recovery to all who were affected by today’s crash.

Neighborhood Road Crashes in Osceola County

The injury crash on Celebration Blvd and Kiawah St underscores the often-overlooked dangers present in suburban neighborhoods and master-planned communities across Osceola County. In developments like Celebration, where pedestrian activity, school transportation, and resident traffic intersect, even minor lapses in attention can lead to significant injury incidents.

Unlike highways or arterial roads, neighborhood streets may create a false sense of security for drivers, leading to behaviors like speeding, rolling stops, or distracted driving. Unfortunately, these habits can have serious consequences, especially when young pedestrians, cyclists, or multiple-turn intersections are involved.

In response to similar crashes in the area, local authorities have been working to enhance safety through measures like speed cushions, additional signage, and public awareness campaigns. Yet, as today’s crash shows, there is ongoing need for vigilance on the part of all road users.

Residents involved in these types of accidents may face immediate health concerns, loss of transportation, and confusion over how to handle insurance or legal follow-ups. Fortunately, resources are available to assist with navigating the recovery process and restoring normalcy after such events.

If you or someone close to you was injured in this crash, you don’t have to manage the next steps alone.

Even in well-planned communities, serious crashes can cause lasting disruptions. Local Accident Reports is here to provide trusted updates and connect injured individuals with the tools they need—whether it’s access to healthcare, legal support, or recovery resources. Contact Local Accident Reports today and take the first step toward informed, confident recovery.

Note: These posts are created solely for the use of Local Accident Reports. We have not verified the information in these posts as the information is gathered from secondary sources. If you have personal knowledge that the information contained in these posts is inaccurate, please contact Local Accident Reports immediately so we can make the necessary corrections or remove the story.

Disclaimer: We are providing this information to the general public as a resource to use in the event you or a family member are injured in a similar incident. Every effort is put forth to honor the victims of accidents, and hope the information presented helps others avoid the same type of accidents in the future. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene. Please contact Local Accident Reports at (888) 657-1460 to be connected with an attorney in your area who will answer any legal questions you may have.

Kissimmee, FL (June 8, 2025) – A fatal crash occurred early this Sunday, June 8, at the intersection of Pleasant Hill Road and Sun Cove Drive in Kissimmee. The crash was reported at 12:04 a.m. and, fortunately, there is no roadblock in place as the scene has been cleared.

The crash resulted in a fatality, with one individual confirmed dead at the scene. Emergency responders arrived quickly to assist, but unfortunately, the victim did not survive. Local authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash. At this time, further details regarding the incident are not available.

Our thoughts and condolences go out to the family and loved ones of the individual who lost their life in this tragic accident.

Fatal Crashes in Florida

Fatal accidents, especially on roadways like Pleasant Hill Road in Kissimmee, are devastating events that underscore the importance of safe driving practices. Factors such as speeding, distracted driving, or impaired driving are often contributors to such tragic accidents. Drivers are urged to remain alert and avoid distractions while operating a vehicle to prevent these types of incidents.

In Florida, where tourism and traffic congestion can lead to unpredictable driving conditions, it is vital to always drive defensively, particularly in intersections like Sun Cove Drive and Pleasant Hill Road. Following speed limits, avoiding distractions, and never driving under the influence are crucial steps to reducing the risk of fatal crashes.

If you or someone you know has been involved in a fatal accident, it is important to consult with an attorney to navigate the legal process, particularly in cases involving insurance claims and potential wrongful death lawsuits. An experienced lawyer can help ensure that the rights of the victim’s family are upheld.

For more information or to receive help after an accident, contact Local Accident Reports.

Note: These posts are created solely for the use of Local Accident Reports. We have not verified the information in these posts as the information is gathered from secondary sources. If you have personal knowledge that the information contained in these posts is inaccurate, please contact Local Accident Reports immediately so we can make the necessary corrections or remove the story.

Disclaimer: We are providing this information to the general public as a resource to use in the event you or a family member are injured in a similar incident. Every effort is put forth to honor the victims of accidents, and hope the information presented helps others avoid the same type of accidents in the future. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene. Please contact Local Accident Reports at (888) 657-1460 to be connected with an attorney in your area who will answer any legal questions you may have.

Property owners in Kissimmee will soon start paying a special fee to help their fire department recruit additional firefighters and allow them to work less-rigorous schedules.

After a public hearing Tuesday evening that lasted more than an hour, commissioners voted 4-1 to assess all property owners $105 per parcel of land plus 56 cents per $1,000 of improvements made.

“I can’t compromise public safety to save a dollar,” Commissioner Angela Eady said. “I can’t do that to someone that’s willing to risk their lives to save a life.”

Commissioner Carlos Alvarez cast the sole dissenting vote, saying it would “be a burden to homeowners.”

The assessment will raise the approximately $6 million needed annually to fund 49 new positions (firefighters and support staff) in the Fire Department. The funds will be part of the department’s budget for the fiscal year starting in October.

Fire Chief Jim Walls said Monday in an interview with the Orlando Sentinel that the funds will allow hiring roughly 39 firefighters — an entire second shift — and double the total number in the department. Expanding the ranks of firefighters will allow them to work a 42-hour workweek instead of the current 56 — making it the first department in Central Florida to adopt that schedule.

Walls said adding personnel is not about improving response times — the rapidly growing city of just over 70,000 has already worked to add new fire stations on the growing east side — but about recruiting firefighters.

“We’ve had a hard time hiring and Kissimmee isn’t any different from the rest of the state,” he said. “So this will help us with recruitment, retention, morale, mental and physical health.”

Roughly a dozen residents spoke during the meeting — with most opposing the fee — but three city firefighters said their mental health and the quality of service they provide would deteriorate if they keep working 56 hours a week.

Joshua Clark, a KPD firefighter and president of its union, said the city is growing quickly and so are the department’s calls.

“Every year the population rises, the buildings go higher, the calls get more complex and we meet these challenges head on time and time again,” Clark said. “But to keep doing that to stay ahead of the curve we need the proper tools and resources. The fire fee gives us exactly that.”

But Ana Mendez, a mother of two and first-time homeowner, told commissioners she opposes the assessment because it would cause her financial hardship. Mendez said she understands firefighters protect the community but asked if taxes she currently pays could support the department’s effort.

“I’m a survivor of domestic violence and left that situation to go to a shelter,” she told them in Spanish with Mayor Jackie Espinosa translating. “To finally have a house is a big achievement for me, it’s not fully paid for because I just got it, but the implication to have this fee as an additional expense will not be easy for me.

“For me this won’t be easy and I’m sure that it won’t be for other women who are in my same situation.”

The assessment comes as a bill in the Legislature, House Bill 929, encourages a 42-hour workweek, Walls said. The legislation, in combination with Kissimmee’s decision to adopt it, will likely push other cities and counties to implement the shorter workweek.

“It’s just a matter of when people do make that switch,” he said. “Now it only encourages, so it’s not mandated … and so that to me it usually starts as encouraging but at some point down the road it usually will lead to having to do it.”

The Brief

KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Kissimmee Fire Department is set to become the first in Central Florida to adopt a 24/72 shift schedule, offering firefighters an extra day of rest without a pay cut — a move city officials say will improve morale and retention, though it comes at a cost to property owners.

What we know:

Kissimmee city commissioners approved a measure Tuesday for a yearly fire assessment paid by property owners citywide.

Every property owner will pay a base $105 assessment per property plus 56¢ per $1,000 of improvements per property. It takes effect in the upcoming fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

The city said the reason for the assessment is to increase public safety by hiring 49 new firefighters. The new hires will allow the city to give firefighters an extra day of rest. Instead of the current 24 hours on 48 hours off, KFD will move to 24 hours on 72 hours off.

KFD will become the first department in Central Florida to use the new shift schedule. Only a handful of other departments are on the 24-72 schedule statewide, including Gainesville.

The chief expects the change will boost morale, improve recruitment and promote retention.

What we don't know:

It remains to be seen how the new assessment will affect the local housing market, especially renters. City leaders haven’t detailed whether additional funding mechanisms will be needed long-term to sustain the expanded staff.

By the numbers:

Starting in the next fiscal year on Oct. 1, property owners will be charged a base fee of $105 per parcel, plus an additional 56 cents for every $1,000 in property improvements. For a typical homeowner, that could mean about $200 annually. The city expects the assessment to generate $6.1 million.

What they're saying:

The City Commission voted 4-1 Tuesday to implement the new schedule, which will reduce firefighters’ average workweek from 56 to 42 hours. The change will require the city to hire 49 additional firefighters, prompting the approval of a new fire services assessment to cover the $6 million price tag.

"This is truly the best option to give us the best recovery, to give the best time with our families, and to truly help the citizens of Kissimmee," KFD firefighter and union president Joshua Clark said.

"It will keep [firefighters] from going to other fire departments, so we’ll have five-year, 10-year, 15-year firefighters," KFD Chief Jim Walls said.

"That benefits the whole citizenry when you have a 15-year firefighter paramedic taking care of your family than constantly having 2 or 3-year firefighters taking care of your family."

"We keep growing as a community," Mayor Jackie Espinosa said. "Our city keeps expanding, and we just need to be ahead of it."

"The things that I’ve seen, the heartbreaking stories that my husband has spared me from, the emotional weight that they carry home, these are burdens most of us will never truly understand," one KFD firefighter’s wife said during public comment.

The other side:

A handful of property owners asked commissioners why the city couldn’t find funding elsewhere.

"I want to understand why it’s not already included in what we pay already for taxes," one homeowner said.

"Congratulations, you guys have put us in a stranglehold with our taxes," one man said.

Commissioner Carlos Alvarez III was the only one to vote against the assessment.

"I think it’s going to be a burden to renters, real estate folks and property owners," Alvarez III said."

What's next:

The city expects to hire the 49 firefighters in two phases. The chief said the goal is for them to be on the streets by April 1, 2026. Property owners will see the assessment starting this next fiscal year.

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Kissimmee, FL (May 28, 2025) – An accident involving injuries occurred Wednesday morning in a residential section of Kissimmee at the intersection of Desert Rose Ave and Cathedral Rock Dr, leading to emergency response and on-scene medical evaluations.

The crash was reported at approximately 8:04 a.m., with emergency responders arriving nearly 90 minutes later at 9:32 a.m. According to initial reports, the incident took place in a neighborhood setting and involved at least two vehicles. Paramedics provided care to individuals injured in the collision, addressing a range of injuries. No life-threatening conditions have been disclosed at this time.

Despite the injuries reported, there was no roadblock at the scene, and traffic through the neighborhood remained passable. Officials with local law enforcement and Osceola County Fire Rescue are currently investigating the cause of the crash, with attention on factors such as distracted driving, speed, or failure to yield at the residential intersection.

The names and conditions of those involved have not yet been made public. We send our best wishes to the injured individuals and hope for a quick recovery.

Neighborhood Traffic Collisions in Central Florida

Crashes like today’s incident on Desert Rose Ave in Kissimmee serve as a sobering reminder that traffic collisions aren’t limited to highways and busy thoroughfares—many occur in residential neighborhoods where families live, walk, and commute daily.

These residential intersections can be deceptively dangerous. Low speed limits often give a false sense of security, yet crashes here frequently result from inattentive driving, rolling stops, or poor visibility around parked vehicles and street corners. In communities like those in Kissimmee, where housing developments intersect with high-density traffic zones, neighborhood safety is an ongoing concern.

Although no road was blocked in this morning’s crash, the injuries sustained highlight the vulnerability of both drivers and pedestrians in neighborhood settings. Emergency response may also take longer in such areas due to access constraints or lower prioritization in the dispatch queue, which can affect outcomes.

Today’s event emphasizes the need for drivers to slow down, come to complete stops at intersections, and remain vigilant—even in areas they consider familiar. Community members are encouraged to advocate for additional signage, road markings, and local enforcement to reduce the risk of repeat incidents.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a residential collision like the one in Kissimmee, know that Local Accident Reports is here to help. We provide timely updates and connect victims with local legal and medical support tailored to their needs. Visit Local Accident Reports today to access the resources that can help you move forward with confidence.

Note: These posts are created solely for the use of Local Accident Reports. We have not verified the information in these posts as the information is gathered from secondary sources. If you have personal knowledge that the information contained in these posts is inaccurate, please contact Local Accident Reports immediately so we can make the necessary corrections or remove the story.

Disclaimer: We are providing this information to the general public as a resource to use in the event you or a family member are injured in a similar incident. Every effort is put forth to honor the victims of accidents, and hope the information presented helps others avoid the same type of accidents in the future. The photos depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene. Please contact Local Accident Reports at (888) 657-1460 to be connected with an attorney in your area who will answer any legal questions you may have.