Chuck Carnesale is a man living his childhood dream, and it all began with a wrong turn.
Way back in 1983, Carnesale and his mother were on the road to Casselberry when they turned west instead of east on SR436 and ended up in the nearby town of Apopka and pulled into the fire department on 5th Street.
And the rest of the story is in the annals of Apopka Fire Department history.
At the age of 13, Carnesale started his 35-year career with the AFD as an Explorer, which is the career exploration arm of the Boy Scouts of America. As an Explorer, he was able to experience his first training fire and later won the 1985 Diamond Jubilee Boy Scout Show in Orlando with his Explorer group.
Last night, the Boy Scouts honored his lifetime of achievements with another award.
Carnesale was given the 2018 Apopka Boy Scout Golden Eagle Award at a dinner on Tuesday at the Highland Manor in Apopka. The Golden Eagle is given each year to an individual or organization in the community that exemplifies the values of scouting. It is the highest honor presented by the Boy Scouts of America.
"I am so honored to be the recipient of this award," said Carnesale. "I’m sure there were many other well deserving people. But thank you all so much. I’m speechless."
Carnesale has supported the Boy Scouts and assisted with several of their community improvement projects in recent years.
The Apopka Golden Eagle Dinner is an annual event that brings together business, civic and political leaders of the Apopka community to share the story of Scouting’s impact on youth. Prior winners include former Apopka Police Chief Robert Manley and Apopka Mayor Bryan Nelson.
In his remarks, Florida Hospital Apopka CEO and Golden Eagle Dinner Chairman Tim Cook described Carnesale's meteoric rise in the Apopka Fire Department.
It is said that Carnesale has done nearly every job at the AFD before being named Fire Chief in 2016, and in his remarks, Florida Hospital Apopka CEO and Event Chairman Tim Cook described Carnesale's meteoric rise in the AFD, which started as an Explorer at age 13, then part-time dispatcher/911 operator at just 16 years old, to a junior firefighter at the age of 18, to a full time dispatcher and 911 operator, and then full-time EMT/Firefighter.
In 1999, Carnesale received the department’s Unit Citation Award and was recognized by Florida Governor Jeb Bush the following year as the Apopka Firefighter of the Year.
Between 2001 and 2006, Carnesale was promoted to Engineer, Lieutenant, then Captain and the EMS Coordinator, and also received the Department Medal of Merit Award.
In 2013, he was promoted to Assistant Fire Chief, and then Apopka Fire Chief in 2016.
In his remarks to the audience, Carnesale talked about the city and the department that he loves.
"You are Living and working during an amazing time in Apopka. Growth is here and there’s no sign of it slowing down so get ready! I was fortunate to grow up in the era of the fire department that I did. Imagine the possibilities for our next generation of firefighters, but don’t get ahead of yourselves. Remember the basics. Do the right thing."
He also reminded his firefighters and EMT's the priorities they should remember on each and every call they respond to.
Carnesale: "You are living and working during an amazing time in Apopka."
"When you’re on your 10th call of the shift... or you’re hungry because you haven’t eaten yet... or it’s 2 am and you haven’t been to bed yet and the alarm goes off again because someone just doesn’t feel well, remember this... the patients you treat aren’t going to remember all the high tech, fancy state of the art equipment you have, or the beautiful fire truck or ambulance parked in front of their home, but they’re going to most certainly remember how you treated them as a human being."
He also had advice for the scouts in attendance
"Never stop dreaming or believing in yourself. Accept failure graciously, because experience is what you get. Honor God and Country. Your dreams and possibilities are endless."
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