Operations

Office hours, Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm Phone (239) 949-6200 Fax (239) 949-6207

Ken Craft, Assistant Fire Chief

Shane Sibert, Deputy Chief Special Ops

Joe Daigle, Deputy Chief EMS

Dan Ryan, Deputy Chief Fire

Activities

Emergency

We respond to a wide range of emergency incidents that require our immediate attention. Included are: fires, medical emergencies, vehicle crashes, water rescue incidents, hazardous materials incidents, and special operations incidents.

In order to provide safe, efficient service upon our arrival to an incident, we have adopted the Incident Management System. This system provides for the effective management of personnel and resources and is designated by the Department of Homeland Security for the management of natural disasters and terrorism incidents.

Non-Emergency

Non-emergency activities fill the remainder of our firefighter's work day. These activities include: the inspection and maintenance of our apparatus and equipment, training, public education assignments, pre-fire planning of buildings, street mapping, routine house cleaning and maintenance of our fire stations, and physical fitness training.

Advanced Life Support Non-Transport Service

We have completed our seventh year of providing non-transport advanced life support (ALS) emergency care for our residents and visitors of Bonita Springs. There are currently eight ALS units serving Bonita Springs. The District ordered two additional light rescue vehicles to compliment the one already in service rescue vehicle as first out medical response units. These units will be housed at Fire Station One, Four, and Five. We serve the public with a complement of highly trained and skilled paramedics, emergency medical technicians, and first responders. Our personnel perform various basic and advance life support procedures such as cardiac monitoring, defibrillation, I.V. therapy and drug administration to the sick or injured patient. Many times these procedures are performed prior to the arrival of the ambulance from Lee County Emergency Medical Services. Upon the arrival of Lee County EMS, patient care is transferred to them so that the patient can be transported to the hospital. This system provides the patient with quick, continuous, and uninterrupted medical care between the fire department, the transporting agency, and the receiving hospital.

Dr. Michelle Nathan, the District's medical director, provides quality control review of patient care and monthly training sessions on a variety of emergency medical subjects.

Apparatus

In 2007, an Aerial Apparatus Committee was organized to begin researching the District's future needs. The Committee has visited E-One in Ocala, Sutphen in Columbus, Ohio, and Pierce in Appleton, Wisconsin. The members have also met with representatives of KME, Rosenbauer, and American La France, along with looking at the neighboring apparatus in San Carlos, Estero, North Naples, and Ft. Myers Beach Fire Departments. The Committee anticipates having a recommendation for the Chief in mid-2008.

Incident Responses

During 2007, our firefighters responded to 5,012 incidents. This is a -2.5% decrease over the 5,142 incidents which occurred during 2006.

Life and Property

District firefighters are responsible for the emergency medical treatment and fire protection services to one of the fastest growing areas in Southwest Florida. The 2006 population of our 72 square mile fire district is approximately 45,148 year round residents with another 22,000 seasonal residents. The taxable value of all real estate property located within the District as reported by the Lee County Property Appraiser for 2007 is $10,913,805,050.

Maintenance

District personnel are dedicated to the maintenance of apparatus and equipment. A great sense of pride and responsibility is felt by all District employees to keep the equipment in excellent working condition. Some examples of this dedication and pride include:

Deputy Chief Dan Ryan and Lieutenant Keith VanGelder coordinate the maintenance program for the District apparatus and small engine power equipment.
Fire Marshal Tim Fernandez and staff handle the maintenance and repair of all staff vehicles.
Firefighter Mike Bucher coordinates hose testing and repair.
Firefighter Mark Weiss coordinates nozzle/valve maintenance and repair.
Firefighter Fred Plocinski coordinates chain-saw repair and training. In addition he maintains the portable lighting equipment, and fire communications head-sets.
Lieutenant Dave Brewer handles apparatus light replacement and repair.
Firefighter Keith Ott, Lieutenants Rich Scott and Ed Bradford are in charge of air-pack maintenance and repair.
Firefighter Jeff Rowley, Lieutenants Paul Canning and Ed Bradford have been handling equipment mounting and design considerations of new apparatus, including the two new rescue trucks.
Lieutenant Paul Canning will assume annual pump testing.

Personnel

During 2007, the Suppression Division consisted of 3 Battalion Chiefs, 24 Lieutenants, and 51 Firefighters for a total of 78 personnel. In addition to each being State Certified Firefighters, 34 are State Certified Paramedics, and 44 are State Certified Emergency Medical Technicians.

Employee Physical Fitness

The job of a firefighter is both physically demanding and mentally stressful. Firefighters routinely go from a relaxed condition to a state of maximum output at the sound of an alert tone. This requires that firefighters maintain good physical condition. The District provides a variety of physical fitness equipment at our fire stations for the use of our employees. In addition, the District provides complete annual physical examinations to monitor the health and well-being of our personnel.

Pre-Fire Plans

Deputy Chief Dan Ryan now coordinates the pre-fire planning program after the retirement of Battalion Chief Tom Beitz and the promotion of Assistant Chief Ken Craft. Fire Inspector Eric Scholz was re-assigned as a full time pre-planning specialist. He is transferring data into Fire Zone 8.0 Software that works directly with the new MDCs. Currently, the District is able to access pre-plans on the same computer that is dispatching the apparatus. This new system has greatly enhanced the capability of the Company Officer to quickly access needed information with a minimum number of steps while responding to an emergency.

Pre-Fire Planning is used by the Company Officers to plan initial tactics and to become familiar with specific buildings in the District. Contact phone numbers, drawings, and photographs can be included, as well as hazardous materials lists and unique situations on site.
Inspector Scholz is making high-rise and target hazards his primary focus before pre-planning the remainder of the District. This program is in its early stages but is progressing nicely.

Protective Clothing

The design of protective clothing is constantly being improved to provide the best protection for firefighters. Early turnout gear was designed to protect firefighters from the elements, such as rain and snow, but offered no thermal protection. As thermal protection and flame resistance became a primary concern, the design and manufacturing processes changed dramatically. Inner liners were developed to provide thermal protection and vapor barriers were developed to protect the firefighter from steam burns. Turnout gear evolved from single layer to a three layer clothing ensemble.

The cost of a complete set of turnout gear, which consists of a helmet, fire hood, gloves, bunker coat, bunker pants, bunker boots, and suspenders, is approximately $1,500.