Our History

Located in Southwest Florida, along the pristine beaches of the Gulf of Mexico, Bonita Springs makes up the southern most edge of Lee County. The beauty of Bonita Springs, along with abundant natural amenities, have drawn increasing numbers of tourist and year-round residents. With three miles of sandy shoreline for sunning and shelling, and warm gulf waters ideal for swimming and fishing, the steady growth of residential developments, restaurants, shopping centers and increasing job opportunities have an estimated 45,000 permanent residents calling Bonita Springs their home.

In the mid 1800s, a survey crew from the Army Corps of Engineers was sent to south Florida to survey and map the area. The crew set up its main camp on a creek called Corkscrew, which later became known as Surveyor's Creek. In 1888, when the first pioneers arrived, they stayed in the surveyor's old camp and named the settlement Survey.

In 1912, a group of investors purchased a track of land in Survey and divided it into separate lots, with a town center and park. The investors were concerned, however, that newcomers would not be attracted to a town called Survey, so they renamed it Bonita Springs and called the creek the Imperial River.

The town of Bonita Springs grew slowly for many years, with its economic basis centered around citrus , fishing and seasonal tourism. Bonita Springs is now considered one of the fastest growing areas in Lee County.

As the town began to attract new residents and businesses alike, the need for a fire department was evident. Established in 1950 as a small volunteer unit, the department was designated as an independent taxing district in 1965. This important designation meant that the fire department would receive funding from property tax dollars collected in the community in order to fund equipment, fire stations and staff.

Today, the Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District is one of the largest in the area. The department's 110 members staff five stations, with a response territory of 72-square-miles in southern Lee County. In 2007, the agency's operating budget surpassed $30 million dollars. The fire district is governed by a five-member board of fire commissioners, who are elected by the public.

Under the direction of Fire Chief Phil Kinsey, Jr., the agency provides many services to the residents of the community, including fire protection, rescue, medical response, fire prevention, and public education and information.