Monroe County Fire Rescue Chief R.L. Colina joined Good Morning Keys on Keys Talk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s going on in the county.
The department is preparing for a number of important events and projects, including the long-awaited construction of a new Sugarloaf Fire Station and a series of ceremonies Friday marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks.
Colina said the new Sugarloaf station is an important addition to Monroe County’s strategically positioned fire rescue system, particularly given the Keys’ geography.
“As we’re linear 120 miles, each of the stations that are placed are strategically located for Monroe County Fire Rescue,” Colina said. “We make sure that those areas of density are covered with advanced life support and fire rescue capabilities.”
The Sugarloaf station project has been in development for several years and has faced delays, but the Monroe County Commission recently approved moving forward with construction.
Colina said the new station will be built at the existing location after the current facility is demolished.
“We had extreme support from the county commission in terms of moving forward with this project, and hopefully breaking ground here real soon,” Colina said.
Colina also praised the men and women of Monroe County Fire Rescue following a department awards and promotion ceremony held at Hawks Cay approximately a week and a half ago.
He said firefighters routinely perform their duties without expecting recognition, but the ceremonies provide an opportunity for their families and the community to recognize their service.
“The men and women of Monroe County Fire Rescue … do this job day in day out without ever the want or the need of receiving any type of accolade or award,” Colina said. “It is nice, though, these type of award ceremonies really allow the families to come in and let us recognize their loved ones for all the hard work and effort and selfless acts that they perform on a daily basis.”
Nineteen firefighters have also recently graduated from the department’s academy, adding additional personnel to the county’s fire rescue ranks.
Colina said the department will also take part in several events Friday commemorating the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Monroe County Fire Rescue stations throughout the county will hold remembrance events, with primary apparatus being brought out of station bays at approximately 9:50 a.m. The public is invited to attend.
Colina said the anniversary is particularly significant for the fire service, where the loss of 343 firefighters on September 11 remains a defining moment.
“For myself, I’ve been in the fire service now 30 years, and we still remember where we were, whether you were on shift, off shift, going to a second job, and this event occurred,” Colina said.
He said the department continues to emphasize the importance of remembering those who died and the changes that followed in the fire service.
“It is important for us, especially in the fire service, that we don’t forget,” Colina said. “We maintain the honor.”
A remembrance ceremony will also be held at Key West’s historic Old Station No. 3 museum, where Colina and other members of Monroe County Fire Rescue will speak.
Colina said the department’s participation in the 25th anniversary events is intended not only to remember those who died that day, but also to recognize the sacrifices made by firefighters, police officers, emergency medical personnel and other responders.
“It was very impactful and something that we carry through and we use as a part of our life moving forward and never forget,” he said.
Meanwhile, Monroe County Fire Rescue continues to monitor fire conditions on Big Pine Key following a persistent brush fire in the area.
Colina said lightning strikes during storms Tuesday resulted in another small fire in the Big Pine Key area. That fire was quickly contained and forestry officials were notified.
“It was quickly mitigated, and it’s just another area of concern that we’ll be watching,” Colina said.
He said the new fire did not reach the intensity of the larger brush fire that firefighters had been battling near Key Deer Boulevard and officials do not currently anticipate significant growth.
However, Colina said dry conditions and extreme heat continue to create challenges for firefighters.
“We’re still trying to play catch-up,” he said. “We’re still playing catch-up to the amount of heat that these brush fires produce.”
Colina explained that heat from a brush fire can continue affecting vegetation beneath the surface even after rain moves through an area, creating lingering smoke pockets.
He urged residents to report smoke or suspected fires as quickly as possible.
“If you see something, say something,” Colina said. “We’d rather have the reports early to get out there and ensure that it’s not going to impact any of the residents.”
Colina also thanked community partners, including Hawks Cay and the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, for their support of Monroe County’s first responders.
Monroe County Fire Rescue participated in Hawks Cay’s recent Hero Salute weekend, including the Touch a Truck event and a 5K benefiting the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation.
Colina said those events provide an opportunity for residents to interact with first responders and learn more about the equipment and resources used to protect the community.
“We do appreciate everything they do for us and for the community awareness for first responders,” he said.
As Monroe County Fire Rescue continues its work throughout the Keys, Colina said he remains proud of the department and the firefighters who serve residents and visitors around the clock.
“It’s always an extreme honor to be the fire chief of Monroe County Fire Rescue and help support the men and women, the boots on the ground, that perform these actions every day, day in day out,” Colina said. “They’re protecting this community of the residents and the visitors 24/7. I’m proud to be part of this organization and proud to be a part of a very strong community that views public safety as such an importance.”