Deputy Chief RL Colina from Monroe County Fire and Rescue joined Good Morning Keys on KeysTalk 96.9/102.5FM this morning to talk about what’s been going on in the county.
It’s been a busy time for fire and rescue recently.
Chief Colina said, “Last night in the Lower Keys in Big Coppitt Key, we had a neighbor call in as she was getting ready to lay down. She actually heard some popping noises as she looks out her window and noticed that the carport and back area of her neighbor’s house was arcing and on fire. They were quick to notify the occupant that was inside the house sleeping. She was able to get out safely, no injuries. We had Monroe County Fire Rescue crews responded quickly and did a fantastic job. They did what they’re trained to do, what they love to do for this this community, keeping them safe, made a great stop. We had no extensions to any surrounding structures and we were able to ensure that resident that was displaced last night had a place to go and the right contact information to get a process started for her to get her place back together.”
There are fire and rescue stations all up and down the Keys.
Chief Colina said, “Within the county and the municipalities that operate within the county we have such a really good working relationship with them. We cover most of all unincorporated Monroe County, from Tavernier to Key West airport, which is Monroe County Fire Station. The assistance is there even between Boca Chica with NAS, they have a fire station located on base. The county as an entirety is well protected 24/7.”
There are four new hires at Monroe County Fire Rescue.
Chief Colina said, “I tell them when we hire them we hire more not to do less, we hire more because we expect more. We’ve got four new hires that’ll be starting March 11, at the Academy, and they’ll actually go through, although they’re already state certified firefighters, EMTs and paramedics, we still put them through an orientation process of 240 hours of orientation, to kind of acclimate them to how we do things in the county and our apparatus, our personnel, and kind of get them ready to go before we put them in a firehouse.”
Trauma Star had to make an emergency landing in Marathon airport recently.
Chief Colina said, “That was one of those things that Trauma Star is such a critical asset for this community. They were flying a mission to the hospital when they identified there was a problem with the helicopter, they returned back to the base, and Marathon Fire Rescue and fire department were able to do the standby format at the hangar, but I’ll tell you the sheriff’s pilot and their crew and that operation between us and them, they did a fantastic job. I mean, just true professionals, they were able to get the helicopter landed safely no injuries, and we were able to transport that patient on to further care. So it’s one of those things you never want to hear about or get a phone call at five in the morning. But I’ll tell you what, the training and the preparation there’s always a risk involved when we get in a fire truck or we get in a helicopter, but the training and the preparation that goes hand in hand with these programs is par to none.”
Monroe County Fire and Rescue will also hold their Easter egg hunt on March 23.
Chief Colina said, “March 23 will be once again at Big Coppitt, our prevention division and our outreach programs, they set up an amazing program there. We have the golden egg, which is the grand prize. They’ll have the search for that. Residents go there, take some pictures with the Easter Bunny. Between the snow cones, the cotton candy, we’ll have tours of the fire trucks, meet in the crew, there’s a lot of stuff that goes into that. It’s a great time not just for the crews, but for the children and the families that participate.”
Makeshift encampments can be a real fire hazard.
Chief Colina said, “You see more of those when we had that brief, cold snap that came through, they’re trying to heat the small shelter where they’re at. Obviously, these structures are not built to any type of code. A lot of it is just makeshift items that they’re able to find or acquired throughout the county, and put them together. So it does pose it poses a hazard for them initially and then also for anybody else in that area. We are concerned about those types of structures, and we try to reach out and especially we find people building structures underneath bridges in certain areas that can impact travel or impact other structures behind stores and stuff like that.”
Fire and Rescue is at a career fair today.
Chief Colina said, “We’re actually in Key West today, at one of the career fests, we attended Marathons career fest, I believe yesterday. So it’s another good opportunity to get out there and reach our school age, our high school group, and potentially open up a career opportunity for them that they may not know is out there. So anything we can do, we were always there. Anyone ever has any questions you can go to our website or just give us just give us a call. We’re always here.”