One of Pine Island’s best kept secrets: MPIFCD
The Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Department came to fruition in the early 1960s. It was first housed in what is now an ice cream shop in Matlacha. Back then it was the “Sunset Tackle Shop Garage,” owned by Bill Champine, who was Pine Island’s first fire chief.
The state of Florida created the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire District in 1963 with a millage rate cap of 2.00. This millage rate cap stayed in effect for the next 37 years. In 2000 the community voted to allow the cap to go to 3.00 although that did not happen until 2010.
The MPIFCD protects approximately 45 square miles, which includes the communities of Bokeelia, Pineland, Pine Island Center, St. James City, Matlacha, Matlacha Isles and Cape Royal.
The district provides many services. These services include fire suppression, basic and advanced life support in conjunction with Lee County EMS, rescue services, vehicle extrication (“Jaws of Life”), fire inspections, fire prevention programs, public education and boat operations to the district, which has approximately 10,000 residents year round and 20,000 plus during the winter.
The district currently consists of three fire stations that are fully manned 24 hours a day. Fire Station 1 is located at Pine Island Center at 5700 Pine Island Road. Station 2 is in St. James City at 5015 Stringfellow Road and Station 3 is at 14861 Stringfellow Road in Bokeelia.
Plans for Station 4, to be located at 3500 Pine Island Road, in Matlacha, are in the works.
Station 1 is the location where the administrative staff has its offices. This includes the fire chief, deputy chief, fire inspector, administrative assistant and mechanic. It is also where many of the non-emergency services that are provided to the community are taken care of. Residents and visitors alike can stop in for blood pressure checks, needle/syringe drop-off, hurricane hang tags, scheduling of CPR classes, scheduling for free smoke detectors, home safety inspections and fire station tours. In addition to the administrative personnel, Station 1 is staffed by the captain on duty, two engineers who are the primary driver and operators of the various types of apparatus and two firefighters. Because of the central location of Station 1, the personnel from there respond to all emergency incidents in the district, which includes responding with Marine 151 to various marinas and boat ramps depending on the location of the marine emergency.
Station 1 is also where the emergency vehicle technician shop is located. This is where the maintenance and fabrication of fire apparatus and facilities are coordinated. The mechanic services all vehicles including scheduled preventative maintenance of not only the vehicles at all stations, but daily repairs to the outlying fire station buildings and equipment. Historically, the fabrication of the brush trucks has been done by the district’s firefighters and mechanic, including everything from design, fabrication, welding, electrical, etc.
Station 2 in St. James City has unique staffing at that end of the island because of the call volume and has what is considered an “Advanced Life Support” engine with one engineer/EMT, one firefighter/EMT and one paramedic from Lee County EMS.
Station 3 in Bokeelia is the newest station in the district and opened in January 2009. The staffing there includes one engineer/EMT and one frefighter/EMT.
The district has purchased land for Station 4 to serve the residents of Cape Royal, Matlacha and Matlach Isles. This is a “high priority” for the district as to provide better response times in residents’ times of emergency need. Currently there is not a date set for beginning of construction.
Each of the district’s captains has over 30 years experience in fire service and all fire personnel are state of Florida licensed EMTs with some being paramedic certified as well.
The district owns an assortment of apparatus and vehicles that are vital to the success of any of the operations carried out by the department.
They include:
2001 E-ONE Engine
2000 Barrett Tender with 2,500 gallons water
1988 Humvee brush truck (fabricated by MPIFCD personnel)
2008 Dodge Rescue truck
1993 Carolina Skiff rescue boat
2007 E-ONE Engine
1966 Jeep brush truck (fabricated by MPIFCD personnel)
2001 E-ONE Engine
1994 International brush truck (fabricated by MPIFCD personnel)
Reserve 1980 Chevrolet bush truck
The MPIFCD is governed by an elected board of five commissioners and is funded through ad valorem taxes.
On Saturday, Aug. 23, the public is invited to attend the “First Annual Back to School Bash” at Fire Station 1 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event will include many fun activities for the whole family including station and fire truck tours, the chance to dress in firefighter gear and spray the fire hose, balloon animals, face painting and to meet “Gumby the Clown”.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office will be providing finger prints for kids, and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Bomb Squad Unit will be on hand as well.
Lunch will be provided by donations from local businesses.