Fire Auxiliary does more than meets the eye
Working quietly behind the scenes is a group that can always be counted on to support the island fire department. From providing Gatoraide to funding scholarships, the Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Auxiliary supports the island firefighters in a variety of ways. According to Auxiliary member, Marilyn Porthouse, this small group works hard to ensure these local heros get everything they need.
“Our goal is to provide things that are not normally allotted for in the department budget. We make sure that each of the stations on the island have a ready supply of bottled water and Gatoraide that firefighters can take with them on calls and we are on call to do many other tasks as well,” said Porthouse. “For example, if the firefighters are out at a brushfire for an extended period of time, Chief Bradley will call and ask us to bring sandwiches to feed the guys. We then go to the grocery store, buy the sandwiches and fruit and deliver them to the scene so that the firefighters can take a quick break and have something to eat so that they can keep going until the job is none.”
According to Porthouse, in addition to supplying drinks and lunches, the Fire Auxiliary is also responsible for the purchase of some of the equipment used for educational purposes.
“A couple of years ago, we raised money to purchase a smoke simulator,” said Porthouse. “Not only does the department use this machine that produces a harmless fog that closely resembles smoke for training firefighters, they also bring it to the elementary school to teach the children how to safely evacuate a smoke filled building. We also in recent years purchased a piece of equipment that can detect movement inside a building while the operator is safely outside. This way they can check to see if there is anyone inside a burning building before they enter it.”
According to Porthouse, in the past, the Auxiliary has also provided holiday meals for firefighters on duty, purchased a stove for use while firefighters were housed at a temporary station in Bokeelia and also purchased a new stove for Fire Station #2 in St. James City, purchased special uniforms for three firefighters to attend a 9-11 ceremony in New York City, provided a loud speaker system used at fire board meetings, purchased bar-be-que grills for Stations #2 and #3, provide scholarships for trainees, provide T-shirts and hats for the Fire Explorers, donated to Hope Hospice in the name of former firefighters, aided in the bike path and Bokeelia Station completion celebrations, purchased two cocoa palms for the new landscaping at Station #1 and much more.
“We do what ever we can to help the district and the department,” Porthouse said. “And our fund raising efforts are what makes it possible to meet these needs.”
Fund raising efforts include manning booths at the Taste of Pine Island and MangoMania each year as well as the sale of T-shirts, Turvis Tumblers and the Auxiliary complied cookbook.
Porthouse began the Fire Auxiliary in the year 2000 when she asked how she could best help the firefighters.
“I had been volunteering around the fire house and one day I asked the Chief what else I could do. He told me that at one time the department had an auxiliary so I decided to bring it back,” said Porthouse. “We have had as many as 23 members in the past, but right now, we have eight and we always welcome more.”
The Fire Auxiliary meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Bokeelia Fire Station at 5 p.m. Annual membership dues are $20 and on payment each volunteers receives an official T-shirt to wear when taking supplies to firefighters at the scene of a fire so that officials will recognize that they are with the auxiliary.
For more information about membership or the Fire Auxiliary, call Marilyn Porthouse at 283-1967 or Jeanne Adams at 283-3247 or e-mail to mporthouse@comcast.net