Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District

Hurricane Donna, on September 10, 1960 passed directly over Fort Myers Beach, generated massive physical, as well as financial damage with its winds of 117 M.P.H. The Fire Department vehicles were relocated to Pine Ridge Road to ride out the storm. After Donna had passed, the men and fire equipment returned to assist in closing the swing bridge, which had locked in the open position. Destruction of over 5,000 buildings in southwest Florida resulted in monetary damages surpassing 26 million dollars. The financial shortfall realization hit the District soon after the storm and the Directors had to borrow money to maintain daily operations. Today that identical storm would cause damage calculated to be over 681 million dollars or (2619 percent increase over 1960) because of inflation, population and rising construction and replacement costs.

Not long after Hurricane Donna departed, another obligation was recognized by the Fire District. With the population mounting to 2,500 residents and the nearest hospital 20 miles away, there was a demand for improved aid to the sick and injured on the Beach. Ambulance service was delivered from Harvey or Englehardt's Funeral Home in Fort Myers, which could take as much as 30 minutes to arrive at the scene. Two new historic "Not for Profit" corporations were established, the Fort Myers Beach Equipment Vehicle, Inc. on November 8, 1961, and a Certificate of Incorporation was filed for the Fort Myers Beach Rescue Unit, Incorporated on March 8, 1962. The rescue unit was incorporated separately from the Fire Department and with financial help from Leo W. Englehardt's Funeral Home, a 1953 Ford step-van (previously a bread truck) was purchased from Miami. The first meeting of the Rescue Corporation was held at 7:15 on March 29, 1962 at the Fire Station. Attorney Kjell Pedersen explained the Rescue Unit Charter to the men and Al Bradford was designated President of the Corporation. The Beach rescue crew would transport to Miner Corner (San Carlos and Gladiolus) and then transfer the patient to the funeral home ambulance which would continue on to the local hospital.

A second revision to the Enabling Act transpired in May of the year 1963. The Enactment indicated that the Board of Fire Commissioners could delegate as the presiding officer either a president or a chairman also, and the powers of the Board were specified in greater detail than had previously been the case. This is the first legislation in which there is a specific reference to the rescue unit function. The Fire Commission was given explicit authority to hire personnel and borrow money. Also this Amendment extended the District to the main land, when approved by referendum. On August 6, 1963, the District Commissioners adopted "Ordinance No. 2" which established the Florida State Fire Prevention Code to be applicable to all areas of the District. This was the first time the Department had a standard Fire Code with which to operate with and at the same time satisfy the Underwriters' Association requirement for a lower fire insurance rating. The dissolution of the Fort Myers Beach Rescue Unit, Inc. occurred on September 16, 1963, by the Final Order of Honorable Archie M. Odom and all properties were transferred to the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District. Therefore establishing the rescue units as an official division of the Fire Department.