Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District

The Fire Commission approved a telephone fire bar system for the department firefighters on September 7, 1965. This telephone system permitted the men on duty to get additional help. To employ the system, one would simply pick up the telephone at the fire station which would in turn ring the phones in all the off duty and volunteers' homes. The notification of a fire or emergency and the request for the necessary personnel would then be related. At that time, this equipment was the latest fire alarm notification in the area.

On December 5, 1966 the Board approved a Motion that the Fire Department act as its own contractor, in relation to the construction of the two-story rear addition to the fire station. The extension must comply to the plans and specifications of Amey, Incorporated, and stay within the estimated cost of $25,000. The expansion was built on two additional parcels of property owned by Mr. Don Zirnmer. One of the parcels was donated while the other was purchased for the sum of $5,000. The labor on the walls was completed by the firemen, under the supervision of a wall mason but the floor, roof and steel joists were put up by craftsmen. Some of the companies that worked on the project were: Midgley Incorporated, Rabar Industries, Inc. (steel joists), Overhead Door Co. and West Coast Paving Co.

In February 1969, the local funeral homes notified the County that they were discontinuing ambulance service to the community. The Beach Fire Department had obtained on August 8, 1966, a Certificate of Operations from Florida State Board of Health. This license authorized the District to operate an ambulance service, therefore the funeral homes decision had an insignificant effect on the Beach society. Furthermore, the District was purchasing a new rescue vehicle for $2,515.38 from Sam Galloway Ford, Inc., that would transport patients to local hospitals.

At the June 15,1971 Commission meeting, the Board awarded W. O. Dowling Fire Equipment Company a contract to build a 50 foot "Squirt" telescoping water for the sum of $60,235. In June 1972 the Department took delivery of this exceptional piece of firefighting equipment and was only the second aerial firetruck in southwest Florida at that time. Because of this truck's special equipment and aerial ladder it was called upon through out Lee County for assistance, in many major fires in which water tower operation was required.

Also in the year 1971 the Legislature changed the District's fiscal year from October 1 to September 30 and authorized assessment and collection commissions of 3% each to tax assessor and tax collector. The next change to the Enabling Act was in 1973 when the District's millage limit was raised to three mills and Bayside Estates was annexed into the District.