The Bayshore Fire District has been busy with two campaigns over the last few weeks — one to collect gifts for Toys For Tots and the other to raise awareness about the potential for brush fires.
Bayshore firefighters went into the community last week, handing out an informational flier that was delivered to homeowners within the Bayshore Fire District. The flier identified potential hazards that may threaten homes during a brush fire.
“It’s a program that has been done here for several years,” said Bayshore Fire and Rescue District Chief Lawrence Nisbet.
“Initially, it was targeting families that lived only in the Bayshore Fire District, and then over the years, as the need became greater, we expanded out to several different locations,” he said.
On Friday, Nov. 13, and Saturday Nov. 14, they went out in conjunction with the Division of Forestry doing what’s called a “Wild Fire Blitz.”
“This is an assessment of properties within the Bayshore Fire District and the threat of those properties in the event of a wildfire,” Nisbet said.
“We’re getting into wildfire season,” he continued. “We are already seeing an increase in fire activity. A good example is when we recently sent a strike team to Hendry County for a 51-acre brush fire.”
Concerning the Toys for Tots campaign now being run from his district, Nisbet said, “The most important thing for us is families that cannot do for their children or for themselves at Christmas, we can help them out. We concentrate our business on saving houses and saving lives — this is saving Christmas.”
Office Manager Theresa Sharp said, “The Lee Civic Center has graciously donated the use of their Expo Hall for the Charity Sit-Down Dinner and gift distribution.”
She added that besides the fire stations, additional collection centers for he campaign will be the State Division of Forestry located at 10941 Palm Beach Blvd. in East Fort Myers, Hogbody’s located at 10440 Bayshore Road in North Fort Myers and and three locations of the The Ankle & Foot Group (13240 N. Cleveland Ave. and 88-2 Pine Island Road both in North Fort Myers, as well as 4901 Palm Beach Blvd. in Tice.)
For information or to donate, call Sharp at 543-3443