Sanibel fire to get $75K for old truck
The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District has officially signed off on a contract to sell its old truck.
At the June 20 meeting for the commission, Fire Chief Matt Scott reported that the former E1 ladder truck has been sold for $75,000 to a wholesaler. The district had two offers on the table last month.
“They just were not able to meet that price,” he said of an interested agency in Montreal.
Scott also provided an update on the new replacement truck.
He told the commissioners that the final inspection is anticipated to take place July 24-25.
“So that actually puts it two weeks ahead of schedule,” Scott said.
He expects that the district will be in possession of it about mid to late August.
Training Officer Capt. Tim Barrett reported that the staff has been undergoing medical and trauma training focused in the areas of pediatrics and neonatal. They also underwent mayday training.
Staff took part in hazardous material training for a few days with the Island Water Association.
“We have another day coming up,” he told the commissioners.
Barrett reported that the Sanibel Police Department will begin to start carrying “throw bags” in their vehicles for responding to water-related incidents. Thrown to victims, they help to prevent drownings.
He noted that CPR classes were held on June 9, June 11 and June 18.
“We do about three a month this time of year,” Barrett said.
Fire Marshal Rick Tassoni provided an update of the full reopening of the Sanibel Public Library.
“The library is three-quarters completed,” he said.
He noted that officials are aiming for an August opening for the second half of the building.
Tassoni reported that Mud Bugs Cajun Kitchen, which is being constructed on the site of the old Sanibel Steakhouse, is coming along. An opening date is anticipated sometime in September.
The site plans are in for the new Sanibel Sunset Beach Inn on West Gulf Drive.
“They just want to get this thing started,” he said.
Assistant Fire Chief William Briscoe reported that the district responded to 138 calls last month, compared to 151 calls during the same time last year. For the year-to-date, however, the district has responded to 900 calls as compared to 825 calls during the same time period last year.
“So it looks like we’re probably going to go higher than we were last year,” he said.
Tree trimmings have occurred around both fire stations as a safety precaution.
Briscoe said he is currently collecting quotes for the Station 172 tower.
Briscoe also reported that there were three small fires over the last month, which stemmed from an electrical line that was downed, a transformer that sparked and an outside burn that took place.