Sanibel fire district holds awards, staff appreciation banquet
The Sanibel Fire and Rescue District recently celebrated its dedicated staff and their achievements throughout the year, as well as thanked island entities and others that helped after Hurricane Ian.
The district hosted its Annual Awards/Employee Appreciation Banquet on Dec. 2 at The Community House on Sanibel. Last year’s event was canceled due to the storm, so it was a night to remember.
“We have, historically, done the annual banquet to kind of give thanks to our staff and our team,” Fire Chief Kevin Barbot said, explaining that it is typically a district event attended only by employees.
“This year, we decided to extend it and invite all the playmakers who were there for us after Ian,” he added, noting that the district recognized those who assisted with the post-hurricane operations, volunteered their time or donated resources.
During the event, a video about Ian was played, which stirred up emotions among those attending.
“People are still mentally grasping with what we went through,” Barbot said.
“The closure’s not there,” he added.
For the 2023 awards, Firefighter of the Year went to Capt. Rob Wilkins. Barbot explained that the recognition is a peer-selected award through nominations for exemplary work on and off duty.
Lt. Brian Howell received the Leadership Award, which is determined by the administrative staff.
“It’s someone who has been really a team player not just for their subordinates, but for the administration,” he said.
The Fire Chief Award went to both Administrative Assistant Greta Fulkerson and Capt. Mike Martin.
“Normally, there would be one,” Barbot said. “But I couldn’t just pinpoint it to one.”
He explained that the dealings with FEMA after the hurricane added significantly to his workload and Martin jumped in to help, creating spreadsheets, making payroll reports and joining FEMA meetings.
Barbot noted that the district will soon be 100% reimbursed.
“That would not have happened without his continued assistance,” he said.
For Fulkerson, Barbot explained that she was “very very green” when she was hired full-time.
“The amount of knowledge and the amount of experience that she’s been able to amass. Some people are able to rise up to challenges and some people fail,” he said, noting that she rose and succeeded.
“She’s had the right mindset, she loves the agency, she loves the people that work within this agency and she loves Sanibel,” Barbot added. “I would not allow for her not to get that award this year.”
When employees reach their 20-year milestone, they are recognized with the Time In Service Award. Assistant Chief Chris Jackson and Lt John Reitenbach were each honored with the special plaque.
The Selfless Hero Award was presented to the Dirty South Rescue Team, of Fort Lauderdale.
He explained that it is a group of homegrown individuals who volunteer their time assisting citizens affected by natural disasters. They self dispatch and show up, offering help to those who will accept it.
“What they did for the island, not just the Sanibel fire district,” Barbot said, explaining that they helped with search-and-rescue, fixed flat tires on vehicles, assisted with cleanups and more for about a week.
“There was no task too small or beneath them that they did not want to help out with,” he added. “The amount of assistance that we got from this crew was unbelievable. They are amazing individuals.”
Sanibel resident George Baumgartner was honored with the Hometown Hero Award.
Barbot explained that he lives on the east end and just showed up at the boat ramp after the storm and started assisting. He helped people and assisting agencies on and off the boats, even picked up supplies.
“He was there every single day,” he said. “Even though his own home was completely ravaged.”
When Barbot finally asked Baumgartner why he was there, he got a surprising answer.
“He said, ‘Because it’s the right thing to do. What am I going to do? Sit at home?'” he said. “He, literally, looked at his assistance and contribution as someone doing the right thing.”
“He is an awesome citizen,” Barbot added.
Also during the banquet, the district recognized several on- and off-island entities and staff family members with the Fire Service Appreciation Award for helping it and the community post-Ian.
“For making sure we were going to recovery just a little bit quicker,” he said.
The award was presented to: the city of Sanibel; Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation; ARS / Global Emergency Management; World Central Kitchen; Rob Doerr; Chris Boveda; Kyler DiMaria; Derek Ward, of the San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue Service District; David Treglown; Mike Erbaio; and the Barbot family.
Barbot explained that ARS / Global Emergency Management provided free diesel to the district to keep the emergency generators going, and World Central Kitchen kept the first responders and others fed.
He also highlighted the city and SCCF. Prior to the hurricane, the district removed all of its assets from the island, per protocol. When the Sanibel Causeway gave out, there were no vehicles for operations.
“That’s where the city of Sanibel and SCCF came in,” Barbot said.
Both entities offered the district the use of their vehicles that had been left on the island and weathered the storm. The district and assisting agencies used those to evacuate survivors, get around and more.
“If it wasn’t for their assistance, it would have made our job really really hard,” he said.
The district thanked the Iona-McGregor Fire District for covering the island during the banquet.
The event was funded by the district’s sale of challenge coins and T-shirts.