North fire calls up this year, but not as much as expected
It’s been a busy year so far for North Fort Myers Fire & Rescue, with July being one of the busiest, even more than at this point last year.
It’s a sure sign that the North Fort Myers community is growing.
North responded to 1,034 calls for service in July, bringing the total calls in 2023 to 6,975, with 696 calls for rescue and EMS (by far the most calls the district receives), 139 for good intent and 129 service calls this past month.
There were 18 calls for actual fires, which was down from the 22 last year.
In 2022, the district responded to 946 calls for service, with only 5,786 total calls by the end of July.
Christi Fulton, North Fort Myers Fire Control & Rescue’s public education officer, said the numbers show that the area is growing, but that calls were not at the rate she expected.
“We’re a little surprised that we haven’t seen such a big change in the numbers. We are busier. Lee County is growing because there is so much new construction and new communities in our district,” Fulton said. “We haven’t had much of an offseason.”
In the past, numbers were generally higher during the season before tapering off slightly in the summer. That is no longer the case as more people move here permanently.
Of course, Hurricane Ian brought the numbers up significantly in September and October, by far the busiest months of 2022 even as it was offseason.
In 2023, March was the busiest, with 1,064 calls for service, with July a close second. Fulton said the EMS calls have stayed fairly steady, without the jumps that Ian created.
“March and April were much higher than the previous year, but the EMS calls have remained pretty consistent, with a gradual increase as the population increases,” Fulton said. “That’s to be expected.”
With the higher numbers, there’s only so much one fire station can do. There have been plans to add a fourth station near where Paradise Isles is supposed to be built. Whether it ever gets off the ground or not, Fulton said another station (or substation) is coming.
“We’re actively looking for the right piece of property for a satellite station, something small. We aren’t waiting on Paradise Isles per say,” Fulton said.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com