NFMFD Dive Team: Ready when seconds matter
Water is all around us in Southwest Florida, and when an emergency happens, every second matters. That’s why North Fort Myers Fire District brought its Dive Team back to life in late 2023 under the leadership of Assistant Chief Mark Westra.
The original team, known as the Gulf Coast Dive Team, began in the early 1980s and was largely made up of North Fort Myers firefighters, volunteers and community members.
Today, 28 North Fort Myers firefighters make up the current Dive Team, providing specialized training and water-rescue capabilities throughout the district. Frontline engines have dive capabilities, along with a designated dive unit specifically equipped to respond to water-related emergencies.
Having trained dive personnel available on every shift means North Fort Myers Fire Department can begin its response immediately rather than waiting up to 40 minutes for an outside agency.
Since its revival, the team has responded to water emergencies ranging from nearby neighborhood ponds to incidents as far away as Lehigh Acres, helping provide our community with a faster, more capable response when it matters most.
— Christi Fulton is the Public Education officer for the North FortMyers Fire Control District where she also serves as a fire investigator and fire inspector.