Notice of cancellation of Special Meetings
The Special Meeting/Workshop of the Board of Commissioners of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District, scheduled to be held Tuesday, August 17, 2010 at 4:00 p.m., and Thursday, August 26, 2010 at 4:00 P.M, at the East Lee County High School Auditorium, 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave S, Lehigh Acres, Florida 33971, have been cancelled.
Budget Hearings
The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District will hold open workshops for the 2010 - 2011 Fiscal Year Budget. Dates and times are asa follows:
- Hearing - September 9, 2010 at 5:01 p.m. - East Lee County High School
- Hearing - September 21, 2010 at 5:01 p.m. - Veteran's Park Recreation Center (Final Budget Hearing)
The auditorium will be used at the East Lee County High School, 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave S; Lehigh Acres, FL 33974. Veteran Park Receration Center will be the location for the Final Budget Hearing, 55 Homestead Rd S; Lehigh Acres, FL 33936.
Anyone wishing to appeal any action taken by the Board of Fire Commissioners is responsible to have a verbatim record made, which record includes the testimony and evidence which the appeal is based. If an individual requires special aid or services as addressed in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Chief Adams at 239-303-5300.
SAFER Grant award
On May 27, 2010, the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District received notification of award of the SAFER Grant in the amount of $8,971,851. This award will allow the fire district to recall 34 firefighters positions that were laid off in August 2009, and retain twelve (12) more firefighter positions that were noticed of lay-off. Unfortunately, six (6) administrative positions also laid off in August 2009 are not eleigible under the grant. The District will begin the recall process on July 26, 2010, bringing the firefighters back on-duty. The District intends to re-open Station 105 (636 Thomas Sherwin Ave S) full-time the first week of August 2010. This station has been open part-time since April 2010. The Station closed its full-time status with the lay-offs in August 2009.
The purpose of the SAFER Grant is to increase firefighter safety and enhance the fire district's ability to comply with the staffing, reponse, and operational standards of the National Fire Protection Association's Standard 1710. This allows the fire district to efficiently respond to emergencies with a full staff of (4) firefighters on each fire apparatus.
The Assistance to Firefighters Grant process is a grant program of FEMA that is very competitive. Based upon information posted on the FEMA AFG Website, nationally, 2,128 fire organizations applied for the SAFER Grant. The total amount requested nationwide by the fire service was $1,249,663,298. The Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District was one of eleven organizations approved for funding in the 6th round of review in the 2009 grant cycle.
The fire district received verbal confirmation from staff in Represenative Connie Mack's congressional office and from Senator Bill Nelson's office, as well as the FEMA website.
Notice of Up Coming Meeting
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District Commissioners is September 21, 2010.
The regular monthly meeting referenced above shall begin at 4:00 p.m. and shall be held at the Veteran's Park Recreation Center, 55 South Homestead Road, Lehigh Acres, Fl. 33936. The purpose of the meeting is to conduct District business and to take offical action on any and all other business to come before the Board of Commissioners.
Anyone wishing to appeal any action of the Board of Commissioners at any of the above referenced meeting(s) is responsible to have a verbatim record made, which record includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is based. If an individual requires special aid or services as addressed in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Chief Adams (239) 303-5300.
June 23, 2010 - Collective Bargaining will resume at 9:00 a.m. for District 6, Local 1826 of the IAFF and the Lehigh Acres Fire Control and Rescue District administration. Each successive day from the 23rd of june may also be used to continue Collective Bargaining, up to and including July 14, 2010. The location of the meeting is Station 105 located at 636 Thomas Sherwin Ave S; Lehigh Acres, FL. 33974 . These are public meetings and open to the public. However, public comment will not be received at this meeting.
If an individual requires special aid or services as addressed in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), please contact Chief Don Adams (239) 303-5300. Please contact Chief Adams for any information regarding additional collective bargaining dates, not specifically noted herein.
Residential Burning or Yard Waste and Recreational Fires
Residents are urged to be cautious and to be aware of what is allowed.
Burning of Yard Waste
Burning of trash or yard debris is generally not legal in Lehigh Acres unless you obtain a permit to do so.
Recreational Fires
So-called “recreational fires” are allowed if you meet certain conditions. A recreational fire is considered to be small like a campfire or cooking fire. A small recreational fire is allowed if:
- It is no larger than 48 inches in width
- There is a 25 foot setback from structures and combustible materials
- There is a retention barrier around the fire
- It is constantly attended by a competent person
- There is a charged water hose able to reach 15-20 feet beyond the fire.
Bonfires
- A recreational fire larger than 48 inches wide is considered a “bonfire.” Bonfires require:
- A setback of at least 165 feet from any structures
- A 25 foot setback from any combustible materials like brush or trees
- A retention barrier around the fire
- A competent person attending the fire at all times
- A charged water hose able to reach 15-20 feet beyond the fire
Neither a “Recreational Fire” nor a “Bonfire” is allowed if a burn ban is in effect. If you would like, one of our inspectors would be happy to schedule a courtesy visit to show you what safety precautions are necessary. Our goal is your safety first.