MONROE COUNTY FIRE RESCUE WELCOMES FIRE ACADEMY CLASS 26-01 TO THE JOE LONDON FIRE ACADEMY4/20/2026 GRASSY KEY, FL – Last Monday, Monroe County Fire Rescue welcomed class 26-01 to the Joe London Fire Academy on Grassy Key. Class 26-01 has 29 qualified trainees out of 90 applicants, marking the beginning of their process to become certified Florida State firefighters.
“I am excited for the newest minimum standards training class who will be learning from our dedicated training staff,” said Monroe County Fire Chief RL Colina. “We look forward to preparing these candidates over the next few months to build a foundation for them to become the future firefighters who will serve our communities with skill and dedication.” Students who complete the 17 performance objectives of the firefighter program are prepared to take the State of Florida Firefighter II examination. The fire academy includes 398 hours of rigorous daily physical training and classwork, equipping participants with the skills and discipline necessary to protect the community and uphold a commitment to public safety. The trainees will conclude the program on July 24, 2026. With 90 applicants and a growing interest in the program, Monroe County Fire Rescue will host another fire academy in October. This is the first year two academies will be held in one year. For more information about future programs, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/fireacademy or email [email protected].
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MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners proudly helped Fire Chief R.L. Colina welcome and swear in seven new firefighters to Monroe County Fire Rescue (MCFR). The newly sworn-in firefighters took their oaths to support and uphold MCFR’s mission and were presented with their official badges by family and friends.
Please welcome: Firefighter/EMT Gaspar Calafell, Firefighter/EMT Neovaldys Duran, Firefighter/EMT Liam Freeman, Firefighter/EMT Juan Gonzalez, Firefighter/EMT Matthew Rodriguez, Firefighter/EMT Justin Valea, and Firefighter/EMT Jourdan Zojaji. “We’re proud to welcome these seven new firefighters to the Monroe County Fire Rescue family,” said R.L. Colina. “Each of them has answered the call to serve our community with courage and commitment. From day one, they are part of a team that shows up when it matters most, and I have no doubt they will carry on the high standard of service our residents and visitors rely on every day.” BIG PINE KEY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue recently added a 2013 Ford F-450 Heavy Duty Brush Truck to its fleet thanks to a donation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, strengthening the county’s ability to respond to wildland and brush fires in the Lower Keys.
The truck was transferred to Monroe County after the agency identified an opportunity to share fire suppression equipment with partners who could benefit from additional resources. The vehicle will be stationed at Fire Station 13 on Big Pine Key. Brush trucks are designed to access areas that larger fire engines cannot easily reach and are particularly useful for fighting wildland fires in remote or environmentally sensitive areas, like Big Pine Key. The truck carries a 300-gallon onboard water tank that delivers up to 1,500 gallons of water per minute. In 2017, following Hurricane Irma, Big Pine Key experienced a significant wildfire that burned approximately 80 acres of wildlands. “This is a great example of agencies working together to protect our communities and natural resources,” said Monroe County Fire Rescue Chief R.L. Colina. “The donation of this brush truck strengthens our wildfire response capabilities in the Lower Keys and helps ensure our firefighters have the equipment they need to respond quickly and safely.”  SUGARLOAF KEY, FL – Earlier this week, Monroe County Sheriff’s Office reported the arrest of a 45-year-old man on Feb. 10, 2026, for breaking into and living at the fire station on Sugarloaf Key for approximately seven days. For clarification, the vacant building has been unoccupied since July 2025 and is in the permitting process for demolition.
--- From MCSO: Mark Alvarado was charged with burglary and theft. A Monroe County fire official notified the sheriff’s office that an unknown subject, later identified as Alvarado, was trespassing at Sugarloaf Fire Station 10. The sheriff’s office observed Alvarado in the second-floor living quarters. Alvarado stated he was homeless, from New York state, and had been staying at the station while using the building’s water and electricity. Avarado stated he had been there about a week. He was also wearing an MCFR polo shirt and shorts, which he admitted he had stolen from the station. He was taken to jail. MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and Monroe County Fire Rescue Fire Chief RL Colina welcomed six new firefighter/EMTs to Monroe County Fire Rescue in a pinning ceremony at the January BOCC meeting. Monroe County Fire Rescue welcomes Isaac Duran, Jonathan Enriquez, Giovany Oliva, Jr., Victor Paneda, Michael Perez, and Joshua Roman.
 MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue wants everyone to have a fun and, most importantly, safe New Year's Eve and Day. Please leave fireworks displays to the professionals.
“We want everyone to ring in the New Year safely. Professional fireworks displays are designed with safety in mind, but backyard fireworks put people and homes in danger,” said Monroe County Fire Chief R.L. Colina. “Celebrate responsibly and help us make it a safe night for everyone.” All professional fireworks in unincorporated Monroe County must be permitted through the Monroe County Fire Marshal’s Office. The Fire Marshal’s Office approved the following fireworks displays in unincorporated Monroe County (all times are approximate):
There are additional displays in some municipalities. **If you live near fireworks shows, you may want to soothe your pets and keep them indoors. For more information on fireworks permitting, please visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/fireworks. Monroe County also lists other permitted fireworks displays on this page for reference, including for special events like weddings. As a reminder, Monroe County government offices will be closed on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at noon, and will reopen for regular business on Friday morning, Jan. 2. MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue’s Lt. Tony Araque and Firefighter Eliseo Araque recently attended the Basic Honor Guard class at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala. This intensive course provided foundational instruction in Honor Guard history, ceremonial protocols, flag handling, marching movements, uniform standards, and proper conduct during line-of-duty death funerals and memorial services. The father-and-son duo hope to restore the tradition for Monroe County Fire Rescue.
Through this training, both gained a deeper understanding of the significance and responsibilities of an Honor Guard, as well as the precision, discipline, and professionalism required to represent the fire service with dignity and respect. Their participation reflects a strong commitment to preserving fire service traditions and honoring those who have made the ultimate sacrifice. “The initiation of the Monroe County Fire Rescue Honor Guard represents our commitment to professionalism, tradition, and respect,” said Chief R.L. Colina. “This program ensures that we honor our fallen, support our families, and represent our department and county with the dignity and precision that the fire service demands.” MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue has promoted Alejandro Lucio, a 17-year Monroe County Fire Rescue firefighter/Paramedic and flight medic, to Battalion Chief of Operations. Lucio, a Miami native, majored in business and worked at his family’s export company, where he managed complex software systems and accounting operations, before discovering firefighting.
“Lucio has earned this promotion through years of dedication, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to the people of Monroe County,” said Fire Chief R.L. Colina. “He is calm under pressure, he leads by example, and he consistently brings out the best in those around him. We’re proud of his journey, and we’re even more proud to have him in this leadership role.” Lucio says he entered the fire service after joining a friend at a Key Largo Volunteer Fire Department meeting. That night ignited a passion for public service. From there, Lucio completed the first responder class at the department’s night school program and went on to earn EMT and Paramedic certifications. Then, he enrolled in the Miami-Dade College Firefighter Minimum Standards course and later earned dual associate degrees in Fire Science and Medical Services from Braxton College. Lucio credits much of his success to the support of his high school sweetheart and wife, Joselyn, and their children, Christopher and Emma, who joined him at the pinning. His parents also attended the ceremony with him. “I am grateful to be able to do this job,” Lucio said. “I believe in this service, and I am humbled and appreciative of this opportunity.”  MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue will be hosting several holiday parades throughout the Florida Keys.
Monroe County Fire Rescue crew members who are volunteering their time will throw candy donated by IAFF Local 3909 along the routes from a fire truck, and, of course, Santa Claus will also take time from his busy schedule to ride on a fire truck. The exact times and routes for each parade will be posted on Monroe County Fire Rescue's Facebook page before the event.
“Our community is better because of the people who step up to keep traditions going,” said Mayor Michelle Lincoln. “Our firefighters who volunteer their time to make the holidays magical for our neighborhoods, and to bring Santa right to our streets, are a perfect example of that spirit. Their dedication keeps our community connected, and we couldn’t be more grateful for the joy they share with all of us.”  BIG PINE KEY – Monroe County Fire Rescue Chief R.L. Colina and Monroe County Sheriff Rick Ramsay will be giving an opening speech at the Tunnels to Towers Foundation 5K on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 8:30 a.m. at the Big Pine Key Community Park. The foundation supports our nation's fallen and catastrophically injured first responders, military heroes, and their families, created in the wake of Sept. 11, 2001. Nicole Gerrard and Naima Thomas (wife and daughter of the late Monroe County Fire Rescue Firefighter Herve Thomas), along with Tunnels to Towers, are hosting the event. Many Monroe County firefighters and sheriff officers will be participating in the event.
To register for the 5K, donate, or volunteer, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/BigPineKey/TunneltoTowers5KRunWalkBigPineKeyFL or www.t2t.org. Email [email protected] for more information. |
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