​ 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.

MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners proudly helped Fire Chief R.L. Colina welcome and swear in nine 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 members.
 
Please welcome: Nathan Acosta, Jonathan Camps, Miguel Delima, Eric Sellers, Andy Herrero, Ricardo Lezcano, Brycen Fresco, Jonathan Abraham, and Fernando Kreitz.
 
Here are some details on the new hires:
 
Jonathan Abraham went to fire school at Miami Dade College. “I wanted to have a career that screams family, and being a firefighter in Monroe County checks all my boxes,” he said. “I look forward to getting to know the crew and being involved with the community.”
 
Nathan Acosta, from Miami, completed his fire academy training through the Joe London Fire Academy in Grassy Key. “My drive to learn and grow as a person, paired with my family’s support, is what led me to this position,” he said. “Now that I’ve been hired with Monroe County Fire Rescue, I’m most excited to continue learning and officially become part of the MCFR family.
 
Jonathan Camps, originally from Miami, moved down to the Florida Keys about two years ago and graduated from Joe London Fire Academy on Grassy Key. “I have an intense passion for helping others in their moments of deepest need and look forward to the brotherhood that comes with the fire department,” he said. “I am truly excited to make an impact in Monroe County, amongst my peers, and the community.”
 
Miguel Delima, from Miami, completed his fire/EMT/Paramedics training at Miami Dade College. The dad of two said, “I enjoy tutoring and mentoring aspiring EMS students who are pursuing the same career path I did. Being a firefighter had always been a dream of mine, and I realized that I couldn't teach my son to follow his dreams if I wasn't following mine, and I'm excited to one day be able to teach a new generation these skills and tactics.”
 
Brycen Fresco grew up in Key Largo and attended Coral Springs Regional Institute of Public Safety for fire academy and graduated from Florida State University in 2024. “I have always known that I wanted to join the fire service, but went to college first since I had the opportunity,” he said. “I am excited to work as a professional firefighter for Monroe County to serve and give back to the community that I grew up in.
 
Andy Herrero went to Miami Dade College Fire Academy. “The thought of helping people and making sure they feel safe, even in their darkest times, is what led me to want to be a firefighter,” he said. “I am most excited about all the knowledge I will gain working with some of the best at Monroe County Fire Rescue.”
 
Fernando Kreitz attended the Joe London Fire Academy on Grassy Key, completed EMT training at Pelham in Indiana, and is pending completion of Paramedic licensing. “After doing the fire academy in the Keys, I fell in love with the area and the people who surround it,” he said. “I love how the department is growing, and I wanted to be a part of that.”
 
Ricardo Lezcano has an associate's degree in criminal justice from Miami Dade College and went to Coral Springs Regional Institute of Public Safety for the fire academy. He enjoys spending time with his loved ones whenever possible. “The loss of a family member influenced my decision to pursue this career path,” he said. “This inspired me to go through the necessary training to be able to help those in need.”
 
Eric Sellers, an 8th-generation Conch, graduated from Key West High School and went to the Joe London Fire Academy on Grassy Key. “Growing up, I always knew I wanted to follow my dad and uncle's footsteps into this career,” he said. “I'm super excited to get into this career and serve my community that I know so well.”

GRASSY KEY, FL – On Monday, Monroe County Fire Rescue welcomed class 25-01 to the Joe London Fire Academy on Grassy Key. Class 25-01 has 33 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 starting at the academy, 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 Jan. 23, 2026. Classes are usually held once a year. There are no new classes scheduled at this time. For more information about future programs, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/fireacademy or email [email protected].

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue (MCFR) is teaming up with the National Fire Protection Association, the official sponsor of Fire Prevention Week for more than 90 years, to promote this year’s Fire Prevention Week campaign, “Charge into Fire Safety, Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your Home.” The campaign aims to educate children about the potential dangers of lithium-ion batteries and teach them how to play an active role in staying safe when using or charging everyday devices.
 
MCFR will conduct outreach programs from Oct. 5-11 in seven schools and daycares within Monroe County Fire Rescue’s jurisdiction. The firefighters will teach children about fire prevention and safety tips, give them tours of the fire trucks, and introduce them to a fan favorite, Sparky the Fire Dog.
 
“This is a new theme this year,” said Deputy Chief Marcos Osorio. “Sparky and our firefighters will be teaching the kids the important usual fire safety tips, but will also focus on battery safety, like unplugging devices when they are fully charged to prevent fires.”
 
Other battery tips:

• Look for a stamp from a nationally recognized battery testing lab.
• Charge devices safely and always use the cable that came with the product.
• Recycle batteries responsibly. Recycling batteries helps the environment, and the materials in the batteries can be reused.

 
For more information about Fire Prevention Week, visit www.fpw.org. For more information on MCFR, visit www.monroecounty-fl.gov/firerescue.

 BIG PINE KEY - Tunnels to Towers 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 late Monroe County Fire Rescue Firefighter Herve Thomas) and Tunnels to Towers are hosting a 5K on Saturday, Nov. 8, at 8:30 a.m. at the Big Pine Key Community Park. To register for the 5K, donate, and volunteer, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/FL/BigPineKey/TunneltoTowers5KRunWalkBigPineKeyFL or www.t2t.org. Email [email protected] for more information. 

MONROE COUNTY, FL – September 11 marks the 24th anniversary of the terrorist attacks against the United States, which claimed the lives of 2,996 people and injured more than 6,000 others at the twin towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93 in Pennsylvania.
 
On Sept. 11, 2001, in addition to law enforcement officers, medical service providers, and other public servants, 343 firefighters made the ultimate sacrifice to help others.
 
"On September 11, we pause to remember the lives lost and the heroes who answered the call," said Chief RL Colina. "We are honored to continue to invite our community to join us at our fire stations as we remember their legacy and reflect on the importance of service, sacrifice, and unity."
 
Monroe County Fire Rescue invites the public to any of the Monroe County Fire Rescue stations on Sept. 11 to reflect on the lives lost.
 

• 9:50 a.m. – Primary apparatus brought out of the station bay.
• 9:59 – (Time of the South Tower WTC collapse), sound apparatus air horn in three sets of five blasts followed by one minute of silence.
• 10:00 to 10:28 – Time for personal remembrance and reflection.
• 10:28 – (Time of the North Tower WTC collapse), sound apparatus air horn in three sets of five blasts followed by one minute of silence.
• 10:29 – Flag raised and then returned to half-staff.
• 10:30 – Return apparatus to station and resume normal duties.

During the remembrance, normal emergency response actions will be observed if needed.
 
Stations are located at:
 

• Station 8 - Stock Island, 5655 MacDonald Avenue, MM 5
• Station 9 - Big Coppitt, 28 Emerald Drive, MM 10
• Station 11 – Cudjoe, 22352 Overseas Highway, MM 22
• Station 13 - Big Pine Key, 390 Key Deer Boulevard, MM 30.5
• Station 17 - Conch Key, 10 S Conch Avenue, MM 63
• Station 18 – Layton, 68260 Overseas Highway, MM 68.5
• Station 22 – Tavernier, 151 Marine Avenue, MM 92

MONROE COUNTY – The Monroe County Board of County Commissioners recognizes its long-term employees for their contributions to the county's citizens. See below those celebrating milestones this month.
 
20 Years

• John Hamburger, Monroe County Fire Rescue

​MONROE COUNTY, FL – The Monroe County Fire Marshal’s Office wants everyone to have a fun and, most importantly, a safe 4th of July week. Please leave fireworks displays to the professionals.
 
“Discharge of fireworks can lead to loss of life and property,” said Monroe County Fire Marshal Craig Marston. “Fireworks can burn as hot as 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, including sparklers, which can cause real damage when not handled properly.”
 
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):

• July 3 - Big Pine Key Community Park at 9 p.m.
• July 4 - Hawks Cay Resort at Duck Key at 9 p.m.
• July 4 - Bungalows Key Largo Resort at 10 p.m.
• July 4 - Sundowners in Key Largo at 9:15 p.m.
• July 4 - Ocean Reef Club at 8:30 p.m.

 
There are additional displays in some municipalities.
 
**If you live near fireworks shows, you may want to soothe your pets and keep them indoors.
 
Here are a few ideas provided by the National Fire Prevention Association to get into the patriotic spirit without fireworks:
1. Glow sticks: A safe alternative to a sparkler.
2. Noisemakers: Make your own if you can’t find any.
3. Outdoor movie night: Set up a screen and projector.
4. Make a patriotic craft with the family.
5. Throw a birthday party for the USA, and don’t forget the cake.
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 Friday, July 4, and will reopen for regular business on Monday morning. 

MONROE COUNTY, FL – Monroe County Fire Rescue (MCFR) will host five “Beat the Heat” events this summer at different locations throughout the Florida Keys. MCFR will be providing a gentle stream of misting water for children of all ages to enjoy in a safe and fun environment. It is a great way to meet your neighborhood firefighters, learn about fire prevention, and cool off from the summer heat. Children are encouraged to wear a bathing suit and water shoes, and bring a bottle of water and a towel. The events take place on Saturdays from 10 to 11 a.m.

• May 31 - Tavernier, Harry Harris Park
• June 7 - Layton Community Baptist Church
• June 14 - Big Pine Key Community Park
• June 21 - Sugarloaf School
• June 28 - Stock Island, Bernstein Park

 
“These events are some of our favorite community outreach programs for kids where they get to come out and meet our firefighters and play in the water,” said Fire Marshal Craig Marston. “It’s a great way for the children to learn summer safety tips and have fun at the same time.”
 
For more information, please call Monroe County Fire Rescue at 305-289-6005. These events are subject to cancellation due to inclement or threatening weather.