Estero Fire Rescue, San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue Service, and Bonita Springs Fire Control & Rescue District have an agreement for “Closest Unit Response”. This means if an Estero Fire Rescue unit is closer to an incident call in the Vines, they will respond although the Vines is within the San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue Service district. Conversely, the Bonita Springs Fire Control & Rescue District may be the closest unit to an incident in Rapallo.
With an older population in Estero there will be more Fire and Rescue calls within the Village. In 2018, the Community of Bella Terra had 180 Fire/Rescue calls. This equates to 1 call every other day.
Jennifer Bossi, Executive Assistant, RMLO, District Manager, San Carlos Park Fire Protection & Rescue Service District reported the calls in the chart for calendar year 2023.This extrapolated equals 1 Fire/Rescue call every 6 days. This is the average for the entire year, not accounting for in or out of Season.
Kim E. Poli, Administrative Assistant to the Fire Chief, Estero Fire Rescue, reports the following numbers in the chart for calendar year 2023.
This extrapolated equals 1 Fire/Rescue call every 4.3 days. This is the average for the entire year, not accounting for in or out of Season.
These “incidents” include any time a vehicle is dispatched. While the vast majority of the calls were for Emergency Medical Services, other calls were for alarm system activation, vehicle accidents, fires, public service, and lock outs.
Why is the above data important? It identifies the need to follow the community rules on parking and the fire code rules on tree trimming to ensure Fire Rescue vehicles can safely move within communities and on Estero streets.
Most communities have rules, which are enforced for parking on their streets. As an example, The Bella Terra community allows parking only on the odd side of the street. In Shadow Wood there is no parking in the turn areas at the end of a residential road with no outlet at any time of day, no overnight parking on the street, and suppliers/vendors/contractors need to avoid parking on opposite sides of the street that could impinge on emergency vehicles. Grandezza does not allow commercial vehicles or any parking in the street overnight.
Typically, residential streets within communities are 22 feet wide (curb to curb). A typical car width is 6 feet, a truck’s width is 6.5 to 8 feet, a commercial vehicle (trash truck) width is 8.5 feet, and an emergency (fire truck) is between 8 and 10 feet. Vehicles parked on both sides of the street may limit the ability of the responding fire rescue vehicles to get to the emergency.
The below graphic highlights the physical space limitations.
The graphic highlights the issue. Two cars would just be wide enough. Larger vehicles just make it worse. Although it very rarely happens, emergency vehicles have the ability to crash through parked vehicles to get to the emergency. 
We all know minutes are critical when responding to a medical emergency. Besides parking on both sides of the street, personal and construction vehicles, moving vans, etc., protruding into the street from the resident’s driveway can also hinder fire rescue vehicles from responding.
Another concern is nonvehicle obstructions. Yard waste piled in the street, trash and recycle containers in the street, and trees hanging into the street. Florida Fire Prevention code requires 13’, 6” clearance as the below letter from Estero Fire Rescue illustrates.
Although the author is not aware of any examples, Fire Districts in Florida have the ability to fine homeowners for obstructions. Fining residents for parking violations is not the intention. Education and compliance are the goals to ensure we can receive the fire rescue services we need when we need them.
Let us all do our part and keep the roads clear so fire rescue vehicles can respond!
