Fort Myers houseboat catches on fire, sinks

VIDEO: A Fort Myers houseboat caught on fire and then sank behind the cul-de-sac of East Riverside Drive Friday morning. When NBC2 crews arrived at the scene just after midnight, the entire boat was up in flames. According to the Tice Fire Department, the boat is a total loss and is underwater. The fire did not spread to any other homes and no injuries were reported. A 30-foot boat was attached to the dock behind the fire. The Fire Marshal is not coming out at this time. The Coast Guard has been notified. NBC2 crews at the scene spoke with firefighters at the scene who say the fire does not look suspicious at this time. It is under investigation. The homeowner stated someone messed with his generator Thursday. He said there ended up being a leak somewhere on the boat. He went to check it with a candle when the boat caught fire.
WBBH-TV NBC 2 Fort Myers

Seminole County Fire Department puts donated money toward cancer-related initiatives

VIDEO: The Seminole County Fire Department is announcing the donated purchase of 150 heavy-duty containers to support cancer-preventative initiatives for firefighters. In January, the Meet Expectations Girls Gymnastics Competition fundraised nearly $10,000 for the fire departments in Seminole and Orange Counties. The Seminole County Firefighters Benevolent Fund used its $5,000 donation to purchase plastic sealable containers where “floating” firefighters can store their gear when they go to various stations. “Floater” firefighters and lieutenants do not have a permanent station and bring their gear to various stations. “They have to transport their gear home and this is just one level of protection to keep them safe and keep their families safe,” Lt. Jazz Zombo said.
WKMG-TV CBS 6 Orlando

Lee County: Iona McGregor Fire Marshal battles breast cancer

VIDEO: Fire Marshal Jackielou Mozes has been with the Iona McGregor Fire District for 20 years. Those who know her best say she is a wonderful mother, wife, mentor and friend. "She is one of the kindest, giving, compassionate individuals I have ever met," Megan Contreras, community relations specialist for the district and friend of Mozes, said. Earlier this year, Mozes said she started exhibiting symptoms that didn't seem right. After a routine mammogram came back clear, she told her doctors about a lump that had formed in her breast and followed up with an ultrasound. In February, she was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer at just 41 years old. "It's painful to even sit and talk about it now," Fire Chief Seth Comer said. "She's like a little sister to me."
WZVN-TV ABC 7 Naples

North Collier Fire Rescue introduces diverse group of recruits to intensive training program

VIDEO: In response to the urgent demand for firefighters, both locally and nationwide, the North Collier Fire Rescue District has recently brought on board 22 new recruits. This marks their largest and most diverse group yet. Heather Mazurkiewicz, the public information officer for North Collier Fire, said she is proud to see the new recruits. "I want a little girl when we go to a school to see another girl get off of the firetruck. I want an African American to see an African American on the fire trucks," she said. "Because we believe wholeheartedly that not only is it our job to save lives and preserve property, but it's our job to inspire the next generation of firefighters." These recruits, some as young as 19, are currently undergoing intensive training at North Collier Fire Station 45.
WBBH-TV NBC 2 Fort Myers

VIDEO: Massive fire breaks out at Cody’s Original Roadhouse in Tampa

PHOTOS: A massive fire roared at Cody's Original Roadhouse in Tampa early Thursday morning. The chain restaurant location, at 11202 W. Hillsborough Avenue, was fully engulfed in flames on Thursday just after 5 a.m. According to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, they were called to the fire at 5:15 a.m. The first arriving units attempted an interior attack but faced harsh conditions, so they pivoted to a defensive attack. Live aerials show firefighters attacking the fire from above using elevated water streams. There have been no injuries so far, according to HCFR.
WTVT-TV FOX 13 Tampa

Man critically injured, first responders hospitalized after house fire in Miami’s Little Havana

A man was hospitalized in critical condition and two police officers and a firefighter were also transported to the hospital after a house fire in Little Havana early Thursday. Firefighters responded to the fire at the house in the 3600 block of Northwest 16th Street just before 12:30 a.m., Miami Fire Rescue officials said. Once they arrived, the residents informed the crew that a family member was still inside the house. Firefighters entered the home in search of the victim, a 65-year-old man, who was found in the back of the home on the floor. The victim, identified by his family as Rogel Escalona, was transported to Jackson Memorial Hospital. He had over 30% of his body with 1st and 2nd degree burns and was in critical condition, authorities said.
WTVJ-TV NBC 6 Miami

46 surgeries later, Fort Pierce burn victim wears suit for the first time for senior prom

VIDEO/PHOTOS: Fort Pierce resident Demetrius Gollett has defied the odds since he was just 8 years old. Tragically, in 2013, a fire ripped through Gollett's home. His great-grandparents and family dog died that night, while he was the lone survivor. Gollett was left with severe burns on over 50 percent of his body. Since that harrowing day, Gollett has undergone a remarkable 46 surgeries, with another major one on the horizon this year. Despite the physical challenges, Gollett's spirit has never been extinguished. This year, he will achieve a major milestone: graduating high school, St. Lucie County Fire District said. The accomplishment was made even sweeter by the fact that Gollett was finally able to wear a suit for his senior prom – the first time due to the extensive surgeries he's endured from head to toe.
WPEC-TV CBS 12 West Palm Beach

North Collier firefighter beats cancer, educates others on safety

VIDEO: David Perez is an engineer paramedic with North Collier Fire Control and Rescue District. “I went to paramedic school at Miami Dade College,” said Perez. “I put in for an application at North Collier Fire, which was North Naples at the time. And it’s been, it’s been a roller coaster ever since to say the least.” He’s a father, son, friend and mentor, but for the last four years, he’s been in a battle for his life. “We have our yearly physicals, our department physician. He actually saw that my labs were a little bit irregular. They’re a little bit low, had low platelets, low red blood cells, low white cells, high calcium and high protein,” explained Perez. In January 2020, he was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, a rare form of cancer affecting a person’s white blood cells.
WINK-TV CBS 11 Fort Myers