Cape Fire requests resources to decrease its response times

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Photo by WINK News.

It takes seconds for a single flame to turn into a raging fire. Monday, Cape Coral Fire Department asked for more resources to cut down on their response times to save more property and lives.

Michelle Albenga knows first hand what it is like to lose everything in a fire.

“We were sitting in the living room watching TV and it struck right here,” Albenga said. “It’s a horrible experience. I don’t wish it upon anyone.”

Albenga is now rebuilding and credits the CCFD for getting the flames under control.

“If they didn’t come here in the ten minutes they got here,” Albenga said, “it would have been much worse.”

Within 10 minutes is CCFD’s goal when it comes to every fire. Its average response time is now 12 minutes. CCFD said it needs nearly six times the amount of fire stations over the upcoming five years to get it down to four minutes.

As the Cape Coral population continues growing faster than any other city in the nation, it wants at least six more firefighters and better technology to cut its 911 processing time for rescues from nearly seven minutes to two minutes.

In comparison to other areas in Florida, CCFP said it has roughly the same population as Tallahassee, but its budget is about $15,000 less per year and it has five fewer fire hoses.

Neighbors hope that the CCFD will accomplish its aim because it is central to their safety.

“A lot of people don’t realize they’re the first to respond to a scene even before ambulances and things of that nature,” said Charlie Lopez, who witnessed a fire. “The more we have of them out there the better we are as a community and the safer we are as a whole.”

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