South Trail Fire Protection & Rescue Service District

08/29/2026

Lightning doesn’t have to hit your home to cause serious damage!
South Trail Fire & Rescue responded to a possible vehicle fire believed to have been caused by lightning striking a nearby tree. Firefighters found splintered exit marks on the tree, damaged concrete and exterior damage to the home. The vehicle’s battery was overheating and smoking, with multiple melted fuses.
When thunder roars or a lightning detector sounds, GO INDOORS!
A porch, lanai or screened patio protects you from the rain — NOT lightning. Get under a solid roof and behind closed doors until the storm has passed.
Hear thunder? Get inside.

08/29/2026

South Trail Fire & Rescue TK62 crew had fun showing the truck and meeting families at Gulf Coast Humane Society event. We are pretty sure we met our future probationary firefighters, they loved seeing the truck and pretending they were spraying the fire hose!

08/27/2026

We hope to see lots of you this Saturday at Gulf Coast Humane Society! Truck 62 and crew will be there, and we can’t wait to see you and your pups!
And fingers crossed that a few of you decide to visit the shelter next door while you’re there and meet your next forever four-legged friend.
Come say hello, check out the 2027 Gulf Coast Humane Society Calendar featuring South Trail Fire & Rescue, and help support a great cause!

GCHS Back to School Fair is THIS Saturday! 🐾🎒
Presented by Boehringer Ingelheim

Bring the whole family and your pups to Gulf Coast Humane Society on Saturday, August 29 from 11 AM to 2 PM for an afternoon of back-to-school fun!

We’ll have swag bags, a photo booth with photos by Real Tours, local vendors, food trucks, FREE nail trims for your pups by Furry Land, and the South Trail Fire District with their fire truck! 🚒

We’ll also have our 2027 Firefighters Calendars available for purchase at the event. You can also pre-order yours online: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/firemanscalendarsales/event/gchsfirefighterscalendarpresale/

And if you’re thinking about adding a furry friend to your family, all adoption fees will be WAIVED this Saturday and Sunday! Stop by after the event to meet our adoptable pets and see if your new best friend is waiting for you. ❤️

A huge thank you to our wonderful Back-to-School Fair sponsors for helping make this event possible! Goldstein Buckley Cechman Rice Purtz Smith & Smith Florida Veterinary Referral Center

Bring your pup and come celebrate with us! 🎒🐶

08/24/2026

Friday morning, our Training Captain Joshua Colon traded the fire station for the classroom to spend some time with the 5th grade Safety Patrol at Villas Elementary School!
Captain Colon taught the students proper American flag etiquette, including how to respectfully unfold and handle the flag, raise and lower it, and properly fold it for storage.
These 5th graders were great listeners and eager to learn how to carry out their Safety Patrol responsibilities properly and respectfully. We loved seeing how seriously they took their new roles.
Great job, Villas Elementary Safety Patrol!

08/22/2026

Squad 63 is home! After years of budgeting, saving, planning and design, Squad 63 has officially been approved and delivered to her new home at Station 63!
You won’t see her responding on the road just yet. Over the next few weeks, Squad 63 will receive her final touches from our Emergency Vehicle Technicians/Mechanics before our crews begin extensive hands-on training with the new apparatus.
Squad 63 was designed to be a multi-purpose heavy rescue pumper, giving South Trail additional capabilities for everything from everyday emergencies to complex technical rescue incidents. Its versatility will enhance the level of response we can provide within our district while also strengthening the resources available to our surrounding communities through mutual aid.
But the equipment is only part of the equation. The continued training, education and experience of our Squad personnel are what make these capabilities possible.
There is still plenty of work and training ahead before Squad 63 is officially placed in service, but after years of planning, we are excited to finally welcome her home!
Welcome home, Squad 63!

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1AmDXDxsw9/?mibextid=wwXIfr

08/19/2026

Parents: The parent pickup line is not a parking lot! Parking side by side in the street blocks the roadway, forces drivers into oncoming traffic, and can delay emergency responders when every second matters.
Please wait in a single-file line, remain in designated pickup areas, and park only in approved spaces. Never block travel lanes, entrances, exits, fire hydrants, or emergency access.

08/13/2026

We spy one of our firefighters!
Check out this great feature from Fort Myers Living highlighting summer safety tips for Southwest Florida pets—and keep an eye out for a familiar South Trail face!
We’re proud to see Firefighter Jose representing South Trail while supporting a great cause and helping our community’s four-legged friends.
Take a look at the article and learn some important tips for keeping your pets safe in the Southwest Florida heat!

https://fortmyersliving.com/2026/07/16/summer-safety-tips-for-southwest-florida-pets/

Summer in Southwest Florida brings plenty of opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, but it also presents unique challenges for pet owners. Between soaring

08/12/2026

South Trail Fire Protection & Rescue Service District recently had the opportunity to host Senior Regional Field Trainer Sascha Schoob from Tesla for specialized, hands-on training focused on Tesla electric vehicles and first responder safety. Our crews on all three shifts received expert instruction on critical topics including:

High-voltage and battery safety — recognizing hazards associated with EV battery systems and understanding the warning signs of thermal runaway.

Post-crash response — safely operating around an electric vehicle following a collision, including considerations when battery cells are damaged, burning, or showing signs of thermal runaway.

Vehicle extrication — identifying high-voltage components and manufacturer-designated “no-cut” zones so firefighters can safely perform rescue operations.

Vehicle operations — learning how to place vehicles into Tow Mode, open doors when normal systems may not operate, start or power down the vehicle, and safely move a damaged vehicle when necessary to clear a crash scene and reopen lanes of traffic.

Emergency Response Guides — learning how firefighters can quickly access Tesla’s model-specific emergency response information while preparing for or operating at an incident.

There is tremendous value in putting our firefighters face-to-face with an expert and hands-on with the vehicles they may encounter in an emergency. When seconds matter, knowing where critical components are located, what can safely be cut, how a damaged EV may behave, and what actions to take can help protect both our first responders and the people we serve.

08/11/2026

First-day smiles are worth sharing—but personal details are not. Share only what you would tell a stranger about your child.
Before posting that back-to-school photo, take a closer look. Signs, name tags, uniforms, and captions can reveal more than you intended, including your child’s:

🔴 Full name
🔴 School and teacher
🔴 Grade level
🔴 Bus route or stop
🔴 Daily schedule and location

Celebrate the milestone. Protect the details. Pause before you post.

08/11/2026

South Trail Fire & Rescue’s back-to-school banners are up, and the message is simple: Slow down—school is back in session!
Expect more traffic, school buses making frequent stops, children waiting at bus stops, and students walking or biking to school. Leave a little earlier, put down the phone, and stay alert—especially during morning drop-off and afternoon pickup times.
A few extra seconds of caution can help keep a child safe.