Community Impact in Upper Captiva Fire Protection and Rescue Service District, Florida

On January 13, 2026, the Upper Captiva Fire Protection and Rescue Service District responded to a structure fire at 4491 Cutlass Drive, Captiva, Florida. The incident was a rekindle of a previously involved three-story residential structure...

The Upper Captiva Fire & Rescue District held a regular meeting on January 16, 2026, where commissioners discussed a devastating fire at 4491 Cutlass Lane that occurred on January 13, 2026. Chief Jesse Cottrell presented a preliminary after-action report detailing the fire's cause (golf cart charging under the house), the re-ignition in the attic, and critical questions about scene monitoring, equipment failures (a cracked pump in the tanker truck), and prevention measures...

The Upper Captiva Fire & Rescue District Treasurer submitted a financial report for November 30, 2025, showing bank balances of $445,938. 50 across three accounts (checking, impact fees, and money market)...

The UCFRD Board of Commissioners decided on May 15, 2026 to purchase property for the fire chief's housing using a 20-year ground lease from Gulf Coast Business Bank ($800,000 property, $72,000 annual payments at 6. 36% fixed rate)...

The Upper Captiva Fire & Rescue District board held a regular meeting on February 20, 2026, approving previous meeting minutes and the treasurer's report by 5-0 votes. Following the January 13 Cutlass fire event, the board committed to making island safety measures a recurring monthly agenda item and directed staff to create community best-practice documents...

Upper Captiva Fire & Rescue District held its reconvened April regular meeting on April 24, 2026 (originally scheduled April 17 but continued due to lack of quorum). The Board voted unanimously 4-0 to authorize a letter of engagement with Berquist Recovery Consulting to pursue FEMA funding for public safety infrastructure projects designed to reduce hurricane damage and flooding...