By CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 6/23/09
Local firefighters and forestry officials had their hands full Monday between a resparked 170-acre brush fire in north Cape Coral and another 100-acre fire on Pine Island.
While neither fire endangered homes in the respective areas, crews remained working diligently throughout the afternoon and into the evening to make sure any possible threat to residents would be extinguished.
Cape Coral and Pine Island fire crews and the Department of Forestry battled the 100-acre blaze near Stringfellow Road. It had become 85 percent contained by the early evening and was anticipated to be fully contained, according to DOF spokesperson Victor Hill.
Hill said Monday evening that crews had fully contained the 170-acre fire in a forested area near Durden Parkway and Andalusia Boulevard.
Cape Coral and North Fort Myers fire departments battled the Cape blaze alongside forestry workers. The fire did not threaten residents from its remote location, according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
The blaze was likely resparked from a 240-acre fire last week by lightning in the area, Barron said.
Monday's Cape fire may have been deemed non-threatening to residents, but Kevin Neal is still grateful to those fighting the fire, especially after seeing the 240-acre Thursday blaze come right up to the north side of Durden.
Neal lives with his wife on the southwest end of Durden. They were asked to evacuate last week.
Neal and his wife moved into their quiet north Cape home from Colorado just a few weeks ago, and his welcome to the neighborhood remains visible in charred brush only feet from the roadway.
But Neal will remember Thursday's fire for another reason: the couple's home in Colorado flooded days before their move to the Sunshine State.
"We had the flood and then the fire," he said. "We were thinking, 'What is next?'"
Still, Neal has faith in the firefighters and forestry workers squelching out flames and running fire lines.
"They came out real quickly and they had a lot of help," he said. "I am thankful and hopeful that they will always put it out."
For Neal and his family, the good outweighs the bad - brush fire season - in the north Cape. The quiet, serene locale will keep them where they are.
"I like it up here," he said. "Not many neighbors."
Hill said fire officials would remain on-scene into Monday evening and would continue to monitor the north Cape fire today.
Showing posts with label fire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fire. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Teen saves pets from house fire; Neighbors battle blaze till CCFD arrives on scene
by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/14/09
Neighbors account that while they tried to extinguish flames raging up the side of a south Cape Coral home Monday afternoon, a teenage boy within the home was able to save three chihuahuas and a parrot.
A house fire near Cornwallis Parkway broke out when an enflamed shed area adjacent to the home caught fire to the roof at about 1:20 p.m., according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
No one was injured and the fire was put out by local firefighters by 1:51 p.m., she said.
Homeowners Carl Cannady and Teri Washam, who live in the house with their sons, Will and Ryan, were not home when the fire broke out, neighbors said.
The homeowners declined to comment Monday.
Will was home because of spring break, said neighbor Gary Skwarek.
Skwarek said he called 911, and estimated the flames to be about 20 feet high after what he thought might have been the air conditioning unit exploding.
As Will saved the animals in the home, a construction worker several homes away rushed to put out the flames with a garden hose, while neighbor Paul Claus tried using his home fire extinguisher.
"You do what you can to help," Claus said. "If I'd have had two or three of those (fire extinguishers), I'd have had that thing out. The flames were going up, under the eave, out and straight up."
Claus and Skwarek agreed that their community is a tight-knit bunch.
Skwarek said he was also impressed with the fire department's response time.
"They were here real quick," he said. "Everything worked out, nobody got hurt. That's the important part. The other things you can replace."
The cause of the fire remained under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office Monday, Barron said.
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/14/09
Neighbors account that while they tried to extinguish flames raging up the side of a south Cape Coral home Monday afternoon, a teenage boy within the home was able to save three chihuahuas and a parrot.
A house fire near Cornwallis Parkway broke out when an enflamed shed area adjacent to the home caught fire to the roof at about 1:20 p.m., according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
No one was injured and the fire was put out by local firefighters by 1:51 p.m., she said.
Homeowners Carl Cannady and Teri Washam, who live in the house with their sons, Will and Ryan, were not home when the fire broke out, neighbors said.
The homeowners declined to comment Monday.
Will was home because of spring break, said neighbor Gary Skwarek.
Skwarek said he called 911, and estimated the flames to be about 20 feet high after what he thought might have been the air conditioning unit exploding.
As Will saved the animals in the home, a construction worker several homes away rushed to put out the flames with a garden hose, while neighbor Paul Claus tried using his home fire extinguisher.
"You do what you can to help," Claus said. "If I'd have had two or three of those (fire extinguishers), I'd have had that thing out. The flames were going up, under the eave, out and straight up."
Claus and Skwarek agreed that their community is a tight-knit bunch.
Skwarek said he was also impressed with the fire department's response time.
"They were here real quick," he said. "Everything worked out, nobody got hurt. That's the important part. The other things you can replace."
The cause of the fire remained under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office Monday, Barron said.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Man injured saving puppies from burning building
by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/11/09
A fire at a Cape Coral business left one man injured as he rushed to save the lives of several pitbull pups which were housed in the building early Friday morning.
The fire, which engulfed Robert Volk II's 2004 Dodge Durango and spread to the roof of Volk Electric, Inc., caused about $175,000 in damages and destroyed approximately 25 percent of the building at about 6:04 a.m., according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
The business is located at 2215 N.E. 10th Terrace. There are no adjacent businesses or homes, and the fire did not cause any additional damage to the area.
Volk II, the son of owner Robert Volk, burned his arm trying to save a mother pitbull and seven puppies. He was taken to the Cape Coral Hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Between Volk II and firefighters, the animals were rescued unharmed.
"(Volk II) got second- and third-degree burns on his arm," Volk said of his son. "When he came out of the building it was so hot that his flesh just drooped off."
Volk II said he had stayed in his father's business the night before because his home was recently foreclosed upon, and woke to find his truck and the business in flames.
After his attempts to stifle the blaze with buckets of water failed, Volk II saved the puppies and was burned in the process.
"It was burning real bad when I came out with the dogs," he said. "The firefighters said the flames were about 1,500 to 1,600 degrees. It melted my skin."
Volk II didn't feel the pain from his injuries at first, but couldn't go back in to save the puppies' mother because the flames had reached the entrance to the business, he said.
Firefighters later rescued the dog.
Though the State Fire Marshal's Office would not say whether they considered the fire suspicious Friday, Volk and his son seemed assured the incident was caused by arson.
"Apparently somebody had lit the car on fire and that caught the building on fire," he said.
Volk II's Durango had also been burglarized prior to the fire, Volk said.
Volk II said he and his father had evidence supporting that the incident was caused by arson.
"We got whoever did it on camera," he said of the business's video surveillance system. "I don't know the guy personally, but it was a younger guy."
As for where Volk II would stay now that his belongings, vehicle and part of his father's business were destroyed, he said he'd likely stay with his girlfriend or family while he sorted out the incident with his insurance.
Volk Electric, Inc. has been housed at its current location for about two years, though the company has been in business in the Cape for nearly 15 years.
Volk said he has no plans to move the business because of the fire.
"Fortunately this side of my shop that my business works out of is still intact," he said. "We're probably going to have to take off about five or six trusses and reroof that part of it and just redrywall it."
The fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office, officials said Friday.
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/11/09
A fire at a Cape Coral business left one man injured as he rushed to save the lives of several pitbull pups which were housed in the building early Friday morning.
The fire, which engulfed Robert Volk II's 2004 Dodge Durango and spread to the roof of Volk Electric, Inc., caused about $175,000 in damages and destroyed approximately 25 percent of the building at about 6:04 a.m., according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
The business is located at 2215 N.E. 10th Terrace. There are no adjacent businesses or homes, and the fire did not cause any additional damage to the area.
Volk II, the son of owner Robert Volk, burned his arm trying to save a mother pitbull and seven puppies. He was taken to the Cape Coral Hospital to be treated for his injuries.
Between Volk II and firefighters, the animals were rescued unharmed.
"(Volk II) got second- and third-degree burns on his arm," Volk said of his son. "When he came out of the building it was so hot that his flesh just drooped off."
Volk II said he had stayed in his father's business the night before because his home was recently foreclosed upon, and woke to find his truck and the business in flames.
After his attempts to stifle the blaze with buckets of water failed, Volk II saved the puppies and was burned in the process.
"It was burning real bad when I came out with the dogs," he said. "The firefighters said the flames were about 1,500 to 1,600 degrees. It melted my skin."
Volk II didn't feel the pain from his injuries at first, but couldn't go back in to save the puppies' mother because the flames had reached the entrance to the business, he said.
Firefighters later rescued the dog.
Though the State Fire Marshal's Office would not say whether they considered the fire suspicious Friday, Volk and his son seemed assured the incident was caused by arson.
"Apparently somebody had lit the car on fire and that caught the building on fire," he said.
Volk II's Durango had also been burglarized prior to the fire, Volk said.
Volk II said he and his father had evidence supporting that the incident was caused by arson.
"We got whoever did it on camera," he said of the business's video surveillance system. "I don't know the guy personally, but it was a younger guy."
As for where Volk II would stay now that his belongings, vehicle and part of his father's business were destroyed, he said he'd likely stay with his girlfriend or family while he sorted out the incident with his insurance.
Volk Electric, Inc. has been housed at its current location for about two years, though the company has been in business in the Cape for nearly 15 years.
Volk said he has no plans to move the business because of the fire.
"Fortunately this side of my shop that my business works out of is still intact," he said. "We're probably going to have to take off about five or six trusses and reroof that part of it and just redrywall it."
The fire is still under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office, officials said Friday.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Authorities open investigation into morning house fire; Incident is suspicious
by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/1/09
The Lee County Arson Unit is investigating a suspicious house fire at 1770 Emerald Cove Circle that occurred early Tuesday morning.
The home was completely destroyed in the fire, which firefighters responded to at approximately 2:21 a.m., according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
Fire department officials estimated $200,000 in damages.
A single female resident escaped the fire after waking to the smoke alarm, Barron said.
Nextdoor neighbors Charles and Barbara Polandick called 911 when the resident, who they said is named "Dawn," knocked on their door for help.
"That house got engulfed so fast, I don't know what happened," Barbara said. "I was across the street and it looked like my house was on fire."
Their house was not on fire, but the flames were so large they were blown by the wind from the roof of the flaming house over the Polandicks' roof, only feet away.
The fire melted a water purifier and telephone box, as well as caused roof damage, Barbara said.
"That fire was too far gone to help anything," Chuck said. "It was unbelievable. The fire department and police department should be commended highly. The city of Cape Coral should be very proud of these people."
He said Dawn had been renting the home with another person for about six months prior to the fire, but only Dawn was in the home when it erupted in flames.
Chuck said he and his wife know the two only through brief interactions, however they are generally nice people.
It took 18 firefighters and six fire units about an hour to put out the fire. No other homes were damaged and no one was injured in the incident, Barron said.
"It's the first fire in this whole community since it was built," Chuck said.
The Polandicks have lived in the Emerald Cove gated community for six of the 13 years since it was established.
The Lee County American Red Cross is assisting the resident of the burned home by providing her with food, clothing, shoes and a place to stay at a local hotel, according to spokesperson Colin Downey.
"Our volunteers are trained to identify specific needs in each situation," he said. "This is a pretty typical response by the Red Cross."
Downey said for a family of four involved in a single-family structure fire, the Red Cross typically distributes about $1,000 to $1,500.
Residents can help the Lee County American Red Cross continue to support those in need in times of disaster by visiting: arclcc.org or by calling 278-3401.
Lawrence and Catherine Dluhos of North Fort Myers own the property. However, they rented it out through a management company so they do not know much about the renters, Catherine said Tuesday afternoon.
"We're just working with the insurance company," she said.
Catherine said she is glad no one got hurt as a result of the fire.
"That's the important thing," she said.
The cause of the fire has not yet been revealed.
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 4/1/09
The Lee County Arson Unit is investigating a suspicious house fire at 1770 Emerald Cove Circle that occurred early Tuesday morning.
The home was completely destroyed in the fire, which firefighters responded to at approximately 2:21 a.m., according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
Fire department officials estimated $200,000 in damages.
A single female resident escaped the fire after waking to the smoke alarm, Barron said.
Nextdoor neighbors Charles and Barbara Polandick called 911 when the resident, who they said is named "Dawn," knocked on their door for help.
"That house got engulfed so fast, I don't know what happened," Barbara said. "I was across the street and it looked like my house was on fire."
Their house was not on fire, but the flames were so large they were blown by the wind from the roof of the flaming house over the Polandicks' roof, only feet away.
The fire melted a water purifier and telephone box, as well as caused roof damage, Barbara said.
"That fire was too far gone to help anything," Chuck said. "It was unbelievable. The fire department and police department should be commended highly. The city of Cape Coral should be very proud of these people."
He said Dawn had been renting the home with another person for about six months prior to the fire, but only Dawn was in the home when it erupted in flames.
Chuck said he and his wife know the two only through brief interactions, however they are generally nice people.
It took 18 firefighters and six fire units about an hour to put out the fire. No other homes were damaged and no one was injured in the incident, Barron said.
"It's the first fire in this whole community since it was built," Chuck said.
The Polandicks have lived in the Emerald Cove gated community for six of the 13 years since it was established.
The Lee County American Red Cross is assisting the resident of the burned home by providing her with food, clothing, shoes and a place to stay at a local hotel, according to spokesperson Colin Downey.
"Our volunteers are trained to identify specific needs in each situation," he said. "This is a pretty typical response by the Red Cross."
Downey said for a family of four involved in a single-family structure fire, the Red Cross typically distributes about $1,000 to $1,500.
Residents can help the Lee County American Red Cross continue to support those in need in times of disaster by visiting: arclcc.org or by calling 278-3401.
Lawrence and Catherine Dluhos of North Fort Myers own the property. However, they rented it out through a management company so they do not know much about the renters, Catherine said Tuesday afternoon.
"We're just working with the insurance company," she said.
Catherine said she is glad no one got hurt as a result of the fire.
"That's the important thing," she said.
The cause of the fire has not yet been revealed.
Friday, March 27, 2009
Grass fire threatens Cape homes; Residents: Man helped by hosing yards with water
Firefighters extinguished a one-acre grass fire in north Cape Coral near Northwest 14th Avenue and Kismet Parkway Thursday. The fire threatened several homes but caused no damage, and no one was injured. *Photograph copyright to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze
by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 3/27/09
A grass fire burned so close to several north Cape Coral homes Thursday afternoon, an unknown hero was compelled to jump the backyard fences and spray the yards with a garden hose.
The man, who residents knew only as "Brad," helped keep the homes safe until firefighters arrived to put out the acrewide blaze near Northwest 14th Avenue and Kismet Parkway.
"That (fire) was just raring," said Jerry Martin, whose house along with neighbor Steve Zerkel was surrounded by the smoldering black remnants of the fire. "I never saw that guy before, but man am I glad I saw him today. He's a hero. He saved my house."
Martin, Zerkel and John Mellor, who lives across the street on Northwest 24th Terrace, said they did not know Brad other than that he drove a maroon-colored Mustang and lives nearby, but they are grateful for his efforts.
The fire broke out at about 11:44 a.m., and Cape firefighters had extinguished the fire by 12:01 p.m., said city spokesperson Connie Barron.
Several trees ignited in the blaze but no homes were damaged, aside from lawns being somewhat blackened from the fire. No one was injured, Barron said.
Zerkel was driving home when he saw police cars along Kismet.
"I thought it was an accident or something," he said.
But as Zerkel approached he realized it was a much different scenario.
"I was hoping my house wasn't on fire," he said.
Zerkel's house was spared in the blaze along with his neighbors' homes.
"It came right up to the air conditioner," Zerkel said, pointing to the side of the house.
Fire officials had not yet determined the cause of the fire Thursday evening.
Mellor expressed concern that the fire, along with several others in the area in recent weeks, may have been sparked by drivers throwing burning cigarettes from their vehicles.
"We just have to all be very diligent about what's going on," he said. "It doesn't take long (for a fire to spread) as dry as it is."
Various fires, medical calls keep department — and chief — busy
by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 3/27/09
A brush fire in north Cape Coral, two kitchen fires and several medical calls left the Cape Coral Fire Department overburdened and in need of help from neighboring agencies Thursday afternoon.
A one-acre grass fire which threatened several homes at about 11:44 a.m. was extinguished by seven fire units, according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
Meanwhile two morning, kitchen fires broke out, one in the 1000 block of Northwest Juanita Place at 10:07 a.m. and another in the 3800 block of Southwest Third Avenue at 12:29 p.m., though both were put out and no one was hurt, Barron said.
The fire on Southwest Third Avenue caused heavy smoke damage to the kitchen area of the house when residents left the home while cooking to go to the store, she said.
Barron said due to the fact fire units were tied up with those incidents and also with several medical calls, the department requested mutual aid from Iona McGregor Fire Department to cover Fire Station 1 in the Cape.
A request for the North Fort Myers Fire Department to help at Fire Station 5 was subsequently canceled, she said.
"The chief (Fire Chief Bill Van Helden) had to go on a medical call since all the units were tied up," Barron said.
Van Helden responded to a call of a heart attack.
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 3/27/09
A brush fire in north Cape Coral, two kitchen fires and several medical calls left the Cape Coral Fire Department overburdened and in need of help from neighboring agencies Thursday afternoon.
A one-acre grass fire which threatened several homes at about 11:44 a.m. was extinguished by seven fire units, according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
Meanwhile two morning, kitchen fires broke out, one in the 1000 block of Northwest Juanita Place at 10:07 a.m. and another in the 3800 block of Southwest Third Avenue at 12:29 p.m., though both were put out and no one was hurt, Barron said.
The fire on Southwest Third Avenue caused heavy smoke damage to the kitchen area of the house when residents left the home while cooking to go to the store, she said.
Barron said due to the fact fire units were tied up with those incidents and also with several medical calls, the department requested mutual aid from Iona McGregor Fire Department to cover Fire Station 1 in the Cape.
A request for the North Fort Myers Fire Department to help at Fire Station 5 was subsequently canceled, she said.
"The chief (Fire Chief Bill Van Helden) had to go on a medical call since all the units were tied up," Barron said.
Van Helden responded to a call of a heart attack.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Early morning fire destroys home; Authorities: $200,000 in damages
An early morning house fire caused more than $200,000 in damages to a home at 1113 N.E. 10th Terrace.
*Photograph copyright to the Cape Coral Daily Breeze
by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 3/26/09
Blackened rafters jutting like rib bones from a mostly-collapsed roof, an ash-smothered pickup truck and a "For Sale" sign are all that remained of a Cape Coral home after it was destroyed in a house fire early Wednesday morning.
The home at 1113 N.E. 10th Terrace was completely engulfed in a blaze that took firefighters more than to two hours to extinguish at about 1:34 a.m.
According to officials, no one was home at the time of the blaze and no one was injured as a result of the fire.
According to Lee County property records, the home belongs to Remigious Ssekiranda.
Ssekiranda could not be reached for comment Wednesday, but neighbors said he is a nice man who has been trying to sell the home for some time.
"He's a super nice guy," said neighbor Karen Major, who believed he had not been staying in the home recently.
Major has lived in her home for nearly five years. She said she knows Ssekiranda only as "Remi."
"When he was here he always took good care of the house," Major added.
Police documents state that the fire cost more than $200,000 in damages.
Neighbors woke Major Wednesday morning to witness the massive blaze, which caused propane tanks within the home to explode, according to fire officials.
It took 18 firefighters and six fire units to extinguish the fire, according to city spokesperson Connie Barron.
"It's the biggest fire I've ever seen, that's for sure," Major said.
She said she thought the homes adjacent to the fire were unoccupied and the wind was blowing away from her home, but she was concerned for some of her fellow neighbors down the street.
"Thank goodness there was no one human who was hurt," Major said.
The State Fire Marshal's Office is investigating the cause of the fire, though that information remained unclear Wednesday.
"The fire is still under investigation and a determination has not been made at this time," said State Fire Marshal's Detective Adam Rivero.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Neighbors recall rescuing 2 girls from Cape house fire on Sunday
by CONNOR HOLMES
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 2/16/09
Two young girls are alive today.
As smoke billowed Sunday afternoon from their Cape Coral home with the youth trapped inside, their father Paul Lawhorn, neighbor Aileen Meaney and her stepson Tim Gibson were among those who would ensure they would get to say those words.
But not one of them suspected their actions would define the lives of the two girls, Giana and Kerrigan, ages 2 and 18 months - Lawhorn was mowing the lawn while Meaney cooked in her kitchen across the street, and Gibson fished off of Meaney's dock at about 2 p.m. when officials said a fire broke out at 5019 S.W. Eighth Court.
Meaney and Gibson sprang into action as Lawhorn pleaded for help to get his daughters out of the home. Meaney broke out two of the home's windows with boulders and cut her wrist on the broken glass.
"When somebody needs help you go and help," she said. "I didn't even think about it."
Gibson and Lawhorn entered through the broken windows and braved the burning home to save Giana and Kerrigan.
"There was a lot of panic," Gibson said Monday afternoon. "It was a pretty chaotic scene. Everybody knew there were children inside. We were pressed for time, we had to get in there and get them out."
Lawhorn saved one of the girls, but Gibson found himself entering the smoke-filled house to rescue the other youth. At first, he was unsuccessful. In fear of passing out from smoke inhalation, he had to go to the window for air.
"I took a couple more deep breaths of air and went back in," he said. "I was breathing in quite a bit of smoke and I couldn't find her right away. I kept thinking to myself, 'Am I gonna get out of here?'"
But with a bit more searching, Gibson found the girl's reaching hand and helped her out of the home.
Gibson trained briefly and volunteered with the Bayshore Fire Rescue, but he works in air conditioning to support his wife and two sons, ages 1 and 4.
"The training that really stuck with me most was the same kind of training that I used," he said. "A lot of people are telling me, 'You're made to be a firefighter.'"
Gibson said he would love to be a firefighter, but the waiting list for the job makes it difficult.
Gibson, Meaney, Lawhorn and both girls were taken to Cape Coral Hospital for treatment Sunday, though Gibson did not get a chance to talk with Lawhorn after the chaotic circumstances of their first encounter with one another.
"I've never talked to them up until that day," Gibson said.
He chalks it up to fate that Lawhorn and he met, though Gibson would like to get a chance to meet again under different circumstances.
"Maybe my kids can play with their kids," he said.
Officials said the cause of the fire was accidental and started near the kitchen stove. Damages are estimated at about $150,000.
Meaney said a family dog was killed in the fire.
Danielle Verdieck, Giana and Kerrigan's mother, was working as a bartender and waitress at the Victory Lane Cafe when the fire broke out, said co-worker Blakely Booth.
The restaurant has pulled together to hold a fund-raiser March 1 to raise money for Verdieck and her family.
Booth said she was shocked to hear about the fire.
"We are all doing our part," she said.
The fund-raiser will be held at the cafe, located at 4120 Hancock Bridge Parkway in North Fort Myers. Though the planning stages are still in the works, a silent auction and gift certificates from local businesses are expected to be included.
published in the Cape Coral Daily Breeze 2/16/09
Two young girls are alive today.
As smoke billowed Sunday afternoon from their Cape Coral home with the youth trapped inside, their father Paul Lawhorn, neighbor Aileen Meaney and her stepson Tim Gibson were among those who would ensure they would get to say those words.
But not one of them suspected their actions would define the lives of the two girls, Giana and Kerrigan, ages 2 and 18 months - Lawhorn was mowing the lawn while Meaney cooked in her kitchen across the street, and Gibson fished off of Meaney's dock at about 2 p.m. when officials said a fire broke out at 5019 S.W. Eighth Court.
Meaney and Gibson sprang into action as Lawhorn pleaded for help to get his daughters out of the home. Meaney broke out two of the home's windows with boulders and cut her wrist on the broken glass.
"When somebody needs help you go and help," she said. "I didn't even think about it."
Gibson and Lawhorn entered through the broken windows and braved the burning home to save Giana and Kerrigan.
"There was a lot of panic," Gibson said Monday afternoon. "It was a pretty chaotic scene. Everybody knew there were children inside. We were pressed for time, we had to get in there and get them out."
Lawhorn saved one of the girls, but Gibson found himself entering the smoke-filled house to rescue the other youth. At first, he was unsuccessful. In fear of passing out from smoke inhalation, he had to go to the window for air.
"I took a couple more deep breaths of air and went back in," he said. "I was breathing in quite a bit of smoke and I couldn't find her right away. I kept thinking to myself, 'Am I gonna get out of here?'"
But with a bit more searching, Gibson found the girl's reaching hand and helped her out of the home.
Gibson trained briefly and volunteered with the Bayshore Fire Rescue, but he works in air conditioning to support his wife and two sons, ages 1 and 4.
"The training that really stuck with me most was the same kind of training that I used," he said. "A lot of people are telling me, 'You're made to be a firefighter.'"
Gibson said he would love to be a firefighter, but the waiting list for the job makes it difficult.
Gibson, Meaney, Lawhorn and both girls were taken to Cape Coral Hospital for treatment Sunday, though Gibson did not get a chance to talk with Lawhorn after the chaotic circumstances of their first encounter with one another.
"I've never talked to them up until that day," Gibson said.
He chalks it up to fate that Lawhorn and he met, though Gibson would like to get a chance to meet again under different circumstances.
"Maybe my kids can play with their kids," he said.
Officials said the cause of the fire was accidental and started near the kitchen stove. Damages are estimated at about $150,000.
Meaney said a family dog was killed in the fire.
Danielle Verdieck, Giana and Kerrigan's mother, was working as a bartender and waitress at the Victory Lane Cafe when the fire broke out, said co-worker Blakely Booth.
The restaurant has pulled together to hold a fund-raiser March 1 to raise money for Verdieck and her family.
Booth said she was shocked to hear about the fire.
"We are all doing our part," she said.
The fund-raiser will be held at the cafe, located at 4120 Hancock Bridge Parkway in North Fort Myers. Though the planning stages are still in the works, a silent auction and gift certificates from local businesses are expected to be included.
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