HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem B1 B1
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY of MONROE Mayor James K.Scholl,District 3
The Florida Keys Mayor Pro Tern Michelle Lincoln,District 2
Craig Cates,District 1
David Rice,District 4
Holly Merrill Raschein,District 5
Board of County Commissioners Meeting
December 10, 2025
Agenda Item Number: B1
2023-4815
BULK ITEM: No DEPARTMENT: Fire Rescue
TIME APPROXIMATE: STAFF CONTACT: R. L. Colina, Fire Chief
AGENDA ITEM WORDING: Presentation to Commemorate Over 75 Years of Service to the
Tavernier Volunteer Fire Department board.
ITEM BACKGROUND:
A historic era comes to a close as the Tavernier Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Corps, Inc.
(TVFD), the first organization of its kind in the Florida Keys, and destined to be the last, retires its
Memorandum of Understanding with Monroe County.
From the 1950s through the 1970s, Tavernier's volunteer firefighters and medics were summoned not
by modern alerts but by air raid sirens that pulled them from their daily lives to meet whatever
emergency their neighbors faced. Its beginnings are part of local lore: the first ambulance was a
repurposed hearse, a symbol of the ingenuity and commitment that defined the department in an era of
few resources but boundless dedication, recalled Chief Don Bock, who joined the group at 18 years old.
Volunteers came from every walk of life, united by a selfless mission to protect their community. The
Women's Auxiliary also responded,providing food and drinks to support the volunteers on scene.
The original Tavernier volunteer fire station housed only two fire trucks, an image now preserved in
one of the earliest Art in Public Places murals by artist Nestor Madalengoitia, which still hangs in the
station's meeting room.
Chief Bock noted that while fires were not frequent, homes made of Dade County Pine could quickly
become fully involved. As with today, most calls responded to medical incidents and vehicle collisions.
The department also gave many Coral Shores High School graduates their first experience in the fire
service. TVFD leaves behind a strong and longstanding record of volunteerism, with the unwavering
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support of the late County Mayor and Commissioner Sylvia Murphy, herself a volunteer, remains a
treasured part of its history.
TVFD will donate its memorabilia to Monroe County. Its patch board has been sent to the county's Fire
headquarters in Marathon; a history display cabinet will be placed in the Murray Nelson Government
Center; and two display cabinets with fire and EMS artifacts will go to the Alex Vega Key West Fire
Museum. TVFD's presence will remain at Station 22 through a plaque at the building's entrance, which
will accompany the existing memorial plaque honoring the dalmatian"Stoker," gifted to the department
in memory of a volunteer who passed away.
While TVFD is no longer active in emergency response, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, led by remaining
board members Steve Pollock, Martin Moreithi, Don Bock, and Sue Heim, will continue supporting
further education in the fire and EMS fields.
Fire Station 22 in Tavernier will remain staffed by Monroe County Fire Rescue firefighters and will
continue to serve the community with pride and integrity.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT BOCC ACTION:
NA
INSURANCE REQUIRED:
No
CONTRACT/AGREEMENT CHANGES:
NA
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: NA
DOCUMENTATION:
TVFD°s Retirement Presentation m Over 75 Years.docx
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
None.
13
A historic era comes to a close as the Tavernier Volunteer Fire Department and Ambulance Corps, Inc.
(TVFD), the first organization of its kind in the Florida Keys, and destined to be the last, retires its
Memorandum of Understanding with Monroe County.
From the 1950s through the 1970s, Tavernier's volunteer firefighters and medics were summoned not by
modern alerts but by air raid sirens that pulled them from their daily lives to meet whatever emergency
their neighbors faced. Its beginnings are part of local lore: the first ambulance was a repurposed hearse, a
symbol of the ingenuity and commitment that defined the department in an era of few resources but
boundless dedication, recalled Chief Don Bock, who joined the group at 18 years old. Volunteers came
from every walk of life, united by a selfless mission to protect their community. The Women's Auxiliary
also responded, providing food and drinks to support the volunteers on scene.
The original Tavernier volunteer fire station housed only two fire trucks, an image now preserved in one of
the earliest Art in Public Places murals by artist Nestor Madalengoitia, which still hangs in the station's
meeting room.
Chief Bock noted that while fires were not frequent, homes made of Dade County Pine could quickly
become fully involved. As with today, most calls responded to medical incidents and vehicle collisions.
The department also gave many Coral Shores High School graduates their first experience in the fire
service. TVFD leaves behind a strong and longstanding record of volunteerism, with the unwavering
support of the late County Mayor and Commissioner Sylvia Murphy, herself a volunteer, remains a
treasured part of its history.
TVFD will donate its memorabilia to Monroe County. Its patch board has been sent to the county's Fire
headquarters in Marathon; a history display cabinet will be placed in the Murray Nelson Government
Center; and two display cabinets with fire and EMS artifacts will go to the Alex Vega Key West Fire
Museum. TVFD's presence will remain at Station 22 through a plaque at the building's entrance, which
will accompany the existing memorial plaque honoring the dalmatian "Stoker," gifted to the department in
memory of a volunteer who passed away.
While TVFD is no longer active in emergency response, the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, led by remaining board
members Steve Pollock, Martin Moreithi, Don Bock, and Sue Heim, will continue supporting further
education in the fire and EMS fields.
Fire Station 22 in Tavernier will remain staffed by Monroe County Fire Rescue firefighters and will
continue to serve the community with pride and integrity.
14