Welcome to West Manatee Fire Rescue

West Manatee Fire and Rescue District announces the promotion of Firefighter Rodney Kwiatkowski to the rank of 3^rd Class Firefighter. Firefighter Greg Roan to the rank of 2^nd Class Firefighter. Firefighters Jeff Philips and Jeff Taylor to the rank of 1^st Class Firefighter. Firefighter Kwiatkowski began his career as a Reserve firefighter with the District and was hired this past February full time. He is involved in numerous community service projects in the District. Firefighter Greg Roan began his career as a Reserve firefighter in 2003 and was hired full time in 2004. Firefighter Roan is a graduate of Florida State University. Firefighters Philips and Taylor began their career as Reserve firefighters in 2004 and were hired full time in 2005. Firefighter Philips is a member of the Hazardous Material and Wildfire Teams. Firefighter Taylor assists with reserve firefighter training.

They died of cardiac arrest during a rescue.

August 13, 2010 ANNA MARIA ISLAND - West Manatee Fire Rescue firefighter Nathan Bergbom held the woman's head above the water and told the other swimmers not to let her go.

A man lying on his stomach on a raft, exhausted and out of breath, had both hands looped beneath the unresponsive woman's arms as two others tried to keep her afloat.

The swimmers had been trapped in a rip current for several minutes before Bergbom arrived, and they were spent. Bergbom noticed one of the swimmers, an older gentleman, was also struggling.

"We need to keep her head out of the water," Bergbom said. "Keep kicking."

Moments later, fellow firefighter Jeff Phillips arrived. He suggested they push the woman onto the raft. After two attempts, the man on the raft fell off. The other swimmers were too weak to lift her.

As they contemplated their next move, lifeguard Geoff Cordes swam up to them with a long board. They were about 50 yards from shore.

Two dead, two Injured in drowning off Anna Maria Island

Thursday, 12 August 2010 00:00 Bill Kimbrell

Photos courtesy: Leighann Hengemihle, Martinsburg WV

ABC NEWS 7 - ANNA MARIA ISLAND - Two people have lost their lives and two other were injured in a tragic drowning incident in the Gulf of Mexico off Anna Maria Island.

It happened around 3:30pm Thursday. According to a Manatee County Sheriff's report, an elderly married couple and their friend were swimming and rafting when the friend of the couple began to struggle with what was described as a rip current. The son of the couple, who was swimming nearby, began to call for help from bystanders. The wife apparently began to struggle as well.

The husband, son, and others attempted to bring them ashore, and did so with the assistance of rescue workers and bystanders.

Both the wife, 71-year-old Josefina Pardo, and the friend of the couple, Gerardo Hernandez, went into cardiac arrest and did not survive. The husband and son were transported for extreme fatigue as a result of their efforts.

E-121, E-111, and Battalion 7 Respond to Cortez Crash

Tuesday, 10 August 2010 00:00 Brett Pollock

By RICHARD DYMOND - This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it MANATEE — Three people were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries Tuesday night after the driver of a 1994 Chevrolet van skidded off Cortez Road at 119th Street, tore down a metal guard rail, plunged through woods and ended up suspended in a tree.

There were four people in the van and only one escaped injury when the vehicle veered off the north side of Cortez Road, just east of the village of Cortez, at around 7:45 p.m., said Florida Highway Patrol Trooper David Flores, who is in charge of investigating the cause of the one-vehicle crash.

Identifications were not available at press time.

At least one victim was trapped and had to be cut out of the vehicle, according to the Manatee County Emergency Communications Center.

Fire forces evacuation of Early Learning Academy

Tuesday, 03 August 2010 00:00 Brett Pollock

BRADENTON HERALD STAFF REPORT

BRADENTON

-- A fire broke out in a utility closet at the

Palma Sola Early Learning Academy this afternoon and forced the evacuation of 18 students, four staff members and two parents. There were no injuries.

Capt. Tom Sousa of the West Manatee Fire District praised the quick reaction of the academy's staff when they saw thick smoke boiling out of the closet containing electrical panels and communications connections.

The staff moved the young children to a nearby church.

West Manatee Fire Rescue

WMFR Promotions Aug 19, 2010

Firefighters, lifeguards attempted rescue of doomed Lutz swimmers

They died of cardiac arrest during a rescue.

Two dead, two Injured in drowning off Anna Maria Island

E-121, E-111, and Battalion 7 Respond to Cortez Crash

Fire forces evacuation of Early Learning Academy

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