The CCFD thanks the community for their generosity and fire safety awareness during the holiday season

During the holidays, the Cape Coral Fire Department promotes two community campaigns, “Keep the Wreath Green” and the annual Toy Drive. Now that the holidays have come to an end, the Department would like to share the very positive results of these two programs.

For the second year in a row, the wreath that hangs at Fire Station 4 on Santa Barbara Blvd. was taken down after just one of its green bulbs was changed to red. Red bulbs are added if a preventable fire such as cooking, smoking, space heaters, candles, etc. occurs between December 1 and January 1. The one red bulb was added for a fire that occurred at the Parker House Apartments on December 8. The cause was incendiary and appeared to be non-accidental in nature; therefore a preventable fire which added the red bulb to the wreath. The Department is very happy to see so few green bulbs turning red, indicating that the community is becoming more fire safety conscious during the holidays.

It was also another record year for the annual Toy Drive. Over 4500 toys, bikes, gift cards, perfumes, lotions, makeup, sporting goods, arts and crafts, games, puzzles, books and more were donated. These toys were given to children living in Cape Coral with Down syndrome, cancer, and other chronic illnesses or lifelong conditions and their siblings. Children in foster care and families with financial hardships also received toys. The CCFD worked with seven groups and charities, as well as individual families, to give toys and gifts to over 1500 children. Thanks to the incredible number of toys donated, these children didn’t just get one toy, instead they received multiple gifts and stocking-stuffers to open…helping to make their holidays a lot brighter!

“We know the holidays are a hectic time for everyone,” said Fire Chief Donald K. Cochran, “so we are proud of the citizens of Cape Coral for taking preventive steps to reduce the risk of home fires and are grateful to them for also taking the time to think about others in their community and generously donating to those in need of a little extra help.”