Beach fire fighters gain recognition awards
A recent search-and-rescue mission for a young girl and boy was successful, thanks to two members of the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department.
On June 24th, 2014, Lee County USAR team members Fire Fighter/Engineer Dan Miller and Capt. Mike Coenen were activated to assist in locating the second of two children that were reported to be missing after wandering away from their parents in the Estero area within Covered Wagon Mobile Home Park. The park is surrounded by forest area.
White said the search and rescue mission began before noon, and the young girl was found two hours later. However, the young boy was still missing. At 7:30 p.m., the USAR team was contacted and, after they arrived on the scene, a broader search was done.
“Two of our members who were on duty responded from the department to the location. Thirty minutes after they were deployed, they found the child,” said Chief Darren White.
Miller was the leader of a three-man team that physically found the child. White stated it was dark when the young boy was found, sleeping in a curled up position.
“Dan said they actually stumbled on the kid. That’s how dense the woods were where they were searching,” said White. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank Fire Fighter/Engineer Dan Miller and Capt. Mike Coenen for their participation as well as our other team members that participate on the USAR Team.”