The Iona-McGregor Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad Incorporated, came into being on April 28, 1965, when sixteen local residents held a meeting to discuss community fire protection.  

The founding fathers of the fire department were, William Russell Burke, its first Chief, and James W. Clifford.  Both men were retired members of the Dunn  Loring Volunteer Fire Department in a Virginia suburb of Washington, D.C.

In late 1965, the Department acquired its first fire engine, a 1957 Ford Tandem Tanker with a portable pump attached to it that was on loan from the Florida Division of Forestry.

In early 1966, Cornelius Adema, a volunteer and owner of a local fire equipment company, loaned the department a 1943 International pumper with high pressure fog.

In addition to a Fire Chief, the volunteer corporation had a President and Board of Directors. Cornelius Adema became the first President and held the office until 1976. Mr. Adema was the former Chief and prime organizer of the Grand Rapids Township Volunteer Fire Department in Michigan before moving to Lee County in 1960.  His leadership, although sometimes controversial, was effective in directing the progress of the organization.

By 1971, Iona-McGregor had purchased its first new fire engine, a 1969 John Bean with a 500 gallon per minute pump.  Other improvements that were made in 1971 include the obtaining of two-way radio equipment and the first "tone alert" system used by any fire department in Lee County.  Up to this point, the department's trucks were parked at volunteer, Howard Wilson's, Whiskey Creek Service Station. With volunteer labor and donated funds, the Department's first fire station was built at Winkler Road and McGregor Boulevard on land owned by Howard "Bob" Wilson Sr. (Howard's father.)

1972

On January 1, 1972, Iona-McGregor began staffing the fire station twenty-four hours a day when the Department's first full-time paid Firefighter, Richard Chappelle, reported for duty.  Chappelle worked weekdays and then volunteers staffed the station at night and on weekends.  1972, was also the year the Department adopted a ten dollar per year subscription service to replace the donation system.  In its first year, the subscription service raised approximately twenty-three thousand dollars.  Before the end of 1972, the Department had purchased two more new trucks, a John Bean 750 gallon per minute pumper and a quick attack truck with high pressure fog, and returned the original 1957 tanker to the Division of Forestry.

1975

On March 8, 1975, Cornelius Adema and Brian Juntikka worked all night on the draft copy of what would become the Iona-McGregor Fire District Charter.  The following afternoon, the proposed charter was unanimously approved by Fire Department members and local civic association officers.  Local State Legislators received the proposal at the delegation hearings and submitted the document as House Bill 2189. On November 4, 1975, the residents of the community approved the creation of the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue Service District by a 90% affirmative vote.'

The first Board of Fire Commissioners was elected to office on December 16, 1975. The first Board members were Cornelius Adema, William Hansen, Howard Wilson, Jr., Douglas J. McGoon, and William Mellor.  At about this time the State of Florida began requiring all paid Firefighters to meet minimum standards and be certified.

1977

By the end of 1976, the District employed six full-time certified Firefighters, but continued to be supplemented by the volunteer organization's members.  The first employees of the District were Gerald Adema, Steve Juntikka, David Moss, Fred Gridley, John Spicuzza, and Joe Wise. Service to the Iona area improved dramatically with the opening of Fire Station #2 in February of 1977.  In that same year, the District began providing its first regular rescue service.  This improvement was largely due to the efforts of John Spicuzza, who was one of the first employees to take Emergency Medical Technician training.

1978

In 1978, Iona McGregor was the first Fire District to create a  Fire Prevention Bureau. As the community grew through the early 1980s, the District found it difficult to keep pace.  Unlike all other government agencies that tax on a millage system, the District had a flat rate system that did not change with property values.

1981

After failed referendums to increase the flat rate in 1981 and 1982, the voters finally approved the switch to a millage system in 1983.  With increased funding, the District was able to hire more Firefighters and thus relied less and less on help from the volunteer organization.

1986

In 1986, the Iona-McGregor Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Inc. was officially disbanded and Iona-McGregor became a fully paid department.  That same year, the District purchased its first aerial apparatus and since that time has steadily increased the number of full-time employees to the level of 85.

1990

Fire station number three opened in 1990, complete with administrative offices, maintenance facility, and a fitness training center.  A new facility replacing Station-2 opened in October of 1994, and is designed to meet the protection needs of the Iona area well into the twenty-first century.

1999

John Spicuzza returned to the District as a Division Chief of Training in December 1999, after a twenty year career with Lee County EMS.  Spicuzza was the architect of our Paramedic program, which began providing advanced life support (ALS) services to the community in April of 2001.

2001

The beginning of the ALS program, under the direction of John Spicuzza.

2003

In May of 2003, the voters approved an increase in the District's tax cap, which provided the additional funds necessary to hire 15 additional Firefighters, and fund an expansion of the administrative staff that included a Public Information/Education Officer, an Inspector, and the Division Chief of Support Services.  The changes increased the number of full-time employees to 105.

Station 4 opened in September of 2003.  The new facility was built to house District administration, support personnel, and equipment during hurricanes.  It also included a training tower.

2004

In April of 2004, the Public Information and Education Officer and the new inspector started at Station 3. Also, fifteen new Firefighters were hired, which makes the current number of employees at 115.

From the beginning of the volunteer fire department to today, a consistent philosophy of operation has guided the organization.  The Iona-McGregor Fire District has never lost a sense of obligation and respect for the citizens we serve.  Although the budget is much larger now, we continue to seek the best value for the dollar in much the same way as the volunteers did over twenty-five years ago.  As a service organization, Iona-McGregor's success resides first and foremost in the quality and commitment of its employees.  As the Department celebrates its 39th birthday this April, we will continue to dedicate ourselves to the satisfaction of our community and employees, as human beings, which has long been our top priority.

THEN

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