Video shows demolition day as Sanibel fire station rebuilds to withstand future hurricanes

Sanibel Fire Station 171 is undergoing demolition and reconstruction to improve its resilience against hurricanes, following extensive damage caused by Hurricane Ian in 2022. Gulf Coast News was given exclusive access to the demolition site the day it began.

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“There have been a lot of rescues, a lot of saves out of this station,” Fire Chief Kevin Barbot said. “It’s like a little surreal, and a little sad. You know, it’s part of our history, and we know we’re doing the right thing, but it’s still part of our history.”

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The station, located off Palm Ridge Road, has been a community fixture since 2004. However, Hurricane Ian’s storm surge flooded the building, which served as a command post during the disaster in 2022. Firefighter John Reitenbach described the experience as “frightening.”

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“The fact that this building flooded, which ended up being our command post throughout the event, was frightening,” Reitenbach said.

The flooding destroyed living quarters, forcing firefighters to sleep on cots and concrete floors during the storm response. “The facility was just a wreck and a mess,” Barbot said.

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The reconstruction project is funded by nearly $11 million from HUD’s Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program, in partnership with the city and county.

WATCH HOMEOWNERS LIFT HOUSES ON SANIBEL AFTER HURRICANES:

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“We actually received some HUD funding from CDBG-DR in partnership with the city and also the county, and we received just under $11 million to be able to rebuild and make this project possible,” Barbot said.

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The new design includes elevated living facilities to prevent future flooding, while truck bays will remain at ground level for accessibility during storms. “All of our living facilities are going to go ahead and be elevated to make sure that we can come back to work, and we don’t have to worry about whether or not we have a facility to be able to provide the first response,” Barbot said.

A similar concept was recently completed at nearby Station 172, which reopened earlier this year. Barbot provided a tour of Station 172, showcasing the upgraded living quarters where firefighters now have individual rooms.

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“Everybody gets their own room,” Barbot said during the tour.

For Reitenbach, who has served at the station for over 22 years, the transformation is a significant moment. “Personally, I’ve been here over 22 years. What I’ve been sharing with everybody is when I started this, this was new construction when I started. And now I’m on the tail end of my career,” he said.

Barbot emphasized the importance of the project for the community’s safety. “You know, our main goal here is to be able to protect our neighbors with whatever comes our way,” he said.

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The reconstruction of Station 171 is expected to take 12 to 15 months to complete. Fire service in the area will continue during construction, with a temporary setup located behind the station to ensure emergency response remains uninterrupted.