Alexa Velez
•7/1/2026
Just in time for the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend, lifeguards are on duty at a Collier County beach for the first time ever.
North Collier Fire Rescue launched its new Ocean Rescue Patrol on Wednesday at Vanderbilt Beach, marking the first day of what officials say will be a permanent program designed to improve beach safety.
Parks & Recreation Division Director James Hanrahan says Collier County Parks & Recreation has never staffed lifeguards at any oceanfront beach locations.
One lifeguard spent the day stationed in a beach chair while another patrolled the shoreline on an ATV, ready to respond to emergencies ranging from water rescues to medical calls on the sand.
The department says Vanderbilt Beach was selected because it's one of the busiest beaches in Collier County and falls within North Collier Fire's district.
"This has been in the talks for a while now," firefighter/lifeguard Julio Aguilar said. "Today's the first day, and I've been wanting to do this because it's the first step into growing into something a lot better on the beach."
The department says lifeguards can respond to much more than drownings, including medical emergencies and encounters with marine life while additional fire and EMS crews are on the way.
For many beachgoers, seeing lifeguards on the sand came as a surprise.
"The first thing I said was, 'Is that a lifeguard?'" said Naples resident Carley Beckman.
Seasonal visitors John and Sandy Gandolfi, who have been coming to Naples for about 20 years, said they had never seen lifeguards at Vanderbilt Beach before.
"It's just good to know that somebody's out there keeping an eye on everything," John Gandolfi said.
North Collier Fire says beaches will be staffed seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This is only the first phase of the Ocean Rescue Patrol.
By the end of July or early August, a permanent lifeguard tower is expected to be installed near the Vanderbilt Beach turnaround. Two additional lifeguard chairs will also be added on either side of the beach to expand coverage. Those chairs are being built by an Eagle Scout candidate as their community service project.
