Jan 31, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
 
 CONTACT:
 
 Kris Cella
 Cella & Associates, Inc.
 2125 First Street Suite 201
 Fort Myers, Florida 33901
 kcella@cella.cc
 
 Sanibel Causeway Fire and Rescue Safety Drill Boat to "Collide" with Construction Barge Friday, February 4, 2005 10:00 a.m.

 Fort Myers, FL, January 31, 2005 - Lee County's Sanibel Causeway
 construction manager, Jacobs and prime contractor, Boh Brothers, will stage
 a rescue operation safety drill with local police, fire and rescue, the
 sheriff's department and the U. S. Coast Guard.  The staged scenario will
 demonstrate a boat colliding with a construction barge.  A portion of the
 boat will be submerged under the barge and "passengers" will be thrown into
 the water and trapped on the "burning" boat.  No one will be in actual
 danger and the fire will be a controlled simulation. "Passengers" will be
 rescued by jet skis by Sanibel Fire and Rescue and the simulated boat motor
 "fire" will be extinguished with water cannons from the Iona/McGregor Fire
 and Rescue boat.  Other police, fire and rescue personnel will coordinate
 and assist with the drill.
 
 Safety is one of the most important aspects of the Sanibel Causeway
 improvements construction project.  Many boaters are passing and anchoring
 dangerously close to the construction site.  Heavy equipment on large
 construction barges poses a safety risk to the boating public. The project
 team continues to circulate safety information but boaters ignore the
 warnings and put themselves needlessly at risk.  The construction team
 coordinated this drill to demonstrate to boaters the possible consequences
 of coming within close proximity to the construction barges.  The drill
 allows the local fire and rescue departments to practice their techniques
 and prepare for a worst-case scenario.
 
 The rescue demonstration team would like to thank Davis Stephens with Shack
 Bait for his coordination efforts and Steeven Knight, owner of the Sanibel
 Harbour Yacht Club for kindly donating the boat.
 
 For more information about the Sanibel Causeway Improvements project, please
 visit the project web site at www.sanibelcauseway.com
 
 Invitation to Media
 
 The media are invited to observe the fire and rescue demonstration from
 Island A, the island closest to the drawbridge. Project personnel will be
 available for interviews and questions at 9:30 a.m. at the gates of the
 Island A construction site (on right hand side of island when traveling
 toward Sanibel). Please contact Kris Cella at (239) 337-1071 or by email at
 kcella@cella.cc if you have any questions.

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