Praise for KP Fire Dept.

I want to express my gratitude for the aid crew stationed at the Longbranch fire station.

My husband had an early morning medical emergency recently. For the very first time in my life, I dialed 911 and the operator walked me through everything I needed to do until the fire department arrived — so very quickly. They were calm, caring and kind to us both, a credit to their profession and the KP fire department. He was transported to St. Anthony Hospital where he was tested, treated and sent home that same day with instructions for follow-up with doctors and medication.

When I moved to the Key Peninsula, I moved because of the beauty of this place, the quiet and the solace. Yes, I was escaping the city, the crowds and the concrete and I was marrying the Irishman who won my heart. But isolation means independence with limited resources for emergencies, especially medical help. Almost 40 years later, the KP has changed and grown. I have neighbors now, wonderful kind friends. We have many shops filling our immediate needs, local doctors and even a hospital not too far away. We rarely lose power anymore. And our fire department is amazing.

Jayne McCourt, Lakebay