Brevard County Fire Rescue Honors Mims KOA Campground For Accommodating Firefighters
By Space Coast Daily // October 9, 2015
KOA owner Dean Madison recognized
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Dean Madison, owner of the Kennedy Space Center KOA campground in Mims, received a “Thank You” plaque from Brevard County Fire Chief Mark Schollmeyer and other members of his department on Thursday.
The plaque was a token of appreciation for Madison’s assistance helping Fire Rescue respond to calls during a two-year construction project on State Road 46.
That assistance came in the form of free stays afforded to firefighters at one of the campground’s lodges during the project, which cut off access to areas of State Road 46 west of I-95 for emergency responders.
“Whenever called upon, Madison would let volunteer firefighters from Mims stay free, which helped Fire Rescue avoid a 9-minute detour to respond to calls,” said District Chief Jeff Money.
He said they averaged at least one call per night, mostly for medical emergencies.
“I’m just glad to help,” Madison said Thursday.
Money said BCFR often wouldn’t become aware the road would be closed until late in the day, but whenever called upon, Madison responded with a place for firefighters to stay. He said the number of nights utilized throughout the two-year construction projects averaged about three nights per week.
“On short notice, he would always provide us a cabin,” Money said.
The Mims Volunteer Fire Department contracts with BCFR. Whenever needed, they would provide four firefighters and a truck to cover the area west of I-95.
