TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: A. Jerome Fletcher II, ICMA-CM, MPA, City Manager
TITLE: Present Certificate of Recognition to Lieutenant Raymond Coyle and Engineer/EMT Matthew Parrish for Efforts in Aiding with the Ross Wildfire in Mineral Wells, Texas.
Recommended Action
Option 1: Present Certificates of Recognition to Lieutenant Raymond Coyle and Engineer/EMT Matthew Parrish for aiding with the Ross Wildfire in Mineral Wells, Texas.
City Commission Options
Option 1: Present Certificates of Recognition to Lieutenant Raymond Coyle and Engineer/EMT Matthew Parrish for aiding with the Ross Wildfire in Mineral Wells, Texas.
Pros: Formally recognizes the efforts of Lieutenant Coyle and Engineer/EMT Parrish in going above and beyond the call of duty during an emergency management deployment.
Cons: None identified.
Option 2: Do not present the Certificates of Recognition.
Pros: None identified.
Cons: The efforts of Lieutenant Coyle and Engineer/EMT Parrish would not be formally recognized.
Background Information
The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) recently sought out firefighter assistance to aid in battling the Ross Wildfire which burned across Palo Pinto and Jack Counties in Texas. North Port Fire Rescue put out the call to its qualified members which was answered Lieutenant Raymond Coyle and Fire Engineer/EMT Matthew Parrish.
Lieutenant Coyle and Engineer/EMT Parrish left North Port on August 28, 2026, for Mineral Wells, Texas and returned on September 14, 2026. During their deployment, they battled the blaze for long hours in difficult conditions, away from their families, doing whatever was needed to protect the lives and property of the locals.
During their time on deployment, their Strike Team Leader Bryan Spooner, a Marine Support Officer with Pasco County Fire Rescue, reported their performance as exceptional throughout the assignment. According to Officer Spooner, while faced with challen...
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