Fire department open house showcases Bayflite medical helicopter

By Ian Swaby
| 8:00 a.m. August 10, 2025

Evelyn Lucas, 5, and her friends Kevin McGuckin, 3, and his sister Kinsley McGuckin, 5 (front row) pose with Flight Nurse Pamela Young.

Sarasota
Neighbors

At this month's open house with the Sarasota County Fire Department, eyes weren't just on the vehicles and displays on the ground, but were also turning to the skies.

Held at Station 5 at 400 N. Beneva Road, the event featured a medical helicopter owned by Bayflite, which landed near the station and opened to the community for tours.

The open house events allow community members to visit fire stations for offerings that include meeting local firefighters, touring fire apparatus, free car seat safety inspections and stations teaching visitors about fire safety and hands-on CPR.

This month's open house also included a rappelling demonstration.

Pamela Young, a flight nurse with Bayflite, said in the local communities, not everyone has fast access to a particular specialty or hospital, noting in North Port, where the helicopter is based, Sarasota Memorial Hospital is the nearest trauma center.

"It takes 50 minutes," she said. "We can fly up there in 15, and that makes such a difference in the mortality rates, and the morbidity, and how the patient does."

When Kennedy Brown, 4, rides by Station 5 on the way to school, she knows it as "Grandpa's station." It's where her grandfather Glen Taylor (right) was formerly employed, having retired as a captain. "We're glad it's here this month," said her mother Katelyn Brown.

Linda Poulin of Humane Society of Sarasota County holds Teddy, with Deputy Brian Keane of the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office.

The Bayflight helicopter was available for tours.

Eli Lucas, 2, plays a game of catch with his uncle David Blumenstock, using a stuffed animal received at the open house.

Parker Eagan, 2, and his mother Kiley Eagan watch as the helicopter comes in for a landing.

Rhett Hochstetler, 3, covers his ears as the helicopter lands.

Valerie Altier, 6, her brother McClain Altier, 5, and their mother Kyle Altier look inside the helicopter.

Matthew Heinlein, 4, and Benjamin Heinlein, 7, learn about CPR from Firefighter/EMT Victor Vassallo.

Firefighter Goldwich Parker helps Dylan Slowik, 2, use the fire hose.

Ayaan Patel, 5, watches as the helicopter comes in for a landing.

Firefighters set up a rapelling demonstration.

Brenda Kotecki, a member of the fire department administration, sets out balloons.

Louie Romanoff, 4, pets Teddy of the Humane Society of Sarasota County.

Flight Nurse Pamela Young steps out of the helicopter as it lands.

SunCoast Blood Centers was present, and alongside the fire department, is currently hosting the Boots vs. Badges blood drive, a blood donation competition between the local police and fire departments through Aug. 23.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.