services. “The community expects us to handle disasters at the scale they see elsewhere,” he notes, “and we’ve been fortunate to have a strong tax base that allows us to meet many of those expectations.” Recent increases in that funding have enabled the district to strengthen its response capabilities. CONTENDING WITH EMERGING THREATS Beyond natural disasters, new challenges are emerging with the rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) and other lithium-ion battery-powered devices. “Lithium-ion batteries are a major emerging threat,” Wolfe warns. “The problem isn’t just confined to vehicles. We’re seeing fires from electric scooters, bikes, and even skateboards. The rapid evolution of these technologies means recommendations and best practices are constantly changing.” Adding to the complexity, Wolfe highlights issues related to charging infrastructure, particularly in high-rises and parking garages. “There’s a lot of discussion happening about fire codes and whether additional fire protection systems are needed in these spaces to prevent further damage from EV fires.” While some fire agencies in metropolitan areas are beginning to adopt electric-powered fire trucks, Wolfe believes that geography and logistics make this impractical for Greater Naples. “We cover an area larger than Rhode Island,” he explains. “Battery-powered apparatus might make sense in a city with short distances, but not here.” However, he acknowledges that smaller renewable energy vehicles may have a role to play in the district’s future. 124 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 12
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