Gulf Breeze, Florida — January 26th — In order to help the Avalon Fire Department with a boater in distress in Pensacola Bay, Midway Fire District Boat 35 arrived on mutual aid. After an older man reached a sailboat tied offshore in a 14-foot dinghy, a local contacted 911. The person had no safe way to return when the dinghy sank later. Crews worked in temperatures close to 25 degrees, gusts of 18 to 20 mph, and swells of 3 to 4 feet. The sailboat was situated close to the Garcon Point Bridge, approximately 0.5 miles offshore. When firefighters discovered that the skipper was hypothermic, they helped him from the ship. After being assessed by EMS, the patient refused additional treatment. Later, Boat 35 had a steering problem, but it was fixed and put back into duty right away.