Florida has no single statewide fire department. Fire protection in the state is built locally, from city departments and county fire rescue agencies to independent fire districts and small volunteer companies. Each one answers to its own governing body, sets its own station boundaries, and publishes its own phone numbers. That patchwork explains why a street address in Pensacola, Tallahassee or Naples can fall under a very different type of agency than one a few miles away. The sections below explain how the system fits together, so you can work out which office actually serves your property.

Who Governs Fire Protection in Florida

At the state level, the Division of State Fire Marshal sits inside the Florida Department of Financial Services, which is led by the state's Chief Financial Officer. The Division administers much of Chapter 633 of the Florida Statutes, the law covering fire prevention and control. Its work includes adopting the Florida Fire Prevention Code, licensing fire alarm and sprinkler contractors, and certifying firefighters and fire safety inspectors through the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training. Firefighter training is centered on the Florida State Fire College in Ocala.

The State Fire Marshal does not dispatch engines or staff stations. Day-to-day response belongs to local government. A city may run its own department, as Jacksonville does. A county may operate a unified agency, as with Orange County Fire Rescue or Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. Some counties rely on the sheriff's office instead. The Broward Sheriff's Office Department of Fire Rescue and Emergency Services is the best-known example, and it serves a number of Broward cities.

A third model is the independent special fire control district, created under Chapter 191 of the Florida Statutes. Big Corkscrew Island Fire Rescue in Collier County and Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue in Manatee County are examples of district-style agencies. Districts have their own boards and budgets, separate from city or county government. Funding usually comes from property tax millage or a non-ad valorem fire assessment on your annual tax bill. Two neighbors in different districts can therefore pay different amounts for similar service.

Station location also affects your wallet. The Insurance Services Office grades fire protection with a Public Protection Classification, and insurers often use that grade when pricing homeowners policies. Ask your insurance agent which class applies to your property, and which station it is based on.

Metro Departments, Suburban Counties and Rural Volunteer Companies

Jacksonville and Duval County consolidated their governments in 1968, so the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department answers calls across most of Duval County. Its Station 10 on McDuff Avenue South is typical of the neighborhood stations that cover the city's enormous footprint. A few Duval communities, such as Jacksonville Beach, still run their own departments, so the exact address matters.

Central Florida divides responsibility differently. Orange County Fire Rescue Department serves much of Orange County outside cities that operate their own departments, Orlando being the largest. Its Station 42 on Silver Star Road is one of the Orlando-area stations in our listings. Next door, the Osceola County Fire Marshal in Kissimmee handles code and inspection work for that county.

South Florida is the most layered region. In Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami Department of Fire-Rescue, whose Station 13 sits on Northeast 82nd Terrace, operates alongside Miami-Dade Fire Rescue and other municipal departments. In Broward County, the sheriff's fire rescue division, including Station 32 on Southwest 31st Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, coexists with city-run departments. Palm Beach County shows the same split: Palm Beach County Fire Rescue operates Station 24 on Seminole Boulevard, while Boca Raton Fire And Rescue runs Station 2 on West Palmetto Park Road.

Away from the coast, volunteer and small combination departments carry much of the load. Bellview Volunteer Fire Department near Pensacola in Escambia County is one. Munson Volunteer Fire Department in Santa Rosa County and Lake Iamonia Volunteer Fire Department and Emergency Medical Services north of Tallahassee in Leon County are others. Volunteer crews cover large areas, so response can take longer, and office phones may not be staffed all day. For any emergency, call 911. The county dispatch center sends the closest suitable unit, whatever its staffing model.

Fire Marshals, Airport Crews and Wildfire Agencies: Listings That Do More Than Respond

Not every entry in a Florida fire department directory is a neighborhood engine house. Fire marshal offices, such as the Osceola County Fire Marshal on North Beaumont Avenue in Kissimmee, generally handle inspections, plan review for new construction and fire cause investigations. They are the right contact for questions about code compliance, not for an emergency.

Airport fire departments serve a specialized purpose. The Airport Fire Department on Airport Road in Bay County, which our database files under Panama, is an example. Airfield crews are generally focused on aircraft and the airport grounds, so call the local city or county department for a house or business emergency. Some entries are only loosely related to firefighting. A Civil Air Patrol unit appears in Hernando County, for instance. Check the listing name before you drive anywhere.

Wildfire is handled by a separate state body. The Florida Forest Service, part of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages wildland fire response on state and private lands and issues authorizations for many types of open burning. Local fire departments still respond to brush fires near homes, and counties can impose burn bans during droughts. Florida's driest weather usually arrives in late winter and spring, before the summer rains begin.

Before You Call or Visit a Florida Fire Station

A little preparation saves time, especially because the same office name can mean very different things in different counties. Keep these points in mind:

Calling ahead matters most for volunteer stations, where nobody may be on site. Ask for the best time to visit, or request an appointment through the county or district office.

Fire departments across Florida range from large career departments in major cities to volunteer departments serving small rural communities, all operating under state fire codes and local ordinances to protect residents from fire and emergency hazards.

Fire Departments locations are available in 467 cities across Florida. They are spread across 67 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Jacksonville, Orlando, Miami, which have multiple fire stations strategically located to maintain rapid response times for their dense populations.

Residents of Florida should know your local fire department's non-emergency phone number so you can request burn permits, safety inspections, and community programs without tying up the 911 emergency line.

Fire Departments by Counties

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Residents of Florida planning any outdoor burning should contact their local fire department for open burning regulations and permit requirements, which can vary significantly by county and season due to drought conditions and fire danger ratings.

Browse Fire Departments by county across Florida to find the nearest location.

Hurricane Seasons, Dry Springs and Growing Suburbs: Local Fire Coverage in Florida

Florida's weather shapes what fire departments do. Hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30. After a storm, fire rescue crews are often among the first to check on residents, clear hazards and respond to downed power lines and gas leaks. Before a storm, confirm your county's evacuation zone and write down the non-emergency number of your local station, because cell networks can jam when everyone calls at once.

The dry season brings a different risk. Wildfire danger usually peaks in spring, and burn bans can appear with little notice. Whether you live near the City of Fort Myers Fire And Rescue Station 4 on Cummins Court in Lee County or near Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Station 1 in Progress Village in Hillsborough County, check your county's current burn status before lighting any outdoor fire.

Growth is also changing the map. Saint Johns County Fire Rescue Station 16 serves the World Golf Village area near St. Augustine. Marion County Fire Rescue Station 1 in Anthony, near Ocala, and the Alachua County Fire Department headquarters in Gainesville show how county agencies cover large unincorporated areas. In Pinellas County, Clearwater Fire And Rescue and the Pinellas Park Fire Department operate close together, so a St. Petersburg mailing address may not tell you which department responds.

Use the station listings on this page as a starting point, then confirm hours and service areas by phone. Local agencies change boundaries, staffing and numbers more often than most people expect.

Fire Department Questions Floridians Ask

The Division of State Fire Marshal, part of the Florida Department of Financial Services, is the main state body. It administers Chapter 633 of the Florida Statutes, adopts the Florida Fire Prevention Code, licenses fire alarm and sprinkler contractors, and runs firefighter certification through the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training. It does not operate local stations, though. Your city, county or fire district employs the firefighters, sets response policy and handles complaints. For a service concern, start with the department's chief, then the city or county commission, or the district board for independent districts.

Start with your annual property tax bill. A fire assessment or fire district line item names the authority that funds your protection. Your county property appraiser's website and county GIS maps often show district boundaries as well. If you live near a boundary, call the county's non-emergency line and ask which station is first to respond. Mailing addresses can mislead: the listing for Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue Station 4 carries a Sarasota address, yet the station is in Manatee County. Mutual-aid agreements also mean the closest available unit may answer a 911 call.

Sometimes, but the rules depend on where you live. The Florida Forest Service, part of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, authorizes open burning of larger piles and land-clearing debris, and it can withhold authorizations when conditions are dry. Counties and cities may add stricter ordinances, and many urban areas prohibit residential burning altogether. Burn bans are common during spring dry spells. Check your county's current burn status, confirm local rules with the nearest station's non-emergency line, and never burn trash, tires or treated lumber. You remain responsible for any fire that escapes your control.

Possibly. Many Florida fire rescue agencies provide advanced life support and transport. Emergency medical services are licensed under Chapter 401 of the Florida Statutes, with the Florida Department of Health overseeing providers, and counties grant the local authority to provide transport. Who runs the ambulance therefore varies: some counties use fire rescue, while others use a separate county EMS agency or a private provider. Billing policies differ too, and insurance, Medicare or Medicaid is usually billed first. Fees are set locally, so check the agency's current schedule and ask for an itemized bill if anything looks unclear.

Contact your local fire marshal's office, which is usually part of the city or county fire department. Some counties list it separately, as with the Osceola County Fire Marshal on North Beaumont Avenue in Kissimmee. Inspectors enforce the Florida Fire Prevention Code, so bring your address, parcel number, occupancy type and, for new construction or renovations, drawings for plan review. A passed fire inspection is often required before a certificate of occupancy is issued. Ask the office about scheduling times and fees, because both are set locally and can differ widely between counties.

Florida requires firefighters to meet state minimum standards. Certification runs through the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training, which is based at the Florida State Fire College in Ocala, and many state colleges and local training centers also offer Firefighter I and II programs. Candidates typically pass a state certification exam, a physical ability test and a background check. Many career departments also prefer EMT or paramedic certification. Volunteers, such as those at Bellview or Munson, usually apply directly to the department and complete required training. Check each agency's hiring page, since requirements and openings vary.