(Above: Firefighters of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue. Brian Montersil, Daniel Molinedo, Evelio Manso, Leighton Housen, Terry Maylor, Jillian Kenney, Blake Napier, Mario Puentes.) For Recruitment Information, visit the Recruitment Site.

History 

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue is a legally established agency by virtue of State Statutes and Local Ordinances. (Click Here for a Historical Timeline of the Agency.) On June 7, 1912, the city council voted to purchase its first piece of fire equipment, a hand-drawn, hand-operated pump and a chemical extinguisher mounted on carriage wheels.   The chemical extinguisher was pulled by a one-cylinder International Harvester truck, and the pump was pulled to the fires by a dozen or so volunteers. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue evolved into a full-service fire and rescue department consisting of 428 uniformed personnel serving from 12 strategically placed fire stations.  Operating out of the 12 fire stations are 12 Fire Suppression Units, 3 Aerial Ladder Trucks, 16 Medical Rescue Units (MRUs), 1 Heavy Rescue Squad, 1 Airport Truck, 1 Hazardous Materials unit and 2 Fireboats.  FLFR has expanded from providing only fire suppression and first responder services to providing: ALS/BLS emergency medical transports, fire investigation and prevention, hazardous materials, dive rescue, technical high angle rescue, trench rescue, structural collapse rescue, confined space rescue and ocean rescue.  Fire Rescue responds to over 50,000 911 calls annually. The agency uses highly trained special ops teams:

• Fire Rescue conducts fire prevention inspections on new and existing commercial properties and multifamily occupancies, reviews commercial building plans for fire code compliance, and investigates fire origin and cause.
• Ocean Rescue staffs 20 lifeguard towers seven days a week protecting over 3.5 million neighbors annually. 
• Fire Rescue is the lead for emergency management planning and manages the City’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

More Than Our Mission

We, the members of Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, envision that we will be widely known as an internationally accredited fire rescue agency, exhibiting PRIDE in the provision of services to our community. (To view the poster, Click Here.)

Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue is committed to saving life and property by providing the highest level of emergency services to our community since 1912.

• Professionalism will be demonstrated as we provide adaptable and sustainable fire department services with well-trained personnel, properly equipped to respond to evolving community risks with and from safe and appropriate physical resources.
• Responsibility to our greatest asset, our human resources, will be supported by a well-developed and executed health and wellness program along with employee development that will ensure all personnel are encouraged and mentored for success throughout their careers.
• Integrity will be evident in our improved internal communications practices and delivery of enhanced public education and outreach efforts.
• Diversity throughout our department will ensure we properly reflect and relate to the community served.
• Empathy will be demonstrated in all interaction with our community, as we work to meet or exceed their expectations with the customer service they deserve.

Organizational Chart for Fire Rescue

Fire Rescue has a functional area organizational chart showing the different areas of the agency. There are two divisions for Budget purposes, Office of the Chief and Fire Rescue and Four Operational Bureaus.

Bureaus by Function

Fire Rescue has two divisions: the Office of the Chief and Fire Rescue. Both divisions are supported by four bureaus. For more detailed information, use the links provided. 

Operations
Fire/EMS Response, Special Operations, Staffing, Communications, USAR, Ocean Rescue

Strategic Services
Fire Prevention, Emergency Management, Fire Plans Review, Accident Review, Accreditation and Professional Standards

Support Services
Technology, Hiring & Recruitment, Research & Development, and Fire Logistics

Training/EMS
Labor Management, Legal, Capital Projects, EMS Bureau, Mobile Integrated Health, Professional Development, Health, Safety & Wellness