History of the Orlando Fire Department

 
(WC Sherman, who had been a member of the Boston Fire Department, came to Orlando in 1883 and opened a jewelry store. He at once organized a volunteer fire company and became its first chief. Their first equipment was a hose, reel and a bucket brigade, but in 1885 the men requested of the town council a horse, harness and hose wagon)

1837 19 years after the United States acquired the vast Florida territories from Spain, the first American settlers started moving to the site of what is now Orlando. In 1850, the new town was called Jernigan, after Aaron Jernigan, a trader and early settler. In 1857, the name was changed to Orlando, apparently in honor of Orlando Reeves, a soldier who was killed in a battle with Seminole Indians.

In the late 1850's and 1860's, Central Florida was untamed land and occupied by Indians. The town which was to become Orlando consisted of a few shacks and three or four saloons. Cattle was the principle industry in the region.

The first fire-related injuries were recorded in the 1850s.

1863 The first courthouse was built, it also served as a school and church.

1875 Orlando became incorporated with a population of 85.

1880 Orlando city limits were extended one mile in each direction from the courthouse.

1881 Orlando got its first railroad station and the town's population of 200 began to grow rapidly.

1883  It took a near disastrous fire to wake the town up to the need of fire protection. Mrs. Basset, owner of a hat and dressmaking shop, accidentally set fire to some flammable and explosive material in the front part of her store. Mrs. Basset ran screaming in the street and men came running from every direction. She had to be forcibly restrained from re-entering the building to help in the rescue of her daughter. Two men, P. Hyer and C. Graves rushed in and rescued the child.

This one incident inspired the citizens and WC Sherman started something that very day. William Sherman started the first volunteer fire department, he was also named as their Fire Chief. This organization consisted of only 6 members (WC Sherman, Ben Bartlett, Tom Mann, J Walter Hosier, JW Gettier and Macy). Gettier, Macy and Sherman are known as the Founding Fathers of the Orlando Fire Department. The department grew rapidly to 12 members.  Equipment consisted of a hose, hose reel, bucket brigade and painter’s ladder on a wagon hauled around by hand.

 
1884  January 12, marked the worst downtown fire in Orlando’s history. The fire destroyed a large portion of the Business District of Orlando. The Orange County Reporter newspaper plant was completely destroyed along with DeLaneys Grocery Store, Bassett Millinery Store and Drs. RJ Gillam, Ketcham & Gillam Drug Store.

This year marks the start of using fire plugs in the city by the establishment of Waterworks at a cost of $2,000.00/year.

The population grew to 1,666, this year.

The Orlando Fire Department's organization was the result of two significant events in 1884. The first was the major downtown fire, the second was a series of articles written by EH Gore in the Orange County Reporter. He wrote his concerns over the need for fire protection and fires that had ravaged other Florida cities. This combination resulted in the organization of the Orlando Fire Department in 1885.

1885 John Weeks appointed the 1st official Fire Chief. (WC Sweet was named first assistant). Orlando’s volunteer fire department consisted of “Orlando Hook and Ladder Company No. 1” and “Orlando Hose Company No. 1”. In most of this year, three fire companies, evidently volunteer, were organized, which were consolidated into one some time in July.

(On July 4th, the Orlando Hook and Ladder Company received their "truck", and RL Hyer loaned them two horses to draw it around the major streets of the town. The "old" volunteer fire department joined the procession with their hose and reel.)

Mayor Matthew Marks planted the first oak tree in a $500 beautification project that, twenty years later, resulted in Orlando being nicknamed, "The City Beautiful"

1888 William C. Sherman was appointed the 2nd Fire Chief.

1890 Approximately six volunteer companies began using the name “Orlando Fire Department”. the city's population had grown to 10,000 residents. These were good times for the bustling community and its young promising citrus industry.

(Orlando Hose Cart Racing Team-1890. They won 1st place in the Key West competition)

1892 Mechanics Hose Co. #2 is now recorded as the Mechanics Hose and Engine Co. #2.

(Mechanics Hose Company #2)

1893 John W. Gettier was appointed the 3rd Fire Chief. All volunteer companies consolidated under “Mechanics Hose Company No. 1”.

1894 Things changed this year when "The Big Freeze" swept through Central Florida, destroying acres of citrus groves. As thousands fled the economic disaster, the population fell to below 2,481. The railroad continued bringing people to Orlando after that, but it would be another thirty years before the population would rise to more than 10,000 again.

1896 George LeMoyne was awarded the contract for construction of the first town hall. This building consisted of a two-story brick building on the north side of Oak (Wall) Street.

(In the rear of the building is a modern tower, thirty feet high, which hung a bell with two ropes suspended, reaching the ground. When fire was discovered, it was the duty of the person finding it to run to the tower, grab both ropes and ring the bell until all able-bodied citizens were awake and out for duty with blankets, ladders, and rope. About the only water available was the well on Pine Street, immediately east of Orange Avenue, and the well on Central Avenue on the courthouse grounds)
 

1899 Orlando’s City Council purchased a $5,000 fire engine from American-La-France Fire Engine Company.

(Orlando Fire Department on Oak Street in front of the firehouse/City Hall brick building)

1903 One of the most outstanding fires of the early days was the Burden's Arcade Hotel Building fire. A "baby" hurricane was blowing the night of the charity ball. Firemen were attending the fashionable event in evening clothes when the fire bell rang. the blaze consumed two adjoining houses very quickly. Blazing shingles were blown a mile east of town setting the pine woods on fire. Other red hot shingles ascended high into the heavens and dropped hissing into Lake Eola. One fireman, H Clark Robertson, almost lost his life. He, with a fire bucket, found himself on the three-story frame hotel surrounded by flames. He jumped through the fire and over the old-fashioned veranda railing. he made a spectacular, safe landing on the ground below with all of his hair burned off close to the scalp but otherwise uninjured. The old hotel, which burned to the ground, was located at Robinson Street and Orange Avenue.

1904 William H. Matthews became 4th Fire Chief. The town council began drafting and enacting ordinances.

1905 The old Southern Methodist Academy, built in 1884, caught on fire and was badly damaged. It was replaced by a new brick school building that later became City Hall. The site is presently the location of Beardall Park.

1906 A fire started at the Lockart Lumber Mill. Strong winds drove the fire throughout the lumber yard into a nearby freight depot igniting several freight cars. The Orlando Fire Department had just left to attend the State Fireman's Competition in Tampa. When the fire alarm was sounded, men volunteered to fight the fire, but some old hose was all that was available to use against the raging inferno. The situation worsened when the water utility company increased the pressure in the water mains causing the old pipes to burst in the Marks Street area, sending a flood down Orange Avenue. No water reached South Street where it was desperately needed. Lockhart's Lumber Mill went up in smoke. The freight depot and several freight cars of the Atlantic Coast Lines Railroad were also consumed in the blaze. Mr. Lockhart had no insurance and the fire loss was $50,000.

1907 OFD had five fire horses to pull fire wagons.

("Fannie and Joe" were the first team horses and "Torro and Martina" were another)

1908 William Dean became 5th Fire Chief.

1910 Under Fire Chief Dean, OFD bought an automobile and turned it into a combination chemical car and Chief’s car.

The city's population was approximately 3,894.

1915 OFD received new motorized fire trucks, replacing horse-drawn wagons.

(American LaFrance Engine No.1)

1919 On March 25th, firehouse #1 moved from Oak (Wall) Street when it opened the new firehouse #1 on 19 N Main Street (439 S Magnolia Avenue). The total cost of the station was $17,708. The old station was abandoned.

(Station #1 personnel; Late 1920)

1920 The city's population grew to 9,282.

1921 The city boasted an elegant new movie theatre on Orange Avenue, the 1,200-seat Beacham costing $200,000.

A change in the 10-14 hour, two-platoon system was initiated around this time. The shifts would alternate once a week on Saturday instead of every two weeks. A shift would work 24 hours on duty one Saturday and then would be off 24 the next Saturday to accommodate this shift change.

1922 The city purchased Tinker Field and the Fairgrounds.

1923 OFD became a fully paid department under Mayor Duckworth. Chief Dean was the first paid Fire Chief, he was in his 16th year of office as Fire Chief and paid $100.00 per month.

1925 firehouse #2 was built and in service on Parramore and Central

(1930's-firehouse #2)

1926 firehouse #3 was built and in service.

1930 The city's population reached 27,330 according to the 1930 census.

1935 An Act was passed by the Legislature of the State creating Civil Service status for policemen and firemen. The Orlando Civil Service Board was born.

 
(OFD, 1935 at Station #1)

1936 Gideon Dean was appointed the 6th Fire Chief.

The Ladies’ State Auxiliary was created this year.

1937 OFD was authorized to answer calls outside the City limits, but only if lives and property were endangered - this marks the beginning of mutual aid agreements. A Communications radio room was constructed on the southeast side of Orlando.

Retired Fire Chief William Dean was laid to rest on January 24th. He was Fire Chief from 1908-1936, he was a member of the department from its earliest days. Newspaper articles at the time of his death note, "...A quiet unassuming man, Orlando probably owes as much to his careful persistent effort to reduce the fire hazards as to any other man who has lived in Orlando during this time."
 

Apparatus and Equipment on Display in Downtown Orlando

The Orlando Fire Department received a certificate for national recognition among cities of its class for distinguished work in fire prevention from the U.S. Department of Commerce in June 1944. This was a major accomplishment because it occurred in an era when the fire service was primarily oriented toward field operations on a national basis.

1940 Maxie G. Bennett was appointed the 7th Fire Chief.

1944 Firefighter Roger Corum was the first member of the Orlando Fire Department killed in the line of duty. He died when his apparatus struck a tree after another vehicle struck his engine.

1946 OFD received its first rescue boat, donated by the Elks Club.

Final approval from the City Commission was received for the first radio communications system. The Frequency modulation Transmitter and necessary equipment were approved by the Federal Communications commission in Wash, D.C.

1949 Turbulent times came to the Orlando Fire Department from 1949 through 1952. After the removal of Fire Chief Maxie G Bennett, the Assistant Chief Loy Davis was acting Fire Chief for three years, but was never officially the Fire Chief. Therefore, he is not included in the men who held the office of Fire Chief of the Orlando Fire Department. Davis returned to the position of Assistant Chief when Fire Chief Paul Pennington was appointed in 1953 by Mayor J. Rolfe Davis.

1950 Orlando's population had grew to 51,826.

(firehouse No.1, 19 North Main Street)

1953 Paul Pennington was appointed the 8th Fire Chief. 

Orlando’s Civil Service Board announced the beginning of entrance examinations in the police and fire departments.

"To be eligible, the applicants must be residents of the City at least a year and be between the ages of 21 and 30. Only white males are eligible for the fire department. Both White and Negro males are eligible for the police department."
(The preceding excerpt appeared in an article printed by the Orlando Sentinel. The racial eligibility requirements would remain in force for another fifteen years before black applicants would be permitted employment in the Orlando Fire Department)

1954 Work hours dropped from 84 to 72 hours per week. Firefighters of Florida were seeking legislative support for a bill regulating the hours of work for firemen. The proposed act would limit the maximum number of duty hours to 120 in any two calendar weeks. Orlando's firefighters were working  an 84-hour work week, while many of the South's larger cities were on 60-hour work weeks. In the majority of Pacific Coast cities, the maximum was 56-hours or less. New York City, Columbus, Ohio, and Flint, Michigan, were on 48-hour work weeks.

The department was up to its full strength of 60 trained men.

The Orlando City Council raised salaries for firefighters. The raises recommended by Fire Chief Paul Pennington were:

1955 Two new firehouses were opened, their cost was $90,000 each.

firehouse #4 and firehouse #5,
(Pictures taken in 1970s)

The 60-room Avalon Hotel on North Orange Avenue was swept by fire in a spectacular blaze that brought out the City's entire firefighting force. All three Orlando Fire Department companies answered the alarm. Winter Park, Orlando Air Force Base and Holden Heights departments sent men and equipment. The thirty year old brick and wood hotel was a favorite for traveling salesmen. On the night of the fire, nine guests were aroused by hotel employees and two Orlando Patrolmen after the blaze was discovered by a Sentinel employee who was enroute home from work. Although the fire on the first floor was confined almost entirely to the liquor store, none of the operators of four ground floor businesses were able to take any of their merchandise to safety. Along with the liquor store, there was a drugstore, a restaurant and a rug shop. The blaze raged for over four hours and water damage from fire hose was extensive. Firemen confined the blaze to the hotel building by watering down frame houses to the rear and a one-story block building to the south. With only one aerial ladder in operation, firemen were forced to climb atop of an adjoining house, owned by the same company, to put water on the roof of the building. However, Fire Chief Pennington said he did not think he could have brought the blaze under control any sooner with an additional ladder truck. From the third floor, the building appeared as if a giant bomb had scored a direct hit.

June 29th, the Orlando Sentinel reported that the Orlando Civil Service Board placed thirteen men on the fire department eligibility list to provide manpower for two new stations. those approved for the fire department were:

1956 The Orlando Fire Department received 713 calls, traveled 3,014 miles within the City, spent 359 hours fighting fires and fire losses totaled in excess of $300,000.

1961 Orlando firemen organized Local No. 1365 of the
International Association of Fire Fighters.

1962 The work week dropped to 66 2/3 hours with one-half Kelly days.

1964 The third shift was established on a 56-hour work week.

1966 Old firehouse #2 was demolished on Parramore and Central and new firehouse #2 was built on same site.
 

1967 OFD moved into its new McCoy Jetport Facility, firehouse #8. This station was constructed beside the eastern runway. The Department also added one Class A Triple-Combination Seagrave Pumper, 1,000 GPM with Special Foam System.

Manpower totaled 172.

1968 Melvin Rivenbark was appointed the 9th Fire Chief. 

First black firemen hired by OFD.

Orlando’s first strong sprinkler ordinance was implemented.

firehouses #7built the early part of 1968 and was dedicated and in service September.

firehouse #9
built and in service.

 

1969 29 year old, Probationary Firefighter, John Lewkowicz was killed at South and Parramore enroute to an alarm.

1972  Asst. Chief G. Calvin Bookhardt lost his life at a fire scene and Bookhardt Memorial Park on West Central was later named after him.

firehouse #3 was rebuilt at it's new site in College Park, Elizabeth Avenue.

OFDs first newsletter, Firelines, was published.

Delta Burke was crowned                                                                                                     Miss Flame.

1973   Charles S. Parker became 10th Fire Chief.

firehouse #10 was dedicated and in service.
 

firehouse #11 was dedicated and in service. It would be 20 years before another OFD firehouse is built.

OFDs service area increased to 66 square miles.

OFD had 27 pieces of apparatus and 350 personnel.

Firefighters went to a 42-hour week.

Firefighters Local Union - 1365 and City of Orlando negotiated for a contract - marking the first time the City bargained with a Labor Union. firehouses #10 and #11 opened. New station #3 was built in College Park.

ISO rating improved from 4 to 3.

1974  OFDs administrative offices moved from Station #1 to MJB, 100 S. Hughey Ave.

The Training Academy moved from Station #6 to the Orlando Jetport.

OFDs computer system went on-line after two years of planning.

1975  OFD begins the first Paramedic program.

1977   E. “Gene” Reynolds became 11th Fire Chief.

The Orlando Fire Department began providing Advanced Life Support service.

The Training Academy came under the jurisdiction of the Orlando-Orange Fire Training Academy.

District III separated from the City of Orlando and became GOAAs Fire Department.

The Ladies’ State Auxiliary was created in 1936 and OFD began their Auxiliary in 1977. Their canteen service was created to serve hot or cold drinks to firefighters at major fires or disasters.

1978  Old firehouse #3 was moved to Loch Haven Park and leased to the Orange County Historical Museum in 1984.

The first annual “Fire vs. Fuzz” football game was played between OFD and OPD, with OFD winning 33-6.

1979  OFD Fireground Command SOP's were published by the Training Division under  Assistant Chief Charlie Lewis.

The Training Academy's 5-story training tower was completed at the OOFTA. The cost was $140,000.

Station #6’s new station was built on E. Robinson to replace the one at Herndon Airport.
 

To improve accuracy in gathering emergency incident data, the National Fire Incident Reporting System was implemented.
 

The Public Education Division initiated the Junior Fire Marshal Program.

1980  Orange County and Orlando Fire Departments began negotiations for a Joint Response Agreement.

The Orlando Fire Department changed its name to the Orlando Fire and Rescue Department (after one year it was changed back).

OFD Explorer Post was established in conjunction with the Boy Scouts of America.

1981  All dispatchers and supervisors in the Communications Section became EMS state certified.

 
1981-Dispatchers Hattaway and Meredith
 

1982  The first female firefighters were hired; Suzie Paxton (retired 2002 as Lieutenant) and Kathy Johnston (retired 2007 as Deputy Chief)

1983  The Hazmat Van was placed in service along with the new dive van, mini tower and public education van.

After a history of traditionally red apparatus, OFD changes to red & white.

OFD began planning fire protection for MetroWest.

The Data Processing Section was established for daily input of all emergency response data.

Staff & Line moved into its new facility at 800 W. Gore.

Combat shift schedule changed from 42 hours to 49.8 hours (24 on/48 off) per week.

A robot named “Spinner” (a walking/ talking fire hydrant) was purchased for the Public Education Division for fire safety education.

1984  The Arson/Bomb Squad was formed at OFD, along with one OPD officer, to conduct a unified investigation into arson and bomb cases. When the OPD officer retired in 1993, Arson/Bomb Squad became staffed entirely by OFD.

Fire Prevention implemented the Lock Box program.

The Fire Museum opened in Loch Haven Park. Old firehouse #3 had been moved to this location in 1978 and leased to the Orange County Historical Museum in 1984.

Orlando is now a thriving metropolis, population 143,000.

1987  Station #9 was relocated to the Rosemont area at S. Lake Orlando Parkway and Mercy.

1988  OFDs ISO rating went from 3 to 2.

1989  Charlie Lewis was appointed the 12th Fire Chief.

1990  The Emergency Medical Dispatcher system instituted.

Fees were established for excessive false alarms and for certain inspections.

OFD accepted a mobile home trailer from Universal Studios and rebuilt it, designing it to educate grade school children in fire safety.

1991  OFD began to offer ALS coverage from every firehouse.

OFD Administrative. Offices moved from MJB to the newly built City Hall, 400 S. Orange Avenue.

1992  1st OFD yearbook published with new editions published approximately every 5 years.

1993  Robert A. Bowman was appointed the 13th Fire Chief.

The Citizens Fire Academy (CFA) program began; the  Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program also began.

The OPD officer retired from the Arson/Bomb Squad; the Special Investigative Services Division became staffed entirely by OFD personnel.

1994  Station #12 was established, a temporary trailer was placed in the future site, housing one Rescue Unit.


 

An Annexation Fire Protection Agreement with Orange County Fire Department was signed to provide joint fire protection services for the Lake Nona area.

A Mutual Aid Response Agreement was signed with area fire departments.

The Learn-Not-To-Burn Program was placed in all Orlando preschool locations.

The Emergency Management Section was established for planning, responding, and recovering from City disasters.

1995  The  Neighborhood Emergency Training (NET) program began.

A Traffic Preemption System was installed in major intersections.

The Plans Review Section was integrated with other City Departments’ permitting sections to form Central Permitting on the first floor of City Hall.

1996  Donald W. Harkins was appointed the 14th Fire Chief.

Station #12 was opened in the MetroWest area; a temporary trailer had been used since 1994.


Appointed the first female Assistant Chief in department history Kathy Johnston-Miller.

Appointed the first Hispanic Assistant Chief in department history (David Andrew).

A new SmartNet 800MHz advanced trunking radio system in Communications was installed.

The Elderlinks Program began to allow OFD to interact daily with the community’s elderly citizens. In this program, OFD can link seniors with appropriate community service agencies when they are in need of help.

OFD publishes 2nd yearbook.

1997  The first Technical Rescue Unit (TR-6) was put in service.

All operations personnel were issued portable radios.

The Honor Guard was reinstated.

The first official flag was designed and accepted by OFD.

One million dollars was spent to replace firefighters’ protective equipment with state of the art protective clothing and Scott 4.5 self-contained breathing apparatus with integrated PASS alarms.

$80,000 was used to purchase and upgrade fitness equipment for all firehouses.

Training and EMS were merged into a single division.

1998  Thermal imaging cameras were placed in-service on all Tower Apparatus.

Vista East annexation began.

Increased ALS fleet to include all Engines, Rescues, and Towers.

There was reorganization - one Deputy Chief position was eliminated and new Assistant Chiefs positions were created to head the Special Operations and Planning & Resource Management Division.

The first accelerated Paramedic Program was completed, with 15 new paramedics certified in seven months.

The Naval Training Center Fire Department disbanded, resulting from the closing of the NTC base and the City of Orlando assumed full responsibility for fire protection at both former military bases.

Tower #11 was upgraded to a full service Tower Apparatus.

A new fleet of medium-duty Rescue Units was ordered.

A new graphics and warning package for the new Suburban was designed.

Rescue #8 was put into service.

OFD produced a new video of its services.

Southport becomes Orlando’s first fully sprinklered single-family residential community.

1999  100 sets of Nomex Wildland firefighting gear were purchased.

Obtained State Licensure for ALS pre-hospital ground transport.

Reinstituted dress uniforms for all ranks.

Initiated Tactical Medic Program to train and equip Paramedics to be part of OPD's SWAT team.

Expanded Immunization Program to Health Check Program, to provide monthly health screening in high-rise apartments, flu shots and immunizations, targeting the City's elderly population who are unable to mobilize to various locations.

Agreement negotiated with Southeast property owners to require residential sprinklers as part of the land development code. Agreement also reached to utilize residential fire sprinklers in NTC redevelopment.

Replaced Arson/Bomb van and robot.

The 2000's

2000   Charlie Walker was appointed the 15th Fire Chief.

firehouse #13 is placed in service.

 

Dr. Ragan Vandegriff has served over 20 years as Chaplain of OFD.

Published 3rd OFD yearbook.

OFD hired first female Fire Marshal.

EMS Bike Team put in service.

Purchased AVL and CAD System.

Obtained $183,000 of facility improvements at firehouses, including commercial dishwashers and 13 additional computers.

The Training Division added a full-time Quality Assurance Program and Manager, Recruiting Lieutenant and Firefighter, and a Training Officer.

2001  OFD took over the Fire Museum, original OFD firehouse #3, at Loch Haven Park.

OFD hired its first Planner.

In October, an Anti-Terrorism Task Force was activated.

USAR 1 (Urban Search and Rescue unit) was placed into service.

2002  Engine #14 placed into service at firehouse #8 to cover new eastern annexed area of the city until firehouse #14 is completed in 2003.

Tower #9 placed in service.

2003  Robert A. Bowman was appointed the 16th Fire Chief.


Firehouse #14 temporary trailer was constructed and in service with one Engine.

2004  OFD begins changing colors of apparatus to red & black, with gold lettering.

SOP manual undergoes complete revision under Assistant Chief John Miller.

In June, the FireFit Kids pilot program was implemented in four community centers, with the goal to place the program into all Middle schools by August 2005.

OFD adopted the IAFC/IAFF fitness program, also known as Peer Fitness.  This program was developed as a national standard through a joint effort between the IAFC/IAFF and ACE (American Exercise Council).  The program is designed to evaluate and improve overall wellness of firefighters and to help them to better prepare for the physical demands related to their job.

2005  Orlando Firefighters Pipes & Drums (OFP&D) was formed by a group of OFD personnel, organized be Eng. Mike Stallings.  In December, the OFP&D performed for the first time at the Florida Citrus Bowl parade in downtown Orlando.

On May 7, 2005 the Orlando Fire Department celebrated its 120-year anniverssary at the Orlando Fire Museum.

October 1, the Orlando Fire Prevention Rally was held in conjunction with the re-launch of the Orlando Fire Museum and the first annual Firefighter Chili Cook-Off.

4th edition of the OFD yearbook published.

2006  James Reynolds was appointed the 17th Fire Chief.

In March OFD began a 2-year accreditation process with the Commission of Fire Accreditation.  Once accredited, a fire service agency must be recertified every 5 years.

A commission was formed to determine if combining the Orange County Fire Rescue Division and the Orlando Fire Department would be feasible.  In May, the City of Orlando and Orange County Consolidation Committee me and final conclusions and recommendations were accepted from the fire/rescue subcommittee in favor of not consolidating.

The second Pub Ed safety house was purchased with a grant from the Department of Homeland Security, approved by Council on 09/18/06.
This safety house includes:

• a tornado and hurricane simulation unit
• stove top burners and burning trash cans for kitchen fire safety demos
• heated doors with smoke coming from underneath to simulate fire conditions
• shaking mini blinds/simulated lightning and blackout shades
• two 15,000 BTU air conditioning units
• a 24" television with DVD/VCR player and five speaker sound system for presentations

September 13th, groundbreaking for Firehouse #15 in Lake Nona.  McCree Construction - architect and builder.  Placed in service August 25, 2007

September 16th, groundbreaking for Firehouse #17 in Millenia.  McCree Construction - architect and builder.  Facility will be operational September 2007.

December 14th, groundbreaking for Firehouse #16 in Mudd Lake.  McCree Construction - architect and builder.  Facility will be operational January 2008.

Announcement of a new Firehouse #1 to be located at 78 W. Central.  The new facility will be the lower 3 floors of a 9 story high-rise and service as the new headquarters for the Orlando Fire Department.  Wharton-Smith, Inc. and Schweizer Waldroff Architects, Inc. - architect and build team.  Facility expected to be operational March 2009.

2007  Firehouse #15, with Engine 15 and Woods 15,  placed in service on August 25th.

In March, construction began on a permanent building for Firehouse #14, located at the same address.  McCree Construction - architect and builder.  Facility will be operational November 2007.

In August, the EMS Division began training and certifying all OFD paramedics in PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support).  This is an American Heart Association course similar to ACLS, but focuses on pediatric patients.