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History

Learn about the biggest moments in Orlando Fire Department's rich history from its inception in 1885 to present day.

1883 - 1900 1900 - 1950 1950 - 2000 2000 - Present

1883 - 1900

1883

ORLANDO ESTABLISHES FIRST VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

Mrs. Basset, owner of a hat and dressmaking shop, accidentally set fire to flammable and explosive material in the front part of her store. She had to be forcibly restrained from re-entering the building to help rescue her daughter. Two men, P. Hyer and C. Graves rushed in and rescued the child. This incident inspired William Sherman to start the first volunteer fire department. Sherman was also named as the department’s first Fire Chief. The department consisted of 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. Equipment consisted of a hose, hose reel, bucket brigade and painter’s ladder on a wagon hauled around by hand.

1884

MAJOR DOWNTOWN FIRE DESTROYS BUSINESS DISTRICT

On January 12, 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. The City started using fire plugs with the establishment of Waterworks at a cost of $2,000/year.

CONCERNS RAISED OVER NEED FOR FIRE PROTECTION

After the Business District fire, a series of articles written by E.H. Gore in the Orange County Reporter detailed concerns over the need for fire protection and how fires had ravaged other Florida cities.

1885

ORLANDO FIRE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED, JOHN WEEKS APPOINTED 1ST OFFICIAL FIRE CHIEF

Orlando’s volunteer fire department consisted of “Orlando Hook and Ladder Company No. 1” and “Orlando Hose Company No. 1.”

A third volunteer company organized but by July 1885 all three were consolidated into one.

1888

WILLIAM C. SHERMAN APPOINTED 2ND FIRE CHIEF

1890

SIX VOLUNTEER COMPANIES BEGAN USING THE NAME “ORLANDO FIRE DEPARTMENT”

1892

MECHANICS HOSE AND ENGINE CO. #2 ESTABLISHED

1893

JOHN W. GETTIER APPOINTED 3RD FIRE CHIEF

All volunteer companies consolidated under “Mechanics Hose Company No. 1”.

1896

FIRST TOWN HALL BUILT WITH FIRE ALARM SYSTEM

George LeMoyne constructed the first town hall, a two-story brick building on the north side of Oak (Wall) Street. In the rear of the building, a modern tower, thirty feet high, 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. 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

FIRST FIRE ENGINE PURCHASED

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

1900 - 1950

1903

BURDEN'S ARCADE HOTEL BUILDING FIRE

The old hotel, which burned to the ground, was located at Robinson Street and Orange Avenue. The blaze consumed two adjoining houses very quickly. Blazing shingles were blown a mile east of town setting the pine woods on fire. One fireman, H Clark Robertson, armed 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 safe landing on the ground below, uninjured except for losing his hair.

1904

WILLIAM H. MATTHEWS APPOINTED 4TH FIRE CHIEF

Town council began drafting and enacting ordinances.

1905

SOUTHERN METHODIST ACADEMY FIRE

Built in 1884, the building was badly damaged and replaced by a new brick school building that later became City Hall. The site is presently the location of Beardall Park.

1906

LOCKART LUMBER MILL FIRE

Strong winds drove the fire throughout the lumber yard into a nearby freight depot igniting several freight cars. When the fire alarm was sounded, men volunteered to fight the fire, but the Orlando Fire Department and its equipment, had just left to attend the State Fireman's Competition in Tampa. 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 and 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 HORSES USED TO PULL FIRE WAGONS

Two teams of horses, “Fannie and Joe” and “Torro and Martina” used to pull fire wagons throughout Orlando.

1908

WILLIAM DEAN APPOINTED 5TH FIRE CHIEF

1910

AUTOMOBILES JOIN OFD FORCE

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

1915

OFD RECEIVES NEW MOTORIZED FIRE TRUCKS, REPLACING HORSE-DRAWN WAGONS

1919

STATION 1 MOVED

On March 25, Station 1 moved from Oak (Wall) Street to a new building on 19 N Main Street (corner of Magnolia and Wall Street).

The total cost of the station was $17,708. The old station was abandoned.

1921

SHIFT CHANGES INSTITUTED

A change in the 10-14 hour, two-platoon system was initiated – 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 hours the next Saturday to accommodate this shift change.

1923

OFD BECOMES A FULLY PAID DEPARTMENT

Under Mayor Duckworth, Chief Dean was the first paid Fire Chief.

He was in his 16th year of office and paid $100 per month.

1925

STATION 2 BUILT TO SERVICE PARRAMORE AND CENTRAL

1926

STATION 3 BUILT

1927

FIREFIGHTER ROY PRATT FIRST OFD MEMBER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY

1935

ORLANDO CIVIL SERVICE BOARD ESTABLISHED

The Florida Legislature passes an Act creating Civil Service status for policemen and firemen.

1936

GIDEON DEAN APPOINTED 6TH FIRE CHIEF

1937

MUTUAL AID AGREEMENTS BEGIN

OFD was authorized to answer calls outside the City limits, but only if lives and property were endangered. A Communications radio room was constructed on the southeast side of Orlando.

1940

MAXIE G. BENNETT APPOINTED 7TH FIRE CHIEF

1947

OFD RECEIVED ITS FIRST RESCUE BOAT, DONATED BY THE ELKS CLUB

FIRST RADIO COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

The City Commission approved the first radio communications system.

The frequency modulation transmitter and necessary equipment were approved by the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C.

1949

ASSISTANT CHIEF LOY DAVIS ACTS AS FIRE CHIEF

After the removal of Fire Chief Maxie G Bennett, Assistant Chief Loy Davis was acting Fire Chief for three years, but never officially appointed 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 - 2000

1953

PAUL PENNINGTON APPOINTED 8TH FIRE CHIEF

ENTRANCE EXAMS INTRODUCED

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

1954

REGULATION OF WORK HOURS BEGINS

Work hours dropped from 84 to 72 hours per week. Florida firefighters 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.

ORLANDO CITY COUNCIL RAISES SALARIES FOR FIREFIGHTERS

The raises recommended by Fire Chief Paul Pennington were:

POSITION, MONTHLY SALARY

Fire Chief, from $435 to $460

Instructor, from $352.50 to $365

Lieutenant, from $320 to $350

Engineer, from $300 to $350

Mechanic, from $305 to $325

Fireman 1st Class, from $290 to $300

Probationary Fireman, from $255 to $260

1955

STATION 4 AND STATION 5 OPEN

Their cost to build each fire house was $90,000.

13 NEW POSITIONS APPROVED

On June 29, the Orlando Sentinel reported that the Orlando Civil Service Board placed 13 men on the fire department eligibility list to provide manpower for two new stations.

AVALON HOTEL FIRE

The 60-room hotel on North Orange Avenue was swept by fire and all three Orlando Fire Department companies answered the alarm. The 30-year-old brick and wood hotel was a favorite for traveling salesmen. On the night of the fire, nine guests were awoken by hotel employees and two Orlando Patrolmen. Although the fire on the first floor was confined almost entirely to the liquor store, none of the operators of the liquor store, drugstore, restaurant or rug shop were able to take any of their merchandise to safety. 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.

1961

LOCAL NO. 1365 ORGANIZED

Orlando firemen organized Local No. 1365 of the International Association of Firefighters.

1962

WORK WEEK DROPS TO 66 2/3 HOURS WITH ONE-HALF KELLY DAYS

1964

THIRD SHIFT ESTABLISHED ON A 56-HOUR WORK WEEK

1966

1967

STATION 8 OPENS AT MCCOY JETPORT FACILITY

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.

1968

MELVIN RIVENBARK APPOINTED 9TH FIRE CHIEF

1969

ASST. CHIEF G. CALVIN BOOKHARDT KILLED AT A FIRE SCENE

Bookhardt Memorial Park on West Central was later named after him.

STATION 3 REBUILT AT NEW SITE IN COLLEGE PARK

1972

OFD HIRES FIRST BLACK FIREMEN

On June 10, the first African-Americans in the history of the Orlando Fire Department were employed.

That first group included: Harley Leak, Timothy Jackson, Samuel Williams, Willie Green, J. L. Hawkins, and Davell R. Davis.

STATION 7 AND STATION 9 BEGIN SERVICE

1973

42-HOUR WEEK BEGINS

Firefighters Local Union 1365 and City of Orlando negotiated for a contract, marking the first time the City bargained with a Labor union.

CHARLES S. PARKER APPOINTED 10TH FIRE CHIEF

1974

ADMINISTRATIVE, TRAINING ACADEMY MOVE

The administrative offices moved from Station 1 to MJB on 100 S. Hughey Ave. The Training Academy moved from Station 6 to the Orlando Jetport.

OFD COMPUTER SYSTEM GOES ONLINE AFTER TWO YEARS OF PLANNING

1975

OFD BEGINS THE FIRST PARAMEDIC PROGRAM

1977

E. “GENE” REYNOLDS APPOINTED 11TH FIRE CHIEF

OFD BEGINS ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT SERVICE

1978

OLD STATION 3 MOVES TO LOCH HAVEN PARK

The building was leased to the Orange County Historical Museum and opened in 1984.

“FIRE VS. FUZZ”

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 PUBLISHED

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

NATIONAL FIRE INCIDENT REPORTING SYSTEM IMPLEMENTED

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

JUNIOR FIRE MARSHAL PROGRAM INITIATED

1980

JOINT RESPONSE AGREEMENT NEGOTIATIONS

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

1981

DISPATCHERS AND SUPERVISORS IN THE COMMUNICATIONS SECTION BECAME EMS STATE CERTIFIED

1982

FIRST FEMALE FIREFIGHTERS HIRED

Suzie Paxton, retired 2002 as Lieutenant and Kathy Johnston, retired 2007 as Deputy Chief.

1983

HAZMAT VAN PLACED IN SERVICE

Joining it were the new dive van, mini tower and public education van.

DATA PROCESSING SECTION ESTABLISHED FOR DAILY INPUT OF ALL EMERGENCY RESPONSE DATA

RED AND WHITE INTRODUCED

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

STAFF & LINE MOVED INTO ITS NEW FACILITY AT 800 W. GORE

"SPINNER" INTRODUCED

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

1984

ARSON/BOMB SQUAD FORMED

The squad, along with one OPD officer conducts 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 LOCK BOX

1987

STATION 9 RELOCATED TO ROSEMONT AREA

STATION 8 REOPENED ON SHOALCREEK DR

1988

ISO RATING WENT FROM THREE TO TWO

1989

CHARLIE LEWIS APPOINTED 12TH FIRE CHIEF

1991

OFD OFFERS ALS COVERAGE FROM EVERY STATION

1993

ROBERT A. BOWMAN APPOINTED 13TH FIRE CHIEF

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

1994

ANNEXATION FIRE PROTECTION AGREEMENT

Signed with Orange County Fire Department, the agreement provides joint fire protection services for the Lake Nona area.

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT SECTION ESTABLISHED

The section is responsible for planning, responding and recovering from City disasters.

MUTUAL AID RESPONSE AGREEMENT SIGNED

THE LEARN-NOT-TO-BURN PROGRAM PLACED IN ALL ORLANDO PRESCHOOLS

1995

NEIGHBORHOOD EMERGENCY TRAINING (NET) PROGRAM BEGINS

TRAFFIC PREEMPTION SYSTEM INSTALLED IN MAJOR INTERSECTIONS

1996

DONALD W. HARKINS APPOINTED 14TH FIRE CHIEF

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

ELDERLINKS FOUNDED

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.

STATION 12 OPENS IN THE METROWEST

The station replaced the temporary trailer that had been used since 1994.

LANDMARK APPOINTMENTS

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

David Andrew was appointed the first Hispanic Assistant Chief in department history.

1997

FIRST TECHNICAL RESCUE UNIT (TR-6) PUT IN SERVICE

All operations personnel were issued portable radios.

OFD EQUIPMENT UPGRADES

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.

HONOR GUARD REINSTATED

FIRST OFFICIAL FLAG DESIGNED AND ACCEPTED BY OFD

1998

THERMAL IMAGING CAMERAS PLACED IN-SERVICE ON ALL TOWER APPARATUS

INCREASED ALS FLEET TO INCLUDE ALL ENGINES, RESCUES AND TOWERS

DEPARTMENT REORGANIZATION

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

FIRST ACCELERATED PARAMEDIC PROGRAM COMPLETED

ORDERED NEW FLEET OF MEDIUM-DUTY RESCUE UNITS

TOWER 11 UPGRADED TO A FULL SERVICE TOWER APPARATUS

RESCUE 8 IS PUT INTO SERVICE

NAVAL TRAINING CENTER FIRE DEPARTMENT DISBANDED

The City of Orlando assumed full responsibility for fire protection at both former military bases after the closing of the NTC base.

DESIGNED NEW GRAPHICS AND WARNING PACKAGE FOR APPARATUS

SOUTHPORT BECOMES ORLANDO’S FIRST FULLY SPRINKLERED SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENTIAL COMMUNITY

1999

INITIATED TACTICAL MEDIC PROGRAM

This program trained and equipped Paramedics to be part of OPD's SWAT team.

RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLERS REQUIRED

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.

EXPANDED IMMUNIZATION PROGRAM

The new Health Check Program provided 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.

2000 - Present

2000

CHARLIE WALKER APPOINTED 15TH FIRE CHIEF

OFD HIRED FIRST FEMALE FIRE MARSHAL, TAMMY HUGHES

TRAINING DIVISION GROWS

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

EMS BIKE TEAM PUT IN SERVICE

2001

OFD ACQUIRES FIRE MUSEUM AT LOCH HAVEN PARK

ANTI-TERRORISM TASK FORCE ACTIVATED

URBAN SEARCH AND RESCUE UNIT PLACED INTO SERVICE

USAR 1 later became Heavy Rescue 1.

2002

EAST ANNEX COVERED

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

TOWER 9 PLACED IN SERVICE

STATION 13 PLACED IN SERVICE

2003

ROBERT A. BOWMAN APPOINTED FIRE CHIEF

His second appointment, serving as the 16th Chief for Orlando

STATION 14 TEMPORARY TRAILER CONSTRUCTED AND IN SERVICE WITH ONE ENGINE

2004

COLORS OF APPARATUS CHANGE TO RED & BLACK WITH GOLD LETTERING

OFD ADOPTS 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.

FIRE FIT KIDS

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

2005

ORLANDO FIREFIGHTERS PIPES & DRUMS

OFP&D, formed by a group of OFD personnel and organized by Engineer Mike Stallings, performed for the first time at the Florida Citrus Bowl parade in Downtown Orlando.

ORLANDO FIRE DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES ITS 120-YEAR ANNIVERSARY

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.

2006

JAMES REYNOLDS APPOINTED 17TH FIRE CHIEF

ACCREDITATION PROCESS BEGINS

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.

SECOND SAFETY HOUSE PURCHASED

With a grant from the Department of Homeland Security, a safety house was approved by Council on September 18. It 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.

NEW STATION 1 PLANS ANNOUNCED

The new facility, located at 78 W. Central, will be the lower 3 floors of a 9-story high-rise and service as the new headquarters for the Orlando Fire Department.

STATION 17 GROUNDBREAKING IN MILLENIA

2007

PEDIATRIC ADVANCED LIFE SUPPORT (PALS)

In August, the EMS Division began training and certifying all OFD paramedics in PALS.

This is an American Heart Association course similar to ACLS, but focuses on pediatric patients.

STATION 14 AND STATION 15 BEGIN SERVICE

2008

NEW STATION 7 BUILT

Located on Goldwyn Avenue, it houses Engine 7, Tower 7 (Replaced Tower 2) and Rescue 7.

OFD EARNS CLASS 1 RATING

This rating places Orlando Fire Department in the top one-tenth of 1-percent of over 45,000 rated fire departments in the nation.

STATION 16 BEGINS SERVICE

2009

NEW STATION 1 OPENS

2010

JOHN MILLER APPOINTED 18TH FIRE CHIEF

2013

THE DEPARTMENT RECEIVES INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION

2015

ON FEBRUARY 16, 2015 MAYOR BUDDY DYER APPOINTED RODERICK WILLIAMS AS THE NEW CHIEF OF THE ORLANDO FIRE DEPARTMENT

2022

ON JULY 25, 2022 MAYOR BUDDY DYER APPOINTED CHARLIE SALAZAR AS THE NEW CHIEF OF THE ORLANDO FIRE DEPARTMENT