Fire Rescue

Orange County Fire Rescue provides emergency response, fire prevention, emergency medical services, technical rescue, hazardous materials response, public safety education, records services, and other fire-rescue functions for residents, property owners, businesses, and visitors. This article explains how the department is organized, where to look for active-call and station information, how fire prevention and inspection matters are handled, how to request Fire Rescue records, how Property Protection Class information works, and where to find public education, wildfire preparedness, career, and department contact information.

Fire Rescue Department Services

The Orange County Fire Rescue Department is an all-hazards response agency and the largest fire and rescue department in Central Florida. According to the department's fiscal year information, it serves more than 1.17 million residents and visitors. Its responsibilities extend well beyond structure fires and include emergency medical response, specialized rescue operations, fire prevention, code enforcement, emergency management, and community safety programs.

The department's primary responsibilities include:

Fire suppression
Emergency medical services
Technical rescue
Hazardous materials response
Fire prevention
Fire code enforcement
Community emergency management
Public safety outreach and education

The main Orange County Fire Rescue page is the best official starting point when the request does not clearly belong to a specialized division. It connects users with department functions including active calls, fire station locations, public records, the Office of the Fire Marshal, public education, wildfire information, insurance classification information, careers, and customer feedback.

Department Size and Activity

The FY2025 department summary reports a service population of 1,171,563, including 965,169 residents and an estimated 206,394 daily visitors. Fire Rescue protected 722 square miles and operated 45 fire stations during that reporting period. The department reported 1,645 personnel, including sworn personnel, civilian paramedics, EMTs, dispatchers, fire inspection personnel, and support staff.

During FY2025, dispatch activity included 141,781 total calls. Of those, 115,004 were EMS calls, 20,571 were fire calls, and 6,206 were classified as miscellaneous calls. The department also reported 79,875 EMS transports and more than 304,000 total unit responses. These figures help explain why residents may interact with different sections of Fire Rescue depending on whether they need emergency-response information, an EMS record, a fire report, an inspection, or another administrative service.

Active Fire Rescue Calls

People looking for current incident information should use the county's Fire Rescue Active Calls page rather than contacting an administrative office for routine incident monitoring. The county page provides the route to active incident information and live radio communications associated with Orange County Fire Rescue.

Active-call information is different from a completed incident report. Current incident information is intended to show ongoing Fire Rescue activity, while documentation about an incident that has already occurred is handled through the Fire Rescue public records process. A person who needs an official fire report, EMS report, dispatch record, or another retained department record should therefore use the records procedure rather than relying on active-call information.

Fire Station Locations

Orange County Fire Rescue operates stations organized across multiple battalions. Residents looking for the nearest station or trying to identify a station associated with a public education program can use the official Fire Station Locations page. The county provides an interactive map and identifies stations by battalion and station number.

Station numbers matter because several Fire Rescue programs identify participating locations by station number rather than repeating full addresses. For example, child safety seat checkpoints and station open-house events may be announced using numbers such as Station 51, Station 67, Station 72, Station 83, or Station 87. Users should match the station number to the official location directory before traveling.

A fire station should not be assumed to handle every Fire Rescue administrative request. Fire code permits, construction plan reviews, public records, personnel concerns, recruitment, and other specialized matters are handled by dedicated Fire Rescue offices. The station directory is most useful when the purpose is locating an operational station or attending a station-based program.

Fire Marshal Services

The Office of the Fire Marshal handles major fire-prevention and fire-code functions for Orange County Fire Rescue. Its work includes enforcement of the Florida Fire Prevention Code and related statutes and regulations, construction and fire protection system plan examination, inspections, existing occupancy inspections, hydrant management, and false alarm program oversight.

The official Office of the Fire Marshal page should be used for matters involving fire protection permitting, inspections, existing occupancies, construction-related fire safety review, and related code questions. The office states that most of its business is conducted during business hours, while an on-call inspector is available for fire prevention code-related emergencies on a 24-hour basis.

Inspections and Code Matters

Commercial and multi-family property owners may encounter the Fire Marshal's Office through existing occupancy inspections. Construction projects and fire protection systems may also require plan examination and inspections through the same office.

Before contacting Fire Rescue about a permit or inspection, users should make sure they are dealing with a fire-prevention or fire-protection matter. General emergency response is an operational Fire Rescue function, while construction plan review, fire protection systems, occupancy inspections, and fire code enforcement fall under the Fire Marshal's responsibilities.

Providing enough information to identify the property, project, or inspection request can help the office determine the appropriate service. Users should also distinguish an inspection request from a request for an old inspection or fire record; existing records are handled through the records process described later in this article.

Public Fire Safety Programs

Orange County Fire Rescue also provides community education intended to reduce preventable injuries and emergencies. The county's Fire Safety Public Education page covers school programs, community safety presentations, child passenger safety activities, water safety, fire station open houses, and syringe disposal at county fire stations.

School and Group Programs

School programs may include a fire engine visit to a school or a class visit to an area fire station. Topics vary by student age and can include home exit drills, crawling low under smoke, firefighter protective gear, calling 911, avoiding matches, and careers in the fire service.

For school group scheduling, Fire Rescue asks for at least two weeks of advance notice. Community safety presentations have additional conditions: groups should have at least 10 people, requests should generally be made two to three weeks in advance, and an alternate date should be prepared. The county states that these presentations are available only in unincorporated areas of Orange County.

Because scheduling requirements differ by program, users should identify whether they are requesting a school program, a community event, or another educational service before submitting a request.

Child Safety Seat Checkpoints

Fire Rescue conducts monthly child safety seat checkpoints at selected Orange County fire stations. At these events, a Certified Child Passenger Safety Technician can help parents with child car-seat installation and identify defects or recalls. The schedule identifies the participating station, date, and time, so users should confirm the current event information and then use the station directory to locate the correct station address.

Syringe Disposal at Stations

County fire stations also accept used needles and syringes in special disposal containers. The public education information states that residents should not throw used syringes into household trash. Used needles may instead be taken to the nearest county fire station between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., seven days a week. The service is provided without charge.

Wildfire Prevention and Readiness

Wildfires are another part of Orange County Fire Rescue's all-hazards responsibilities. The department trains firefighters for wildland incidents and has specialized equipment positioned in areas susceptible to wildfire, including locations in the wildland-urban interface where developed property borders or mixes with wildland vegetation.

The county's wildfire information page emphasizes advance preparation rather than waiting until a fire is approaching. Residents are encouraged to reduce combustible vegetation around structures, consider fire-resistant landscaping, prepare an action plan, assemble a go kit, remain aware of local warnings, identify an accessible exit route, and cooperate with authorities during evacuation and re-entry.

Ready, Set, Go Approach

The department describes wildfire preparation through a Ready, Set, Go framework. The "Ready" stage involves preparing property well before a wildfire threat, including creating defensible space and reducing hazards near structures. The "Set" stage focuses on having a go kit and action plan and staying aware of changing incident information. The "Go" stage means leaving before the threat reaches the area when evacuation is necessary and following instructions from local authorities.

Wildfire preparation is especially relevant to properties near undeveloped or heavily vegetated areas. Residents should treat evacuation instructions and emergency warnings separately from routine Fire Rescue administrative information; an office contact used for records or inspections is not a substitute for official emergency instructions during an active incident.

Fire Rescue Public Records

Fire Rescue maintains several categories of records that may be requested by individuals, insurance companies, and attorneys. The official Fire Rescue Public Records Requests page explains the department's procedures for requesting fire reports, EMS or medical transport reports, standard department records, and certain 911 calls dispatched to Orange County Fire Rescue.

The department states that 911 calls dispatched to Fire Rescue are retained for up to one year. A request for a fire or EMS record should not be confused with the active-calls system, which concerns current incidents rather than the formal records process.

Submitting a New Request

New Fire Rescue public records requests may be sent to PublicRecordRequest@ocfl.net. If a request has already been submitted to that address, the county specifically instructs requesters not to send the same request separately to Fire Records. Duplicate submissions can make it harder to distinguish the original request from additional correspondence.

An individual requesting records about themselves receives a confirmation number after submission. The county asks requesters to allow 14 calendar days for completion. More complex requests may take longer. Some requests may also result in an estimated cost of service, which is provided before the work begins.

For an existing request, status inquiries are handled through PublicRecordUnit@ocfl.net. Keeping the confirmation number associated with the original submission can help distinguish a status inquiry from a new request.

Insurance Incident Requests

Insurance companies requesting an incident report for a house fire, vehicle fire, or similar event should provide the incident date and location with the request. These details help distinguish the incident from other Fire Rescue responses and are particularly useful when the requester does not have another identifying record number.

Attorney Record Requests

An attorney's office requesting information on behalf of a client must include the required release authority. The Fire Rescue records instructions state that authorization of release and/or a subpoena without deposition should be included as applicable, and requests cannot be processed without proper release authority.

Subpoenas accepted by the Orange County Fire Rescue Records Department may be delivered by process server or certified mail. The county states that subpoenas for deposition that are not received through a process server or certified mail may be returned to the sender.

Medical and EMS Records

Medical transport and EMS records require additional attention because protected health information is involved. A person requesting their own medical transport or EMS report must complete the county-approved HIPAA Authorization of Release form before the record can be released.

The Fire Rescue instructions state that this authorization form must be notarized to be valid. It may then be returned by email to FireRecords@ocfl.net. Records associated with incorrect identifying information or a Jane Doe entry may require additional research.

This requirement is separate from the standard public-record request process. Someone seeking an ordinary fire report should not assume that the HIPAA release requirements apply, while someone seeking their own protected medical or EMS information should not rely on a standard records email alone when a valid authorization is required.

Property Protection Class Letters

Property owners, potential home buyers, and companies sometimes need information about the Property Protection Class assigned to an address. Orange County Fire Rescue provides an official process for requesting a letter containing the PPC rating through its Insurance Services Office information page.

The rating is established following a review of Fire Rescue's ability to provide fire suppression services. Orange County Fire Rescue does not set the rating itself, and Orange County Government does not control how an insurance company uses that rating when determining property insurance rates.

The PPC scale runs from 1 through 10. The Fire Rescue service area is identified as PPC 1 for properties within five miles of one of its fire stations. Properties between five and seven miles from a fire station are rated 10W, while properties more than seven miles from a station are rated 10. Fire Rescue calculates distance using the actual response route from the nearest station rather than simply measuring a straight-line distance.

Information Needed for a Letter

The county's request form asks the requester to identify whether they are a company, homeowner, or potential home buyer. The requester can select information only or an official letter and choose delivery by email, fax, or U.S. Postal Mail.

Requester information includes name, email, telephone number, mailing address, city, state, and ZIP Code. Property information includes the property address, city, state, and ZIP Code. Supplying the actual property address is essential because the PPC determination depends on the location and response route to the property.

Compliments and Performance Concerns

Orange County Fire Rescue separates compliments from concerns about employee performance. Compliments for a crew, team, or individual may be submitted to the department's Public Information Office. The department also accepts concerns about employee conduct through the Fire Professional Standards Bureau.

The Professional Standards Bureau investigates and researches performance concerns and provides consultation to Fire Rescue management. A person seeking to raise a concern should treat that process separately from a public records request. A records request seeks department documents; a Professional Standards complaint concerns actions or performance attributed to department personnel.

The official Professional Standards page provides the department's electronic compliment and complaint procedures and identifies the appropriate Fire Rescue offices for those submissions.

Fire Rescue Careers

Employment and volunteer opportunities are handled through Fire Rescue recruitment rather than through individual fire stations. The Fire Rescue careers page covers firefighter recruitment, civilian paramedic and certified firefighter opportunities, emergency dispatcher positions, fire inspector work, fire apparatus technician positions, reserve firefighters, and the Explorer Cadet program.

Firefighter Recruitment Process

Orange County Fire Rescue accepts interest from people seeking firefighter/EMT or firefighter/paramedic opportunities. An interest card allows prospective applicants to receive recruitment information regarding hiring deadlines, testing, qualifications, announcements, and the department's mentoring program.

The Candidate Physical Ability Test is identified as the initial physical ability test for potential Fire Rescue candidates. It is a timed test consisting of eight components and is offered monthly. Prospective candidates are directed to recruitment for current CPAT information.

Because hiring announcements and qualifications may change between recruitment cycles, applicants should rely on the department's current career information rather than assuming that an earlier opening, deadline, or testing announcement remains active.

Explorer Cadet Eligibility

The Explorer Cadet program gives young people exposure to Fire Rescue through training classes, community events, drills, trips, competitions, and ride-alongs. The eligibility information provided by Fire Rescue states that applicants must:

Be between 14 and 17.5 years old when joining.
Be currently enrolled in high school.
Be a non-smoker.
Demonstrate responsible conduct and good moral character.
Be in good health to pass a medical examination.

Once accepted, cadets may remain in the program until age 21. This program is different from the Reserve Firefighter program, which is a non-paid volunteer program that can include certified firefighting personnel as well as civilian participants.

Fire Rescue Offices

Orange County Fire Rescue Headquarters

P.O. Box 5879
Winter Park, FL 32793
407-836-9000

Office of the Fire Marshal

7079 University Boulevard
Winter Park, FL 32792
407-836-0004

Fire Professional Standards Bureau

P.O. Box 5879
Winter Park, FL 32793
407-836-9815

Fire Rescue Records Custodian

6590 Amory Court
Winter Park, FL 32792
407-836-9050

Fire Rescue Recruitment Office

6590 Amory Court
Winter Park, FL 32792
407-836-9023

Fire Rescue FAQs

How fast does Orange County Fire Rescue usually respond?

Orange County Fire Rescue’s FY2025 data reports an average first-unit response time of 8 minutes and 2 seconds countywide. The average was 7 minutes and 56 seconds in urban service areas and 9 minutes and 40 seconds in rural service areas. These figures include call processing, unit turnout, and travel time for the first arriving unit. They are department-wide averages, not guaranteed arrival times for an individual emergency. Actual response times can vary based on incident location, traffic, unit availability, weather, and other conditions.

Can Orange County residents request a free pool door alarm?

Yes. Orange County Fire Rescue offers free at-home door alarm installations for Orange County residents as part of its childhood drowning-prevention efforts. Residents can submit an installation request through the county’s Fire Safety Public Education program. The county emphasizes that an alarm should be one layer of protection rather than the only safeguard around a pool. Other recommended measures include fences, gates, safety covers, close adult supervision, swimming instruction, and CPR training.

What emergency units does Orange County Fire Rescue operate?

The department’s FY2025 fleet and response resources included 43 advanced life support engines or quints, 48 ALS rescue units, nine ALS medic units, five truck companies, and three special service squads. Specialized resources also included 13 brush or woods trucks, seven water tankers, 25 rescue boats, two mobile command posts, a high-water unit, and technical rescue support. The FY2025 Fire Rescue summary also reports response activity for individual engines, rescues, medic units, trucks, command units, and other specialized equipment.

Does Orange County Fire Rescue provide water safety guidance for families?

Yes. County water-safety guidance focuses on adult supervision, physical barriers, and safety classes. Young children should remain within an adult’s reach near water, swimmers should not be left alone, and families are encouraged to designate an attentive adult as a water watcher. Orange County also recommends multiple barriers around pools and emphasizes swimming skills and CPR as additional layers of protection.