New Smyrna Beach Fire & Rescue Department
103 Faulkner Street
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32168-9985
The mission of the New Smyrna Beach Fire & Rescue Department
is to protect the lives and property of the citizens and visitors
to the City of New Smyrna Beach by providing the highest possible
levels of service by being reactive and proactive through
emergency medical services, fire suppression, public education/awareness,
fire prevention, public assistance (emergency and non-emergency),
overall emergency management and the mitigation of the effects
of natural and man made disasters consistent with the resources
available.
This department maintains 45 professional firefighters and
staff personnel. Service is provided by one of our four stations
located throughout the City. We offer a wide range of services,
emergency and non-emergency in nature. Emergency response
is offered for fire suppression, emergency medical (advanced
life support), inspections, confined space and natural disaster
response. Non-emergency services are also provided, as well
as 2 Fire Marshals. We pride ourselves with
being ready to meet the needs of our community.
Letter from the Chief
Being able to serve the citizens and visitors of New Smyrna
Beach is truly an honor and privilege. Our City has continued
to maintain a small town atmosphere which brings visitors
from all over the world. It is known to many as a well-kept
secret, being a great place to visit and live. We pride ourselves
with being sensitive in meeting your every day needs. Persons
needing assistance, emergency or non-emergency can count on
the Fire/Rescue Department. We take pride in living by our
motto "Service from the Heart". Why? Because "We
Care."
Our
Mission Statement
The mission of the New Smyrna Beach Fire/Rescue Department
is to protect the lives and property of the citizens and visitors
to the City of New Smyrna Beach by providing the highest possible
levels of service by being reactive and proactive through
emergency medical services, fire suppression, public education/awareness,
fire prevention, public assistance (emergency and non-emergency),
overall emergency management and the mitigation of the effects
of natural and man made disasters consistent with the resources
available.
Our
Vision Statement
The Fire/Rescue Department will continue to provide the first
line of assistance for the public by responding in their times
of need. In the future, the tradition of being known only
as a Fire Rescue Department will be replaced by a more accurate
description of Emergency Management Response due to the vast
areas of responsibilities currently undertaken by the department.
The department will constantly seek avenues to become more
proactive within the community to better serve the public
through awareness programs. Emergency response will be delivered
within the City on an average time frame of four minutes or
less. The ways and types of services being provided for our
citizens will become a key factor in the decision making process
for those wishing to become annexed into our great City.
History
of the Fire/Rescue Department
The New Smyrna Beach Fire Department first became organized
in the early 1900's around 1911. The Station was located at
103 North Orange Street and was manned by all volunteers.
In 1916 the station moved to the 500 block of Downing Street.
About
1923, the City built a new City Complex on Andrews Street.
The complex consisted of the Fire Department, Police Department
and the City Zoo. The Fire Department had its first paid Fire
Chief whose name was E. C. Henshaw. The Department had three
paid firemen and three fire engines. The chief and his family
lived above the station. The Chief even had a fire pole in
his living room. It is said that every time the siren would
sound for a fire call (located above the station), the lion,
alligator and other animals would create a loud disturbance
in the zoo. The Chief and the firemen were also responsible
for delivering messages to the Samsula area because there
was no electric or telephones.
During
the forties, 1942 - 1947, the Fire Department was ranked first
in Fire Prevention in the State. In 1947 the Department was
also ranked 68th in the United States for Fire Prevention
and Clean Up. In 1948 the City built a new station located
at 103 Faulkner Street, which is still used today. The station
is two stories tall and has three bays. It also houses the
Fire Chief's Office. The station serves as the Main Operation
Station today.
Over the
years, the Fire/Rescue Department has grown to four stations,
six fire engines, one tower truck and three brush trucks. The
Department also has 2 Fire Marshals.
The Safety Management Bureau is located at City Hall.
Past
Fire Chiefs
1923 - 1947 E. C. Henshaw
1947 - 1954 Steve Eliott
1954 - 60's Abey Partin
60's - 1979 Ed Froman
1979 - 1990 Al Bishop
1990 - 1996 Michael Kelly
1996 - Current Timothy Hawver
Organization
The New Smyrna Beach Fire/Rescue Department consists of one
Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief, Administrative Assistant, 2 Fire
Marshals, three Battalion Chiefs, 12 Lieutenants,
12 Driver Engineers and 15 Firefighters. All personnel have
medical training, with 17 holding their Paramedics License.
Advanced life support is provided from all four stations and
the department currently holds an excellent ISO rating of
4/9.
Our success
is attributed to the rank and file participating in various
functions within the department in order to meet the never-ending
demands of providing top quality service to the public.
The three
shifts are designated as A, B and C, and will work a 56 hour
workweek beginning in October 2002.
