History of the Department

On September 1,1917, a fire erupted in the downtown area, and the Volunteer Bucket Brigade was unable to contain the fire. Help was requested and received from the Tampa and Saint Petersburg Fire Departments. With this help, the blaze was stopped at the Post Office, but unfortunately, most of Main Street was destroyed.

In July of 1923, the City purchased a secondhand American LaFrance fire truck. By July of 1925, the first fire ordinances and building safety laws were established by the City Commission. The next growth spurt occurred in May of 1927 when the city organized its first volunteer fire department. A new building for the police and fire department was constructed in 1941. The World War II era brought firefighters who were trained in first aid and bomb disposal in addition to firefighting.

The 1970’s and 1980’s saw continued growth through professional full-time personnel along with the addition of another fire station. Safety Harbor Fire Department began Advanced Life Support, utilizing Paramedics to perform Emergency Medical Services. 

Today, over 100 years after our first bucket brigade, the Department has evolved into a professional Fire Department which provides EMS, fire protection, hazard mitigation, and community-oriented services. Safety Harbor Fire Department serves over 18,000 residents in Safety harbor, as well as surrounding areas, running approximately 5,000 incidents per year. Safety Harbor Fire Department and its members are constantly training to improve their abilities to provide these services with compassion and professionalism daily.