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MISSION STATEMENT

The employees of the Fire Department pledge to maintain the highest ethical standards, and are committed to ensuring that fire protection is the department's top priority; that Advance Life Support service continues to provide the best treatment available; that Emergency Management direction prepares our City for any disaster; and, that our fire safety inspections are handled fairly, promptly and professionally.

The Fire Department is comprised of two Stations, main station number 6 which houses Truck Co. 6, Battalion 6, Rescue 6, Okaloosa County Special Operations and sub station number 7 that houses Engine Co. 7, both of which provide advance life support services. Truck 6 and Engine 7 are both manned 24-7 with 4 personnel; a Captain, Engineer, Paramedic Firefighter and an EMT Firefighter; Rescue 6 is our primary ALS response vehicle and is manned with a Paramedic Firefighter and an EMT Firefighter. The department covers seven square miles of city property and provides mutual aid to many surrounding departments. We thank you for visiting our corner of the city and be sure to check the information page to learn more of what it takes to be a Fort Walton Beach Firefighter.

Information

• Holidays - 10 paid holidays per year.
• Holiday Pay - 11.2 hours of straight pay, whether or not on duty.
• Annual Leave - 4 2/3 shifts per year (Beginning with the first 1-5 years of continuous service).
• Sick Leave - 9 1/3 hours per month (4 2/3 shifts per year).
• Shift Exchange Policy
• Clothing Allowance - Uniforms, protective clothing, work boots, and protective devices needed in the performance of duties are provided.
• Medical and Dental Insurance - The City currently pays 50% of the cost of single and 50% of the cost of dependent coverage for medical premiums and 50% of the cost of single and family coverage for dental premiums.
• Life Insurance - $40,000 Life Insurance Policy (Employer paid).
• Pension Plan - The City offers a very generous retirement plan. Currently the pension plan has a 2.75% multiplier, a three year DROP plan, no percentage cap on retirement & a 5-year buy back time for previous military and career fire service.
• Educational Benefit - The City pays in advance 100% tuition, up to 2 classes a semester (Fire Chief approved) toward a college degree. If a grade less than an "A" is earned a percentage of the tuition shall be paid back to the City. Textbook fees are also covered by the City.

About the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department

• The City of Fort Walton Beach Fire Department has 2 Fire Stations and provides automatic aid to 8 surrounding stations and mutual aid to all Fire Departments in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties, including the military bases.
• The City Fire Department responds to over 3,300 calls for service a year, calls range from working fires to hazardous material emergencies. FWBFD Station Company 6 is the busiest fire company in the panhandle running more than 2400 calls for service a year.
• The Fire Department provides Advanced Life Support (ALS) service
• The City Fire Department is staffed with 4-man companies and 1 Battalion Chief per shift. Downtown Station 6 runs one TRUCK COMPANY with a Captain, Driver Engineer and two Firefighter-EMT-Paramedics, one medium RESCUE TRUCK with a Firefighter/EMT and a Firefighter/ Paramedic and one Battalion Chief. In addition, Okaloosa County Special Operations Unit runs out of station 6 as well with two special operations firefighters on duty Monday-Friday 8am-4pm. On the evenings and weekends SOU is cross-manned with the truck company. The FUSAR Rescue truck (Florida Urban Search and Rescue) is also housed at Station 6. Station 7 is manned with one Engine Company with a Captain, Driver Engineer and two Firefighter-EMT-Paramedics.
• The Incident Command System and Accountability and Rapid Intervention Teams are aggressively utilized.
• The Fire Department has top of the line equipment and apparatus.
• The City Fire Department currently has 4 Thermal Imaging cameras.
• There is access to specialty teams such as the Okaloosa County Special Operations Team, Hazardous Materials Team, and High Angle Rope Rescue Team & the FUSAR-Florida Search and Rescue Team.
• The City Fire Department has a very progressive Fire Prevention/Inspection Bureau.
• The City recently renovated the Public Safety (Police/Fire) building to a new 17,000 square foot Main Fire Station.
• City Firefighters are represented by the Fort Walton Beach Professional Firefighters Association, I.A.F.F. Local 2601.
• The Fire Department has a 9 year step (7%) per step pay plan for operational personnel in addition to the City's cost of living increases.
• The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department is a progressive and proactive Fire Department with excellent leadership.

Florida State Statute Requirements for Firefighter Applicants
Florida State Statute 633.34 requires any person applying for employment as a Firefighter to be:

• A high school graduate or the equivalent.
• At least 18-years of age.
• Neither have been convicted of a felony nor of a misdemeanor directly related to the position of employment sought, nor have pled nolo contendere to any charge of a felony. Applicants who have been convicted of a felony must be in compliance with Florida Statute 112.011(2)(b). If applicant has been convicted of a misdemeanor directly related to the position of employment sought, applicant shall be excluded from employment for a period of 4-years after expiration of sentence. If sentence is suspended or adjudication is withheld in a felony charge or in a misdemeanor directly related to the position of employment sought, and a period of probation is imposed, applicant must have been released from probation.
• Be of good moral character.
• Meet essential physical requirements of the position as determined by a licensed physician or surgeon in the State pursuant to Chapter 458.
• Be a nonuser of tobacco or tobacco products, as evidenced by results of nicotine testing, for at least 1-year immediately preceding conditional offer.

Additional Requirements:
• Possession of Florida State Firefighter Certification
• Possession of Florida State EMT/Paramedic Certification

Individuals who meet the above qualifications are encouraged to complete a City of Fort Walton Beach employment application and forward it to:

City of Fort Walton Beach
Human Resources Department
107 Miracle Strip Parkway SW
Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548-6614

Additional information regarding the application process can be obtained by contacting the Human Resources Department at (850) 833-9507 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Further information regarding Florida State Firefighter Certification can be obtained from:

How to Apply:
Completed applications and questionnaires must be submitted to the Human Resources Department where they will be processed and disseminated to the appropriate department. Applications and materials may be faxed, mailed, or hand-delivered. The appropriate addresses and phone numbers are listed below. Please contact the Human Resources Department with any questions regarding the application process or job vacancies.

FedEx/Hand Deliver To: Mail To:

• The City of Fort Walton Beach Fire Department has 2 Fire Stations and provides automatic aid to 8 surrounding stations and mutual aid to all Fire Departments in Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, and Walton Counties, including the military bases.

Inspections

The Inspections Division of the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department consists of a Fire Marshal Captain and an Inspector. This section is in charge of conducting fire safety inspection, building plans review, Community Emergency Response Team training and other fire prevention activities. This section is very active in fire safety education and outreach programs to the community's children. Programs include but are not limited to Risk Watch for second grade, Learn not to Burn for fourth grade and Fire Loss Arson Reduction Education (FLARE) for sixth grade in our city schools. For more information about fire prevention activities and educational opportunities, please feel free to contact Fire Marshal Kay Money.

Burn Laws

• http://www.fl-dof.com/wildfire/laws_trash_burning.html

 

 

Fire Marshal: Kay Williams
Phone: (850) 833-9567
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Captain: Glen Guarin
Phone: (850) 833-9569
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History

The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department was first founded in 1941 with an all volunteer force and operated as such until 1954 when the first fire chief was hired. The department was a combination of paid and volunteer employees, until the call volume increased to a point in 1986 requiring full-time employees.

During the 1970's and 1980's, the department ran a rescue unit, that sometimes transported to the hospital. In the mid-80’s, state laws changed and required a certain size pt. Cabin (box) on the rescue unit for transport, which ended this service..

Station 7 was built in 1974 and housed one engine company, which has operated 24-7 ever since. Today Truck 6 runs approximately 8-14 calls per shift and is the busiest Station in this area, if not the whole panhandle.

A department of firsts…
The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department was the first in this county for many things that are now standard for the departments in this area.

• The first operational ladder trucks in the county.
• The first transporting rescue van.
• The first to go to 24/48 hour shifts.
• The first to require Emergency Medical Technician certification for employment.
• The first to establish minimum manning (3) requirement on all apparatus.
• The first to get and use on all first out apparatus the Jaws of Life (hydraulic rescue tool).
• The first to utilize the Incident Command system, accountability system, search rope lines, and aggressive rapid intervention teams.
• The first to have thermal imaging cameras on both apparatus(1 hand held and 2 helmet mounted).
• The first to go Advanced Life support capable in the county.

Other accomplishments:

• Instrumental in establishing some important practices in operation here and across the country.
• Led the state in the use of Incident Command System, as well as, fire ground accountability practices, and implementation of safety officers.
• Proud to state that there has never been a fatality since the department began.
• Members of the department were instrumental in the organization of the Florida DMAT team 1(10th in the nation to form in 1990). FEMA recognized the need for a response team for each state after hurricane Hugo and the Oakland/Sanfrancisco earthquakes in 1989. Today one of the founding members still serves the fire department & DMAT Captain Gary Kruschke (current DMAT team commander).
• In 1986, the department was key to the start up of the county's Hazardous Material response team (special ops) that serves a seven county area and consists of members from various surrounding departments. Special Operation Heavy Rescue is currently stationed at our downtown Hollywood Blvd. location.

In the short span of existence, the Fort Walton Beach Fire Department has managed to set the standard of operation for most of the surrounding departments and continues to strive for superiority in training as well as preparation. We take pride in a job well done and the safety of “the brothers” around us. The Fire Department members also pride themselves on being professionals at what they do, whether it is providing life saving measures on a medical call or saving a property from further damage in a fire. Our firefighters are committed to excellence though education and training for the benefit of you the citizen, as well as, our fellow firefighters on the job.

Links

Florida State College...Find out what it takes!

Florida Hazardous Weather Awareness

Florida DMAT Team-1

Community Emergency Response Team Training

Contact Us

Administrative Office

• Station 6
• Phone: (850) 833-9570
• Address: 5 Hollywood Blvd
• Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

• Station 7
• Phone: (850) 833-9572
• Address: 1968 Lewis Turner Blvd
• Fort Walton Beach, FL 32547

Fire Chief: Ken Perkins
Phone: (850) 833-9564
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Staff Assistant II: Merlin Johnson
Phone: (850) 833-9565
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