Orlando Fire Department

Photo of Fire Station 1

The mission of the Orlando Fire Department is to protect the lives and property of Orlando Citizens. We are proud to lead the only fire department in the state to have ISO 1 classification, International Fire Accreditation, Emergency Management Accreditation Program certification and ACE accreditation.

Department Head

OFD Fire Chief Charles Salazar

Charlie Salazar, Orlando Fire Chief

Chief Charlie Salazar began his career as a Firefighter Paramedic for Dallas Fire-Rescue and rose through the ranks to Executive Deputy Chief. He has a BBA, MPA from UT Arlington/Dallas and FSCEO from TEEX. He joined OFD in July 2022. He is committed to strengthening community relationships and providing top-rated service for residents, while preserving the pride and tradition that OFD has built.

The Communications Center has 30 civilian employees consisting of Emergency Communications Specialists, Supervisors, Technical Support and Managers. There are two sections in the Communications Center:
  • Call taker – Handles incoming emergency and non-emergency calls using a computer aided dispatch system.
  • Radio Dispatch – Dispatches call for service to the citizens of Orlando via an 800 MHz radio system.

Orlando Fire Department provides exemplary care to the citizens of Orlando through treatment and transport of those patients with illnesses and injuries. All of our firefighters are certified EMTs or Paramedics. In 2015, the Orlando Fire Department responded to more than 60,000 emergency incidents ranging from fires and emergency medical calls to rescue and other emergency-type incidents. Of those, 60,000 calls more than 20,000 were medical transports.

The Fire Life Safety Division's mission is to ensure the reduction of injuries through fire plan review, fire inspections of all commercial buildings, code enforcement and education. Services provided:

  • Fire prevention inspections
  • Permit issuance
  • Certificate of occupancy inspections for new and existing businesses
  • Investigation of fire-hazard complaints that require code enforcement action or referral
  • Fire safety demonstrations
  • Fire safety code consultation and compliance
  • Evaluation of requests for variances to the City of Orlando Fire Code
  • Business self-inspections
  • Fire watch

You can contact the Fire Life Safety Division at 407.246.2386 or ofdfiremarshal@orlando.gov

This division has two primary responsibilities:

  1. Fire Investigation: The Orlando Arson/Bomb Squad are certified fire investigators. Other municipalities rely on the State Fire Marshal’s office to determine the cause of a fire, whereas Orlando has the specialty training to uncover the cause and origin of fires. Fire investigation includes fire physics, arson behavior, evidence gathering, fire protection and hazardous materials.
  2. Bomb Squad: Intervention and investigation of incidents involving explosives, Improvised Explosive Devices and render safe procedures.

Members of this division are:

  • Certified firefighters
  • Sworn law enforcement officers
  • FBI certified bomb technicians

Bomb Squad is equipped with:

  • One bomb disposal truck and a bomb disposal trailer.
  • Remotec F6A robot for hands-off operations during bomb disposal operations.

Division personnel:

  • District Chief Arson and Bomb Commander
  • Three full-time Lieutenants
  • One Accelerant Detection Canine
Orlando Fire Department training is vital component of our organization. We train in many capacities, including technical rescue, high-angle rescue, confined space, dive, live fire, tactical emergency casualty care, truck fundamentals, search and survival. The training calendar is set a year in advance.

Hazmat

Hazmat is assigned to E101, Hazmat 1, Rescue 1 Tower 7, Tower 8 and Tower 9. Crews are activated for incidents determined to have a need for on-site HazMat monitoring, detection and response.

Technical Rescue Team

The Technical Rescue Team (TRT) began in 1986 as the High Angle Rescue Team. It has expanded to include:

  • Confined space rescue
  • Collapse rescue
  • Trench rescue
  • Vehicle/machine rescue

Each team overlaps the others in specialized training, skill requirements and similar equipment requirements. The TRT members are responsible for the rescue people in locations that require the use of specialized skills and equipment to reach and remove them to safety. Team members include personnel from:

  • Tower 1
  • Tower 10
  • Tower 11
  • Heavy Rescue 1

Dive and Rescue Team

The Dive and Rescue Team was established in 1946. It consists of 38 specially trained divers who respond to various types of water incidents, from emergency responses to evidence recovery. All members are certified dive rescue specialists.

Honor Guard Logo

  • Formed in October of 1997.
  • Created to properly honor any member of the Orlando Fire Department killed in the line of duty.
  • Some of its past accomplishments include: • Represented the City of Orlando at firefighter funerals and memorials throughout the country.
  • Escorted Governor Jeb Bush on two occasions.
  • Escorted the Mayor of New York City.
  • Opened ceremonies and conventions throughout Central Florida.
  • Has won several honor guard competitions over the years.
  • Took the lead role in organizing the Honor Guard Academy for the State of Florida fire departments, held at the Florida State Fire College.

 Request OFD at your Event

Pipes and Drums Logo
In 2005, 10 Orlando firefighters made the commitment to put together a bagpipe and drums band. At the time, only one member of the OFD, District Chief Mark Austin, played the bagpipes. But later that year, they played their first gig in the 2005 Citrus Bowl parade.

On December 11, 2009, the Orlando Firefighters Pipes and Drums played at the graduation of 58 new firefighter/paramedics for the newly formed San Juan Fire Rescue Department.

To request the Pipes and Drums Band, please contact orlandofirepipes@gmail.com.