Welcome to Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Online.

Our Department protects a community of 60,000 residents living in a 20 square mile area and provides a wide range of services, including fire prevention/code enforcement, fire and life safety education, fire suppression, disaster preparedness and response, rescue, hazardous materials response, and first responder advanced life support. The department provides these services by staffing 3 ALS engine companies, 1 ALS 75' Ladder Truck, and 1 ALS heavy rescue squad from four fire/rescue stations.  Please look around our site, we hope it will help you learn more about our department and the members that are here for you everyday.

MISSION STATEMENT

The Mission of Palm Harbor Fire Rescue is to provide the community with quality, responsive, and cost- effective life safety, health care, property conservation, and environmental preservation. This will be accomplished through response, prevention, and education using well-trained, competent personnel and well-maintained equipment and facilities while providing for the highest possible level of safety for ourselves, our team, and our community.

CURRENT NEWS

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Fire Destroys Vacant Home
April 29, 2009

On Wednesday evening, April 24th at 10:18 PM neighbors reported a fire in a vacant home
located on Fisher Road.  On arrival E65A reported fire throughout the structure and venting out of the roof as well as live power lines on the ground in front of the home.  A defensive attack was started as a water supply was established for the first arriving ladder truck, SHFD T53.  The cause of the fire is still under investigation by PHFR and the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. 
No injuries were reported.
Units Involved: E65, E66, E62, T53, S65 & D65 in command
Working Fire Units: E61, E68, RH68, PH100, PH200, PH500, PH600, EL300

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Participates
In Cancer Society's Relay for Life
    

  Once again Palm Harbor Fire Rescue participated the the Cancer Society's Relay for Life
fund raising event held April 24th at Tarpon Springs High School.
As in years past our team not only participated in the fund raising walk, but also
sold Chili to other participants and spectators.

Large Exterior Fire Extinguished
Before Extending Into Home
     

On March 19, 2009, at 1:14pm Palm Harbor Fire Rescue received a report of a grass fire in a
yard located on the corner of 19th Street and Willow Oak Dr.   Because of the severely dry
conditions the fire rapidly extended to a fence, a palm tree and a large oak
tree next to the home.  On arrival crews made a rapid attack on the fire and searched the
home's attic for possible fire extension and found none. 
The cause is currently under investigation.

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Receives Accredited Agency Status

On March 10, 2009, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue received Accredited Agency status for the second time with the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) for meeting the criteria established through the CFAI’s voluntary self-assessment and accreditation program.  

The concept of fire service accreditation was created to provide fire service agencies with a systematic, voluntary process for evaluating their programs and processes using an established set of professional criteria. Accreditation by a recognized accrediting agency serves as a significant indicator that Palm Harbor Fire Rescue is meeting established standards and stated objectives.

PHFR Participates in
Annual Holiday Parade

Firefighter and Employee of
the Year Announced at
Annual Awards Dinner

                                   On Friday, December 5th, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue hosted it’s
Annual Awards Dinner at the Senior Center in Palm Harbor.  Dinner again was
provided and served by the chef and staff of Coral Oaks Assisted Living Facility. 
After dinner was enjoyed by all, the annual awards were presented to this years recipients.
 

                                                                                   
                                        Firefighter of the Year                        Employee of the Year
                                         Lt. Charlie Anderson                      FF/PM Howard Levinson

PHFR Auxiliary Holds Annual
September 11th Memorial Dinner
 

The PHFR Auxiliary, Fully Involved, held its annual September 11^th Memorial and
Appreciation Event for the Firefighters was supported by many businesses assisting
from within our community.  We were able to remember this tragedy together and also
honor our firefighters.  We can’t thank our firefighters for all that they do and
their safety is important to us! 
 
We appreciate Boston Market for catering dinner again for our firefighters.

Expo at Countryside Mall
Kicks Off
Fire Prevention Month

The Fire Prevention Month Expo that was held at Countryside Mall on October 4^th was used
to kick off the annual Fire Prevention Month activities that will take place throughout the
county and this nation.  The Expo displayed multiple methods to aid homeowners in
the prevention of residential fires.  Additionally in the parking lot of the mall many of the
different fire apparatus from the area's fire departments were on display as well as
many antique fire trucks.

Fire Destroys Home
on Natalie Lane

On Tuesday evening, September 30th, at 5:47pm Palm Harbor Fire Rescue was dispatched
to a reported house fire at 792 Natalie Lane.  E66 C-shift arrived 3 1/2 minutes later to find a
four-story home well involved in flames.  E66 made an initial attack with a 21/2" hoseline as
additional units arrived.  Neighbors reported the homeowners were away at the time of the fire.
Due to the extensive spread to the top three floors on arrival a defensive attack was established.
At 6:42pm the fire was declared under control.  Units remained on the scene for overhaul for the next few hours.  Because of the severe damage personnel were not permitted inside the structure
since collapse of the third and fourth floor had started early in the fire.  PHFR fire investigators along with PCSO and the State Fire Marshal's office are currently investigating the cause of the fire. 
There were no injuries reported during this incident.
Unit Assigned: E66, E68, T67, E65, S65, E61, E62, S57, E56, RH68, and D65 in Command
Staff:   PH100, PH300, PH401, PH500, PH600, PH801, Lealman 410

  
                                                                                                                        Photo Courtesy of Matt Stepanik

PHFR Honor Guard
Participates in 9/11 Memorial Service

On the morning of September 11, 2008 a memorial service was held at the Oldsmar
Fire Department's Station 54.  Once again Palm Harbor Fire Rescue's Honor Guard
participated in this solemn event.  The service was attended by citizens, dignitaries, and
firefighters from throughout Tampa Bay along with some members of FDNY.

Which Smoke Detector
Should You Use?

The USFA provides the following guidance to the public that may be grappling with the issue of the proper type of smoke alarm to select for use in a residence:

• It cannot be stated categorically that one type of smoke alarm is better than any other type of smoke alarm in every fire situation that could possibly arise in a residence.
• Because both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms are better at detecting distinctly different yet potentially fatal fires, and because no one can predict what type of fire might start in a home, the USFA recommends that every residence and place where people sleep be equipped with either (a) both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms, or (b) dual sensor smoke alarms (which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors).
• The location of a smoke alarm within a home may be more important than the type of smoke alarm present, depending on the location of a fire. The USFA recommends that users follow the manufacturer’s guidance on the recommended location of smoke alarms in a home.

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue
Commits to Firefighters Safety

    On June 24, 25, and 26, 2008, Palm Harbor Fire Rescue observed the National Firefighter Safety Stand Down.  For one week in June every year, firefighters across the country take time from their busy, daily routines to focus on firefighter safety and survival.  This week is devoted strictly to the safety and survival of firefighters.  Every year approximately 100 firefighters die in the line of duty.  Topics over the years have focused on such subjects as health and fitness, working in traffic safely, and driving safety.  This year all firefighters were asked to sign a pledge that seat belts would be worn 100% of the time, no matter what the situation may be.  All 60 firefighters in Palm Harbor Fire Rescue made the commitment and signed the pledge.  With the seriousness of not wearing a seat belt, which PHFR witnesses everyday, the signing of the pledge was also considered as 'leading by example.'  The members of PHFR encourage EVERYONE to "Buckle Up" for safety.

Congratulations!!!!!
PHFR Extrication Team Places 5th in the World

July 14, 2008:  Our Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Extrication Team has placed third in the rapid removal portion and 5th in the overall competition out of 32 world wide teams!!!  The following is from the team commander, District Chief Dan Zinge:  As a team and a department we would like to thank South Wales Fire Rescue Service for all of their support and for hosting such a great event.  Also, the team would like to extend a special thank you to SWFRS Station 24 Manager Steve Logan and the rest of Caerphilly Station for their kindness and friendship.  And a big thank you to everyone locally that assisted in making this trip possible.