Fire Rescue

The EMS Division provides pre-hospital Advance Life Support emergency medical care and transport services 24-hours a day, seven days a week through the deployment of sixteen (16) 24-hour rescue units and 5 Critical Care Peak load units working 13-hour days strategically located in the County. Each rescue unit is staffed with at least 1 Paramedic and an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). In FY24, these units were dispatched to 44,000 incidents accounting for nearly 34,000 patient transports to local hospitals. Rescue units are stocked with state-of-the-art medical equipment and lifesaving medication. The department also provides EMS coverage at all large-scale community events (Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, O’Connell Center, Gator Nationals, etc.), and technical and specialized rescue service.

The Division, in partnership with UF Health, launched Florida’s first Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit in Gainesville in July 2023. This state-of-the-art ambulance is equipped with a portable CT scanner, stroke-specific medications, specialized staff, and advanced telemedicine capabilities. The MSTU is staffed by stroke-trained registered nurses, critical care paramedics, CT technologists, EMT drivers, and stroke neurologists (available via telemedicine). It operates 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, and serves a 30-mile radius. Called “Neuro 1”, this unit brings hospital-level stroke care directly to the patient, drastically reducing the time to diagnosis and treatment. After administering initial care on board, Neuro 1 transports patients to the nearest certified stroke center. As a vital community asset, it ensures that patients, both urban and rural, receive the fastest possible care. Notably, the Neuro 1 is the only known program in the country to implement a rural rendezvous model with surrounding emergency medical services; an innovation process which was recently published in the American Heart Association’s premier journal, Stroke

In November of 2024, the Division launched a Community Health Program, intended to address the primary health care gaps for individuals who lack access. The program is staff by a Captain, Paramedic, EMT, Case Manager, Peer Support Specialist and Medical Health Counselor. The program uses a community paramedicine platform to provide or offer access to medical, social, addiction, and mental health care.

ACFR’s Health & Safety Division supports Fire/EMS staff ensuring the health and safety of all departmental staff. The division is responsible for maintaining all employee records concerning exposures, immunizations, and physicals, working with County Risk management. The department’s respiratory fit testing and records for all respiratory equipment is maintained by the division. The assigned Captain investigates all accidents (employee, vehicle, station, etc...) and makes recommendations to prevent further occurrences. The Health & Safety Captain also ensures Department compliance with protective air standards and emergency operations along with our personnel accountability system for on-scene operations. The coordination of the Departmental Safety Committee and all other regulatory requirements required by Florida Statute is handled by the Health and Safety Division.

The Professional Standards Division ensures that ACFR and its employees are prepared to effectively meet both current and future challenges as our community grows. This starts with recruiting candidates for employment and overseeing the onboarding process to ensure new employees are adequately prepared, developed, supervised, and evaluated to meet community expectations. We maintain employee files, including training records, copies of licensure/professional credentials, and other required materials as mandated by State Statute.

Lieutenants assigned to training roles provide and coordinate instruction on new techniques in emergency medical procedures, rescue practices, and fire prevention and suppression. They are responsible for reviewing and instructing personnel on all equipment. Additionally, they offer continuing education opportunities for Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics to maintain required certifications. The Professional Standards Division regularly reviews and adjusts our promotional testing processes to accurately reflect the evolving expectations and contexts that shape the profession's work.

The department actively engages with individuals interested in the fire service industry through connections with private and public educational institutions and participation in job fairs. The Professional Standards Division manages recruitment and provides Fire and EMT School scholarships to employees hired as Trainees. Additionally, the Division oversees a comprehensive Cadet program, which allows young people aged 14-20 to participate in a youth firefighter program.

The department places a high priority on training for employee development and retention. In FY24, the ACFR Training Complex opened with a 5,000 square foot educational facility that includes a large classroom space, breakout rooms, and a simulation lab. Next year, the complex will begin construction on a 6-story fire training tower. Each year, employees are financially sponsored to attend Paramedic School, Critical Care School, Urban Search and Rescue classes, and various conferences. Additionally, employees are eligible to receive up to $1,600 per year in reimbursement for college-level courses and $500 per year for fire industry-related technical classes of their choice.

The department also hosts and sponsors in-house classes at no charge to employees each year. The Professional Standards Division also oversees the ISO (Insurance Service Office) compliance program for Alachua County. This nationwide fire service rating system is used by insurance companies to determine rates. While many factors determine a fire department's rating, documentation of training hours, hydrant inspections, and equipment testing are significant parts of the inspection.

The County Fire Marshal (CFM) oversees the areas of Fire Prevention, Arson Investigation, and Department Internal Investigations. The Fire Prevention Office activities include annual fire safety inspections for all public, private and charter schools, day care centers, assisted living facilities, nursing homes, Alachua County facilities, and medical facilities as required for the renewal of their State license. Fire and life safety inspections are also performed on commercial occupancies.

The Plans Inspection/Review program, which is mandated by State Statute, provides for the review of all architectural drawings for new commercial construction in Alachua County. The review includes the fire alarm systems, fire sprinkler systems, and pre-engineered suppression systems. In conjunction with the State Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives Investigations, the CFM conducts arson investigations for incidents in the unincorporated area and within the cities of Alachua, Archer, Hawthorne, and Waldo.

The Fire Marshal is also assigned the function of Internal Investigations, which is responsible for conducting investigations of received complaints (internal and external). The Fire Marshal’s investigation process and reports are critical to appropriate resolution and disposition of each complaint.