Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR) is leading the way in fire protection services and emergency medicine. We are the first and only fire department in Palm Beach County to deliver life-saving blood transfusions to patients at scenes - effectively bringing emergency room services to the streets of our neighborhoods and increasing survival rates. It is a transformative advancement in emergency medicine. As a Class #1 ISO-rated fire department, we aim to continue leading our industry with innovation and science. Our number one goal is your health and safety. It can be frightening, overwhelming, and hectic for those involved in any emergency. Our firefighters/paramedics understand. They are trained and equipped to be there for you on your worst day. Our 99% patient satisfaction ratings indicate we are hitting the mark with our caliber of service and compassionate care. As the famous quote by Maya Angelou states, “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Our professional emergency responders care, and it shows. Thank you for sharing your voice with us; your comments speak volumes, and we are listening.
PBCFR is now responding to more 911 calls than ever– 154,000 responses last year alone. We are building new fire stations and adding trucks and personnel to accommodate population growth to improve our service for the community. This year, we added a state-of-the-art Aircraft Rescue Firefighting truck, a new water tender that can bring 3,000 gallons of water to a fire scene, and additional staffing and rescue units to several of our stations. You need it. We have it. You can count on us. This is what it means to truly offer a high-caliber all-hazards emergency response that our residents have become accustomed to here in Palm Beach County.
Our emergency personnel force has also expanded to match the County’s growth. We graduated 81 new firefighter recruits from our in-house recruit academy in fiscal year 2023 (FY 23). Many left other fire departments to expand their horizons, signifying that we are a destination department and a wonderful place to work! We have a minimum of 331 firefighters on duty at 49 fire stations, seven days a week, 24 hours a day. We also have standardized staffing levels throughout the County. Why does this matter? It gives our 911 Communicators the ability to strategically move units to different locations to ensure every inch of our area is covered at all times with the same level of service. Therefore, if an extensive resource-heavy incident occurs in one area of the County, we are prepared to send rescuers and equipment to fill in any gaps elsewhere. No other fire department in Palm Beach County offers this breadth of emergency response coverage.
It is an honor to serve you, our friends, and neighbors, and it is an honor to lead this outstanding group of public servants as we continually strive for Excellence Today while Improving Tomorrow.
Patrick J Kennedy
Fire Rescue Administrator
