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Sarasota County Fire Department
protects 412 square miles with a population of approximately
325,000. Fire and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Operations
operates 17 Fire-Rescue Stations and six EMS only stations.
Sarasota County Fire Department employs over 400 Firefighter/EMT’s
of which 185 are Firefighter/Paramedics, and are supported by 50
Volunteer Firefighters. Our daily minimum staffing for all four
Battalions is 90 Firefighters. Our Department responds to over
46,564 emergencies annually, of which, approximately 6500 are
Fire related incidents.
In the News
Emergency Services Bounce Back from Budget Cuts video clip
Within the next 10 years or sooner, six new Fire Stations will
be constructed and begin operation in the following areas:
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Palmer Ranch – station 15
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Vic Edwards and Fruitville Road –
Station 10
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Clark Road and Bee Ridge Extension –
station 16
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Palmer Blvd. east of I-75 – Station 9
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Clark Road and Pinkney Avenue –
Station 17
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River Road and east Venice Avenue –
Station 27
Fire Operations involves responding
to residential and commercial fires, wild land fires, auto
accidents, as well as technical rescues and hazardous materials
incidents.
Fire Operations operates:
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21 Advanced Life Support ambulances
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4 ALS Engines,
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14 BLS Engines,
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3 Ladder Trucks,
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2 Special Operations Vehicle,
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3 Tankers,
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1 Fire Boat
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Other Emergency Support Vehicles
Fire Operations provides the
following services:
Annual Fire Safety Inspections
Annual fire safety inspections are required for commercial and
multi-residential occupancies. The inspections evaluate fire and
life safety issues within the structure and provides education
on compliance.
Fire
Assessments
Fire Assessments provide funding for the Fire Department. Fire
Assessments are based upon an Equivalent Billing Unit (EBU). 1
EBU equals 100 square feet. The minimum EBU is 10 EBU's.
Sarasota County Emergency
Services provides both fire suppression and emergency medical
services (EMS) to unincorporated Sarasota County and the City of
Sarasota and only EMS to Laurel, Nokomis, the City of Venice and
Englewood.
Previously, both fire suppression
services and EMS have been funded through non-ad valorem
assessments imposed on properties located with the Fire-Rescue
and Ambulance District. Beginning with fiscal year 2004, the
funding mechanism for these services will change as the result
of the Florida Supreme Court decision, City of North Lauderdale
v. SMM Properties, Inc.
In the City of North Lauderdale
case, the Florida Supreme Court determined that the benefit
provided by EMS was to persons, not property and, thus, was not
properly funded through a non-ad valorem assessment. In reaching
its decision, the Court distinguished EMS from fire suppression
services, finding that the latter services do confer a special
benefit on property and are properly funded by non-ad valorem
assessments. What this means for Sarasota County is that fire
suppression services will continue to be funded through non ad-valorem
assessments, but EMS will not. Instead, EMS will be funded
through an ad valorem tax, based upon property valuation.
Because EMS will no longer be
funded through assessments, your tax bill will look a little
different. Specifically, you will notice a decrease in your fire
assessment rates for fiscal year 2004, and a new millage for
EMS. This change may or may not result in an increase for you
over the prior combined assessment. Together, the non ad-valorem
assessment for fire suppression
services and the ad valorem tax for EMS fund the provision of
fire protection and emergency medical services 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. |
