General Information

 

HISTORY OF THE FLORIDA STATE FIRE COLLEGE

 

The first Florida State Fire College Training session was held in Daytona Beach on May 7-9, 1930. From 1930 until 1939 the school was sponsored by the Florida State Firemen's Association. Classes were conducted once a year and were held in a different location each year. In 1939, the annual sessions were extended to five days in length and financial assistance was appointed to carry on this training, and annual sessions of five days continued until 1948, when ten-day sessions were held. In addition to the annual sessions, some itinerant training was conducted in several fire departments over the State.

In 1949, the Fire College became a State institution with permanent headquarters in Ocala on six acres of ground to which were added gradually an administrative and classroom building, a garage for housing mobile equipment and other buildings for storage of training aids and supplies.
(Read The Ocala Star Banner Editorial of Oct 12. 1951)

In 1969, under the State reorganization plan, the Florida State Fire College was placed under the Department of Community Affairs and became the Bureau of State Fire College.

In 1975, the Florida Legislature approved a budget request which ostensibly consolidated two existing Bureaus into one. It was during the Legislative session that the new Bureau was assigned to the Division of State Fire Marshal and acquired the title of Bureau of Fire Standards and Training.

In 1989, a new 37-acre site was dedicated and opened 7 miles north of Ocala, in Lowell, among the rolling hills of central Florida's horse country. The facility has an administration building, learning resource center, classrooms, apparatus building, burn building, training tower (with a maze and elevator shafts), maintenance building, 100-bed dormitory, several lounges, and a cafeteria.

Since its founding, the Florida State Fire College (FSFC) has continuously provided vital training to the state's fire/rescue service. Now, completing its seventh decade, FSFC embarks on new directions to prepare Florida fire and emergency service personnel for the 21^st Century.

In its dual capacities, the Bureau of Fire Standards and Training both prepares the fire and emergency services community for its duties and assures the citizens of the State the highest possible quality and professionalism.

The Florida State Fire College takes the point for the Division of State Fire Marshal in many joint training activities relative to emergency management, hazardous materials, incident command, and other such issues. Toward this end, FSFC works closely with the State's Division of Emergency Management, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the State Emergency Response Commission, the Local Emergency Planning Councils around the state, the Division of Forestry of the Department of Agriculture, and other such entities. Of course, the Fire College also has strong working relationships with the Florida Fire Chief's Association, the Florida chapter of the International Society of Fire Service Instructors, the Florida Advisory Committee on Arson Prevention, the Florida Fire Marshals Association, the Florida Firemen's Association, and the Professional Firefighters of Florida, as well as every fire-rescue department statewide.

With the guidance of the Florida Firefighters Standards and Training Council, FSFC receives representative input from fire service organizations, higher education, and the private sector. Further, broad-based student and customer input from strategic planning to cafeteria selections ensures that the Florida State Fire College will always be a responsive institution, dedicated to the highest levels of professionalism and quality on behalf of the statewide fire service.

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If you have any questions regarding certifications or examinations, please send e-mail to standards@MyFloridaCFO.com  .
If you have questions about classes or the Florida State Fire College, email firecollege@MyFloridaCFO.com .
For questions regarding the Firefighter Occupational Safety and Health program, email FireFighterSafety@MyFloridaCFO.com  
or write
Bureau of Fire Standards and Training, 11655 NW Gainesville Rd. Ocala, FL 34482-1486
or call
(352) 369-2800