GFR is an organization of world class people providing world class service! Our homepage is a place where we experiment with how we can improve that service and communicate effectively with our citizens, colleagues and those whom we haven't met. We look forward to making this site as interactive as possible, which means it will have some frequent re-construction. Your comments and ideas are always welcome. Return often to see what's new.

Gainesville Fire Rescue has been saving lives and property in this city since 1882. The department's 150 firefighters and 15 emergency vehicles respond to more than 19,600 emergency calls a year. Those emergency calls include home and business fires, brush fires, auto accidents, emergency medical services, hazardous materials incidents, aircraft rescues and natural disasters.

Our operations division is led by Deputy Chief Gene Prince. Seven fire stations house the personnel and equipment, which are responsible for emergency management in a 135-square-mile area with a population of nearly 160,000 (which includes the city and adjacent areas of Alachua County).

Planning more effective ways of dealing with emergency situations is also a vital part of GFR's mission. To that end, our Training Bureau and Special Operations have been combined, along with recruitment, into our Support Services Division, led by Assistant Fire Chief Michael Randolph. GFR educates its firefighters through constant training in Gainesville and around the country. Our Training Bureau, with Captains Michael Heeder and Bill McCrea, is located across from Fire Station 3. 

The Hazardous Materials Team, managed by Special Operations Chief Donnie Sessions and Captain Dan Smith, works with facilities that deal with dangerous fuels and chemicals to ensure a quick and correct response if a hazardous materials incident occurs. Our Technical Rescue Team, also under Chief Sessions, work with new equipment that make unique emergencies such as confined-space-rescues and water rescues safer and quicker.

But GFR's dedication to protecting the community doesn't stop at emergency operations. The department's Risk Reduction Bureau pursues an aggressive fire prevention program that involves education, planning and enforcement under the direction of Deputy Chief Timothy Hayes.

GFR enforces the fire codes that protect homes and businesses. A regular fire inspection program accomplishes this task. The department's fire inspectors, Steve Hesson, Keith Collingwood and Kelly DeRasmo, work to ensure that buildings in our community are fire safe. Sandy Ellison is the Department's lead fire investigator and coordinates post-incident investigations. The department educates community citizens through fire and life safety classes directed toward children, families and businesses. Krista Gonzalez, Risk Reduction Specialist, designs educational programs such as Project Get Alarmed and the Tools or Toys program. Firefighters and the fire safety clown alley help to deliver these and other vital programs to the community. Public Information Officer, also Krista Gonzalez, works with local and regional media and conducts adult education programs.

We are fully funded by the city to provide you the best possible service. We do not assess a fee for services provided. So if you have a concern, suggestion or problem call us at (352) 334-5078; and if it's an emergency, dial 911.

- Fire Chief William Northcutt