Fire Rescue

DUNEDIN FIRE RESCUE
The operations of the Dunedin Fire Rescue is composed of three shifts, each containing 17 personnel: 1 District Chief, 3 assigned to Engine 60, 4 assigned to Engine 61, 4 assigned to Engine 62, 2 assigned to Rescue 60 and 3 personnel assigned to Truck 60. They work a 24-hour shift. There are three different shifts, which means that one-third of the department is on duty and two-thirds are off duty at any one time. Dunedin Fire Rescue operates three fire stations.  All personnel are Florida State Firefighter II’s and either Florida State certified EMT’s or Paramedics.

FIRE ADMINISTRATION
Fire Administration is located at 1042 Virginia Street.  Fire Administration houses our Fire Prevention, Operations, EMS, and Logistics Divisions.  The Staff at this location includes the Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief/Fire Marshal, Division Chief of EMS, Division Chief of Logistics, Deputy Fire Marshal, Fire Inspector, and Administrative Coordinator.

STATION 60
Known as the Rick Seissian Fire Station 60 is located at 1046 Virginia Street. This is the main station and is next door to Fire administration. It is home to Engine 60, Truck 60, District 60, and Rescue 60, which was added in April 2023.  The Truck 60 crew also staffs Fireboat 60, which is located at the Dunedin Marina. 

STATION 61
Station 61 is located at 903 Michigan Boulevard. This station has one engine, Engine 61 and one wildland fire apparatus, Brush 60.  Station 61 is now the new home of the antique 1922 LaFrance, the original Engine that served Dunedin as a first engine from 1922 to 1947.  It is proudly displayed in a large window at the front of the station.

STATION 62
Station 62 is located at 2833 Belcher Road. This station has four personnel assigned to Engine 62.

EMERGENCY OPERATIONS CENTER (EOC)/FIRE TRAINING CENTER (FTC)
The EOC/FTC is located at 2835 Belcher Road and is home to our Training Division and staffed by the Division Chief of Training.  Various Fire/EMS training occurs at this location.  The area to the rear of the property is set aside for a future Fire Training Tower/Burn building.

The duties of the Fire Prevention Division are twofold: The prevention of fires and unintentional injuries and, to provide quality life safety education to the public.

The Fire Prevention Division consists of a Fire Marshal and two State of Florida certified Fire Inspectors. The Fire Prevention Division mission is to perform timely commercial fire inspections ensuring Life Safety Code Compliance, conduct professional arson and explosive investigations and provide quality life safety education programs to the citizens of Dunedin.

Many in the general public do not fully realize the constant danger that fire represents to the community. With an ever-increasing population, the construction of larger and more closely spaced residential buildings, the complexities in systems and processes in commercial buildings, and the crime of arson, the Fire Prevention Division mission of ensuring the life-safety of our citizens and visitors has become a complex task combining fire science, forensic science, code enforcement, arson and explosive investigation and community awareness education and preparation.

The primary goal of our life safety education effort is to reduce the incidence of fire and unintentional injuries by heightening the life safety awareness of our citizens. Our programs target audiences from pre-kindergarten to senior citizens teaching lifestyle changes that can help prevent fires and unintentional injuries by providing them with the information necessary to recognize hazardous conditions and take appropriate action before hazardous conditions result in a fire or injury.

Our Life Safety Education Program offerings include:

• Home Safety Program - Fire safety for the home, as well as, water and pool safety at the home. At the homeowner's request, an inspection can be made of their residence, with recommendations and suggestions being given, to provide a more "fire and injury" safe home.
• Business Safety - Informative talks with business owners and their employees.
• School Safety Programs - We teach fire safety with programs such as STOP, DROP & ROLL, Crawl Low in Smoke.
• Adult Programs - We have programs targeted for the elderly citizens such as; fire extinguishers, fire safety for the elderly and smoke detector use.
• Hurricane and Tornado Preparedness - Information provided in a variety of ways to emphasize what to do "before, during and after" a major storm.
• CPR Classes - At this time we do NOT offer CPR Classes to the public. Please call American Heart Association (727-563-8013) or the Suncoast Safety Council (727-442-5121) for available classes and locations.
• Car Seat Installation - At this time we do NOT offer this service. Please click on the following link for a list of various locations with certified technicians able to assist you: Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital.
• Safe Haven - You can leave your baby, up to 7 days old, with an employee at any hospital, emergency medical services station or with a firefighter at any fire station in Florida. For more information on the National Safe Haven Alliance and the Florida Safe Haven Law, please click on this link: National Safe Haven Alliance.

Dunedin Fire Rescue also provides disaster preparedness services to our Fire District. This involves planning and organizing the emergency response to any natural or man-made disaster. The Fire Department becomes one of the lead agencies during any disaster situation.
Disaster Preparedness programs include:

• Special Needs Evacuation Registration - This program is for anyone within an evacuation zone or in a mobile home park, who needs assistance to evacuate to a public shelter, nursing home or hospital.
• Disaster Mitigation - Information is available for homeowners and businesses advising them on how to lessen the impact of a disaster before it occurs. Hurricane preparation and other types of disasters are covered including Disaster Recovery following an event.
• Mapping - Maps are available showing evacuation zones, evacuation shelters, and routes out of the City of Dunedin and Pinellas County.

The Dunedin Municipal Firefighters Pension Trust Fund is a City of Dunedin board responsible for administering a defined benefit pension fund for the certified Firefighters of Dunedin Fire Rescue. The five-member committee consists of two citizens appointed by the City Commission, who live in the City of Dunedin, and two Firefighter members who Dunedin Firefighters elect. These four members nominate a fifth member who is also a citizen of Dunedin.

The Board of Trustees hires its consultants and investment managers to administer the Fund and acts as a due process body for retirement applications from the Firefighters.

The current Board of Trustees consists of Debbie Clough (Chairperson), William Gray, Division Chief Kevin Naylor, Scott Bartholmey, and Lieutenant Mike Miklinski (Secretary).

For more information regarding the Dunedin Municipal Firefighters Pension Trust Fund please contact the Plan Administrator, Patrick Kroeger at (727) 773-1598.

Record requests should be directed to the Custodian of Records - Public Records Request Information

Firefighters' Retirement System Documents:

• Florida Statutes Compliance(PDF, 484KB)
• Pension Trust Fund Financial Statements 2022-2023(PDF, 1MB)
• Actuarial Valuation 2023(PDF, 629KB)
• 2023 Actuarial Confirmation of the Use of State Monies(PDF, 122KB)
• 2023 Actuarial Fact Sheet(PDF, 135KB)
• 2022-2023 Adopted Budget(DOCX, 15KB)
• 2021-2022 Proposed Budget and Expenses(DOCX, 18KB)
• GASB Statements No. 67 and No. 68(PDF, 581KB)

"This Agreement is entered into by the City of Dunedin, Florida, hereinafter referred to as the "City" and Local #2327 of the International Association of Fire Fighters, AFL-CIO, hereinafter referred to as the "Union" to provide for the continuous efficient operation of the Fire Department, for the purpose of promoting harmonious relations between the City and the Union, to establish an orderly and peaceful procedure to settle differences which might arise, and to set forth the full agreement between the parties concerning terms and conditions of employment and employee benefits."

Fire Contract 2021 - 2024(PDF, 15MB)

Early Years and Foundation (1913-1925): The City's Fire and Rescue department was officially established in 1913 with 14 volunteer firefighters and a Model T fire truck to serve a population of around 350 people. Steve Whitehurst became the inaugural Fire Chief and Marshal for the City of Dunedin, and the Fire Station was initially located on Broadway, opposite Stirling Hall's present location. In 1922, due to health reasons, T.R. Nettles stepped down as the second Fire Chief, leading to the appointment of R.L. Chalk as the interim Fire and Police Chief. Later that year, Henry Houghton took over as the Fire Chief.

Period of Growth and Transition (1947-1978): A significant expansion occurred in the late 1940s when Robert Hunt became Fire Chief. This period saw the acquisition of new firefighting equipment, including a 1947 International-John Bean pumper and additional full-time firefighters. By 1959, a third fire engine (Ford-Seagrave) was added, and in 1960, a new fire station was built at the same location on Main St. and Highland Ave. This growth continued, with the department transitioning to include EMS services in the late 1970s, phasing out volunteer firefighters in favor of full-time personnel.

Administration Changes and Modernization (1978-2013): In 1978, the City underwent administrative changes, merging the roles of Police Chief and Fire Chief into a single position known as Public Safety Director, held initially by Edward M. Smith. The EMS service was contracted out during this period. In 1988, the decision was made to separate the Fire and Police Chief roles again, appointing Clarence "Bud" Meyer as Fire Chief. Under Chief Meyer's leadership, the department witnessed significant upgrades, including the incorporation of advanced EMS services, acquisition of new engines, trucks, and the establishment of additional fire stations.

Recent Developments and Achievements (2013-Present): Jeffrey Parks took over as Fire Chief in 2013, continuing the department's commitment to modernization and community safety. New additions such as Engine 61, Fireboat 60, and Rescue 60 have enhanced the department's capabilities. The construction of an Emergency Operations Center (EOC)/Fire Training Center (FTC) in 2021 demonstrates the City's proactive approach to disaster preparedness and training. These initiatives, along with ongoing equipment upgrades and service enhancements, reflect the department's dedication to serving and protecting the residents of Dunedin.