Chief’s Welcome
Welcome to the Alachua County Fire Rescue website. It is an honor to serve alongside the dedicated men and women of ACFR who work every day to protect and serve our community. Our department is committed to providing professional, compassionate, and dependable service while continually looking for ways to improve how we meet the needs of our residents and visitors.
I invite you to explore our website to learn more about our people, our services, and the many ways we serve Alachua County. We are proud to be part of this community and grateful for the trust you place in us.
Mission
Public servants dedicated to enhancing and caring for the lives of those in our community, through preparedness and immediate response to any and all of life’s emergencies.
Professional Standards Division
The Professional Standards Division supports Alachua County Fire Rescue by developing personnel, strengthening organizational performance, and ensuring the department remains prepared to meet the evolving needs of our community. Through leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement, the division promotes operational excellence while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism, safety, and service.
What We Do
- Workforce Development: Recruitment, hiring, onboarding, employee records management, promotional processes, leadership development, tuition assistance, Fire & EMS sponsorships, and the ACFR Cadet Program.
- Training & Education: Management of the ACFR Training Complex, fire, EMS, rescue, and technical training, simulation-based learning, instructor development, equipment training, continuing education, and professional certification support.
- Organizational Excellence: Strategic planning, quality assurance, performance analytics, operational readiness, and continuous process improvement.
- Policy, Compliance & Accreditation: Policy and Standard Operating Guideline (SOG) management, accreditation, ISO and regulatory compliance, risk management, administrative investigations, and records management.
Our Commitment
Professional Standards is committed to investing in our people while advancing the systems that support exceptional service. From recruiting and developing future firefighters to maintaining accreditation, overseeing ISO compliance, and expanding training opportunities, the division ensures ACFR remains accountable, innovative, and prepared to serve our community today and into the future.
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Division
The EMS Division provides 24-hour Advanced Life Support (ALS) emergency medical care and transportation throughout Alachua County. Through a strategically deployed fleet of rescue units and specialized resources, the division delivers rapid, high-quality prehospital care to residents and visitors.
The division includes:
In Fiscal Year 2025, EMS personnel:
- Sixteen (16) 24-hour ALS rescue units.
- Five (5) critical care peak-load units operating 13-hour shifts.
- Three (3) Battalion Chiefs and a Captain of EMS Special Operations.
- Responded to more than 44,000 emergency incidents.
- Transported nearly 34,000 patients to local hospitals.
Every rescue unit is staffed by at least one paramedic and one emergency medical technician (EMT) and equipped with advanced medical equipment and lifesaving medications.
Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit (Neuro 1)
In partnership with UF Health, Alachua County Fire Rescue operates Florida's first Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit (MSTU). The unit features a portable CT scanner, stroke-specific medications, advanced telemedicine capabilities. The program also pioneered the nation's first known rural rendezvous model, allowing surrounding EMS agencies to transfer suspected stroke patients for advanced treatment while en route to the hospital.
Prehospital Blood Program
Through a second partnership with UF Health, EMS supervisors carry blood products that can be administered at the point of injury, providing critically injured patients with lifesaving treatment before arrival at the hospital and improving survival outcomes. Early blood transfusions help restore oxygen delivery, reduce the effects of hemorrhagic shock, and increase the chances of survival for patients with life-threatening blood loss.
Fire Rescue Operations
The Fire Operations Division provides 24/7 all-hazards emergency response across Alachua County. Battalion Chiefs supervise multiple stations during their 24-hour shifts, ensuring coordinated and efficient service delivery across 17 ACFR fire stations.
The division operates 9 Battalion Chiefs, 10 Fire Engines, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 Quint, 8 Brush Trucks for wildland firefighting, and 7 Tankers that support the county’s hauled-water supply. All frontline units are staffed with Advanced Life Support (ALS) personnel, including a Lieutenant, Driver Operator, and 1–2 Firefighters.
ACFR provides fire suppression and ALS first response in all unincorporated areas and is the primary emergency service provider for the cities of Alachua, Archer, Hawthorne, Micanopy, and Waldo. Structures within five road miles of a county station benefit from an ISO Public Protection Classification rating of 3. With the county’s Hauled Water Certification, that improved rating (3X) extends to over 7,000 additional properties.
The county maintains automatic aid agreements with Gainesville, LaCrosse, High Springs, Newberry, Cross Creek, Melrose, and Windsor to ensure the closest appropriate unit responds—regardless of jurisdictional boundaries.
ACFR continues growing specialized capabilities. The department has recently been designated as USAR Technical Rescue Team #309 and is actively expanding toward water-rescue operations.
Specialized Teams
- Fire Cadet Team
- Honor Guard
- Mutual Aid Radio Communication (MARC) Team
- Recruitment & Mentoring Program (RAMP)
- SWAT Medic Team
- Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Team
- Wildland Fire Team
- Urban Search and Rescue (USAR)
Mobile Integrated Healthcare(MIH)
ACFR MIH Program brings healthcare, recovery support, and community resources directly to residents who may experience barriers accessing traditional services. Using a multidisciplinary, community-based approach, MIH works to improve health outcomes, reduce preventable emergency department visits and 911 utilization, and help individuals successfully connect with long-term care and support.
The MIH team includes Community Paramedics, Certified Peer Recovery Specialists, Community Health Workers, Case Managers, and a Social Worker/Mental Health Counselor, working together under the direction of an MIH Captain and in collaboration with local hospitals, EMS agencies, healthcare providers, behavioral health and substance use treatment providers, law enforcement, and community organizations.
MIH services include:
- Medical assessments and chronic disease management
- Post-EMS and post-overdose follow-up
- Substance use and recovery support
- Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT/MOUD) initiation and connection to ongoing treatment
- Behavioral health and counseling connections
- Primary care and specialty care navigation
- Assistance addressing social determinants of health, including food, housing, transportation, medication, benefits, and other community resources
- Support for individuals with frequent 911 or emergency department utilization
- Community education, prevention, and outreach
Rather than expecting individuals to navigate complex systems alone, MIH provides person-centered, coordinated care in the community, meeting participants where they are and helping bridge the gaps between emergency services, healthcare, recovery, behavioral health, and community resources.
Fire Prevention
Alachua County Fire Rescue’s Life Safety / Investigative Division is divided into three branches: New Construction Plan Review and Inspections, Existing Occupancy Inspections, and Investigations. The goal of the Division is to ensure the Florida Statutory requirements are met to ensure the safety of the public.
The New Construction Plan Review and Inspections branch oversee the development and construction of new commercial occupancies. Using the Florida Fire Prevention Code, staff help guide new businesses through the fire and life safety requirements. The Branch also reviews new development site plans to ensure that new subdivisions are built with safety as the forefront.
The Existing Occupancy Branch is tasked with conducting the state required inspections on all commercial occupancies. The Branch is also tasked with conducting licensing inspections required by the different State agencies that oversee Assisted Living Facilities, Daycares, Private Schools, and a host of other licensed businesses.
The Investigative Branch is responsible for conducting post-fire investigations and Internal Investigations.
Fire Rescue is organized into divisions, each with specific areas of responsibility. Our staff provide leadership and oversight for these divisions, ensuring effective service and operations.
Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) is a career department serving 284,000 residents across 962 square miles. With 377 personnel, including 330 uniformed members operating from 17 stations, ACFR responds to roughly 50,000 calls each year.
As Deputy Chief, I oversee Fire Rescue Operations, ensuring our teams have the leadership, training, equipment, and support needed to deliver exceptional service. Our structure is designed to maintain strong emergency response capabilities while fostering professional development, accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.
ACFR’s operational division includes:
- 3 Assistant Chiefs: Karem Scott-Kotb (Professional Standards), Jacob Faul (Emergency Medical Services), and Michael Cowart (Fire Operations)
- 12 Battalion Chiefs, 44 Suppression Lieutenants, 26 Rescue Lieutenants, 42 Driver Operators, 172 Firefighters, and a Peak Load Division of 12 Paramedics and 11 EMTs.
- Additional resources include the Fire Prevention Bureau, Health & Safety, Recruitment & Public Education, EMS Special Operations, Mobile Integrated Health, and our IT Office.
I’m proud to work alongside the men and women of ACFR as we continue developing our people, improving our systems, and strengthening our ability to serve our community
The Finance and Administration Office provides the financial and administrative support necessary to ensure Alachua County Fire Rescue operates efficiently and responsibly. Our office is committed to fiscal accountability, operational excellence, and data-driven decision-making.
Our responsibilities include:
- Developing and managing the department's annual operating and capital budgets.
- Monitoring expenditures and overseeing purchasing, accounts payable, and payroll.
- Coordinating personnel support and administrative services.
- Administering grants and contracts while ensuring compliance with funding requirements.
- Collecting and analyzing operational data, including emergency responses, incident volume, response times, and unit utilization.
- Providing reports and performance metrics that support strategic planning, resource allocation, and informed decision-making.
- Ensuring compliance with County policies and applicable state, federal, and grant requirements.
Through responsible financial management, efficient administrative services, and meaningful data analysis, the Finance and Administration Office supports Alachua County Fire Rescue's mission of delivering exceptional emergency services to the community.
This section is currently under construction please be patient.
For more information please go to http://alachuacounty.us/Depts/EM/Pages/EM.aspx
The 9-1-1 Office maintains the map data that is used by 9-1-1 Operators when answering an emergency call. Accurate data ensures the location information that appears with the telephone number is the location of the caller and allows for the quick and accurate dispatch of emergency services. Currently, 9-1-1 relies on both traditional databases and GIS (spatially enabled) databases.
The 9-1-1 Office continually strives to provide the citizens of Alachua County with the best available 9-1-1 system. Our approach to locating a caller to 9-1-1 is comprehensive from ensuring that 9-1-1 Operators have up-to-date, well-functioning equipment, to making sure a structure is assigned a standards based 9-1-1 address. With all of the behind the scenes data maintenance, we consistently work to improve and refine our systems and processes so that Alachua County can rely on the best available 9-1-1 system for its emergency services.
To inquire about an address, use the following link: addressing@alachuacounty.us. A representative from the 9-1-1 Office will contact you. To inquire about 9-1-1 services, the same link may be used.
Seeking 9-1-1 Services in Alachua County When Calling From Out of County or Out of State
If possible, determine what city, municipality or college campus the services are needed at.
If unknown, call the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office dispatch at 352-955-1818. The Sheriff’s Office has the resources to attempt to locate the location where emergency services are needed
If you know the location where emergency services (law enforcement, fire, emergency medical) are needed, select from the list of public safety services below in Alachua County:
- Alachua County Sheriff’s Office: 352-955-1818
- University of Florida (UF) Police: 352-392-1111
- City of Alachua Police: 386-418-6100
- City of High Springs Police: 352-955-1818
- Santa Fe College Police: 352-395-5519
- Emergency medical services: 352-955-1818
The Medical Billing Office, in the Revenue and Collections Section of Alachua County Fire Rescue, is committed to providing accurate, compliant, and patient-centered billing for the county’s ambulance service transports of about 35,000 per year.
What We Do
- Bill, process insurance claims, and collect the fees for emergency and nonemergency ambulance services.
- Assist patients with billing questions, insurance updates, appeals, and payment options.
- Maintain billing records and process record requests in compliance with privacy laws.
How We Do It
- Review patient care reports to ensure documentation supports billed services.
- Apply current coding standards and requirements of each payer type.
- Submit claims, post payments, resolve denials, and protect patient information using some of the latest technology and highest industry standards.
- Prepare records for subpoenas, attorney requests, patients, & payers.
Why We Do It
To provide ethical, efficient ambulance billing that appropriately maximizes payer reimbursements, helps reduce Emergency Medical Services' reliance on the County's General Fund, delivers exceptional customer service, and ensures the responsible stewardship of public resources.
Contact
- Jeff Taylor
- Interim Fire Rescue Chief
- PO Box 5038
- Gainesville, FL 32627-5038
- Office Phone: 352-384-3101
- TDD/TTY users, please call 711 (Florida Relay Service)
- Email Jeff Taylor
