City Of Fort Myers Fire Department

Founded in May 1901 in the wake of a series of downtown fires, the Fort Myers Fire Department grew from an all-volunteer bucket brigade into a fully career department, appointing its first paid fire chief and six full-time firefighters in 1920. The department later played a role in statewide fire training standards, piloting a program in 1972 that grew into the Fort Myers Fire Academy.

Today FMFD operates out of eight stations covering a 50-square-mile service area and roughly 102,000 residents, organized into the Office of the Fire Chief and divisions of Professional Standards, Operations, and Community Risk Reduction. Beyond structural and residential fire response, the department provides advanced life support, marine emergency services, and emergency management for the city, and serves as the Region 6 Hazardous Materials Response Team for Southwest Florida and Lee County.

The department is led by Fire Chief Tracy McMillion, who joined FMFD as a firefighter in 1996 and returned as chief in 2019 after service with the Iona McGregor Fire District. Chief McMillion has framed the department's culture around "Humility, Humanity, and Heroism," unified by respect, commitment, compassion, and integrity.

Firefighter and other City of Fort Myers positions are posted through the city's NeoGov/GovernmentJobs employment portal as openings arise; the city notes that applications are only accepted for positions that are currently posted, so interested candidates are encouraged to check the portal periodically.