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Fire Department · Career

District Fire Department

Orlando, FL · Orange County

Address
651 E Buena Vista Dr, Orlando, FL, 32830
13Stations
1968Founded
38.5 sq miArea

Active openings

No active openings right now

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About District Fire Department

The Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) is a special-purpose government created in 1967 by the Florida Legislature, originally known as the Reedy Creek Improvement District, to provide municipal-level services across roughly 38.5 square miles of Orange and Osceola counties surrounding Walt Disney World. Among the essential services the District operates directly — alongside roads, water, wastewater, electric power, and solid waste — is its own Fire Department, founded in 1968 with Paul Pennington as its first chief. Basic ambulance service began in 1971 and advanced life support followed in 1976.

Today the department runs four fire stations across the District and reports average fire/EMS response times of 6 to 8 minutes for a coverage area that can host on the order of 250,000 daily visitors to the resort. Services include 911 communications with emergency medical dispatch, fire and rescue/life-support operations, fire prevention and inspections through the fire marshal's office, and emergency management coordination for the District.

How to get hired

The District hires for all departments, including Fire, through a single centralized process: open positions are posted on the District's official job portal (governmentjobs.com) and on Indeed, and applicants apply directly through those postings.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision insurance; long- and short-term disability coverage; paid vacation time; a savings program; and participation in the Florida State Retirement Program.

Leadership & hiring contacts

Eric Ferrari
Fire Chief
Joel Edwards
Deputy Chief / Fire Marshal
Jose Flores
Assistant Chief, Logistics, Health & Safety
Stan Paynter
Assistant Chief, Emergency Services
Wendi Moldthan
Assistant Chief, Training
Scott Underwood
Assistant Chief, Operations
Daniel Barrios
Assistant Chief, Operations
Roger Smith
Assistant Chief, Operations

Frequently asked questions

What area does the District Fire Department serve?

The department protects the roughly 38.5-square-mile Central Florida Tourism Oversight District spanning parts of Orange and Osceola counties, including the Walt Disney World Resort area near Lake Buena Vista, FL.

When was the fire department founded?

The department was founded in 1968, a year after the District itself was created. Basic ambulance service began in 1971, followed by advanced life support in 1976.

How many fire stations does the District operate?

The department operates four fire stations across the District.

How do I apply for a job with the District, including the Fire Department?

Open positions are posted on the District's job portal at governmentjobs.com/careers/oversightdistrict and on Indeed; applicants apply directly through those listings.

What is the average emergency response time?

The department reports an average fire/EMS response time of 6 to 8 minutes for calls throughout the District.