Fire Department · Career
Levy County Department of Public Safety
Bronson, FL · Levy County
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Department careers page ↗Levy County Department of Public Safety operates as an integrated fire-rescue and EMS organization headquartered just south of Bronson, Florida. Because Levy County has no local hospital, LCDPS ambulances ("Rescues") are outfitted with advanced equipment - cardiac monitors/defibrillators, mechanical CPR devices, ventilators, point-of-care ultrasound, and hemorrhage-control medications - to sustain patients over longer transport distances, and most personnel are cross-trained as both Florida-certified firefighters and EMS providers.
The department runs a mixed full-time and part-time station model: fully staffed ambulance stations in Inglis, Cedar Key, Chiefland, Bronson, Williston, and Morriston operate around the clock, while part-time stations in Rosewood and Fowlers Bluff cross-staff engines, squads, and tankers. A shift-supervisor Battalion Chief position, based out of the Bronson station, oversees day-to-day operations across the county's fire and EMS units.
LCDPS is led by Public Safety Director/Chief Mitch Harrell, a 30-plus-year fire service veteran who previously served as Assistant Chief in Alachua County and as Fire/EMS/Emergency Management Chief in Gilchrist County before joining LCDPS. The department maintains a medical direction partnership with UF Health's Department of Emergency Medicine and is represented by IAFF Local 4069.
MissionIt is the mission of the Levy County Department of Public Safety to preserve life and property, promote public safety, and foster economic growth through leadership, management, and actions as an all risk life safety emergency response organization. This shall be accomplished through innovation, team work, and outstanding customer service with prudent utilization of public funds provided by the community.
What is the difference between a Rescue, Squad, Engine, etc?
A Rescue (ambulance) is the primary EMS transport unit, staffed by at least one paramedic and one EMT and also carrying firefighting equipment since many crew members are cross-trained firefighters; the department runs 7 fulltime Rescues. A Squad is a multirole first-response vehicle used for vehicle accidents, extrications, and lift assists, carrying extrication tools, chainsaws, and a small water tank. An Engine is the primary unit for structure fires, vehicle fires, and technical rescues, adding ladders and thermal imaging cameras. A Tanker delivers up to 5,000 gallons of water to supplement fire hydrant-scarce rural areas. A Battalion unit, staffed by a Battalion Captain or out-of-class officer who is also a dual-certified Firefighter/Paramedic, serves as shift commander providing incident command and ALS first response.
What unique equipment do LCDPS Rescues carry?
Because Levy County has no local hospital, Rescues carry advanced equipment beyond a typical ambulance, including Stryker LIFEPAK 35 monitor/defibrillators, LUCAS chest compression systems, Hamilton T1 ventilators, Butterfly iQ+ POCUS ultrasound units, Eitan Medical Sapphire IV infusion pumps, McGrath video laryngoscopes, tranexamic acid (TXA) for hemorrhage control, and antibiotics.
Why does a firetruck respond to EMS calls along with the ambulance?
Fire units from LCDPS and partner agencies are cross-trained to provide first-responder-level care. Sending a fire unit alongside a Rescue ensures enough hands are on scene for high-priority calls, and if the primary Rescue for a zone is already busy, a fire unit can still get first-responder care to the patient quickly.
I already pay an EMS assessment in my taxes - why am I billed for using the ambulance?
The annual EMS special assessment funds the overall infrastructure that keeps ambulance service available 24/7 across the county. Patients who are transported to a hospital are separately billed for that transport due to the significant cost of the resources involved.