The Ocoee Fire Department serves the city of Ocoee in Orange County, Florida, covering a population of nearly 50,000 residents. The Department provides coverage with four stations. Four Engines, Two Ambulances, One Tanker, One Brush Truck, One Marine Rescue Unit and One Battalion Chief. The current Fire Chief is Tom Smothers.
Assessment of Current Conditions at the Ocoee Fire Department
While the Ocoee Fire Department (OFD) offers several commendable features—including a culture that values line personnel input on new equipment, apparatus, and gear—these positives are increasingly overshadowed by systemic issues that continue to go unaddressed. The department’s administration has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to follow through on commitments or effectively execute critical tasks.
Facility Conditions
Station 38 has operated out of a temporary facility for more than eight years, far exceeding the originally promised two-year maximum. Despite acquiring a new aerial apparatus in 2023, it remains unused due to insufficient staffing—an emblematic example of broader resource mismanagement.
All stations are in urgent need of renovation. Facility deficiencies include:
• Mold in showers
• Malfunctioning toilets
• Outdated kitchen facilities
• Broken or inadequate furniture (e.g., kitchen tables)
These conditions undermine both operational readiness and firefighter well-being.
Apparatus & Equipment Readiness
The department’s fleet is in critical condition. Frontline engines are frequently out of service due to longstanding mechanical issues and a lack of preventive maintenance. Some engines have experienced pump failures and other critical defects that have remained unresolved for years. The only spare engine available is similarly compromised, with a non-functioning tachometer, speedometer, and leaking air lines. It is not uncommon for personnel to rely on loaned apparatus from neighboring departments—highlighting a severe gap in operational sustainability.
Ambulance Staffing & Coverage
OFD maintains four ambulances, but only two are typically staffed due to persistent personnel shortages. This leaves one unit to serve approximately 35,000 residents and another to cover 25,000. These ambulances are in deteriorating condition and are being maintained under strenuous conditions by field crews. The staffing shortfall places the department at significant risk and degrades service delivery to the community.
Additionally, neighboring fire departments are increasingly tasked with covering calls within Ocoee city limits. This has led to growing tensions between agencies and has placed undue pressure on already overworked OFD crews.
Non-Emergent Transfers & Call Volume
The issue is exacerbated by a rising number of non-emergent transfers from assisted living and rehabilitation facilities—many of which have ended contracts with private ambulance providers. Rather than address this surge in call volume through policy changes or strategic partnerships, administration has advised crews to “document calls as non-emergent transfers” and continue handling them without additional support.
The primary administrative response has been to monitor offload times to ensure that units are “jumping” calls, despite most delays being related to active patient handoffs. This approach fails to address the root causes of system inefficiency.
Staffing & Attrition
Over the past four years, OFD has experienced a significant workforce exodus, with over 70 personnel departing the department—only two of whom left due to retirement. This figure is especially alarming considering the department is authorized for only 63 personnel under its current staffing model. The attrition rate is unsustainable and points to systemic morale and retention issues.
Budget & Training Impacts
Since April, the department has been operating over budget due to overtime expenditures—an oversight by both city and departmental leadership. In response, the city mandated a halt to all overtime, with no recorded resistance from the department’s administration. This has led to the cancellation of training classes, suspension of professional development opportunities, and the restriction of extra-duty assignments to compensatory time only.
Conclusion
In summary, the Ocoee Fire Department is currently overworked, understaffed, over budget, and under-resourced. While there are positive attributes within the organization, they are increasingly obscured by fundamental issues in leadership, infrastructure, staffing, and planning. Immediate, proactive leadership intervention is necessary to stabilize operations, restore morale, and ensure the department can fulfill its mission to protect the residents of Ocoee effectively.
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Assessment of Current Conditions at the Ocoee Fire Department
While the Ocoee Fire Department (OFD) offers several commendable features—including a culture that values line personnel input on new equipment, apparatus, and gear—these positives are increasingly overshadowed by systemic issues that continue to go unaddressed. The department’s administration has repeatedly demonstrated an inability to follow through on commitments or effectively execute critical tasks.
Facility Conditions
Station 38 has operated out of a temporary facility for more than eight years, far exceeding the originally promised two-year maximum. Despite acquiring a new aerial apparatus in 2023, it remains unused due to insufficient staffing—an emblematic example of broader resource mismanagement.
All stations are in urgent need of renovation. Facility deficiencies include:
• Mold in showers
• Malfunctioning toilets
• Outdated kitchen facilities
• Broken or inadequate furniture (e.g., kitchen tables)
These conditions undermine both operational readiness and firefighter well-being.
Apparatus & Equipment Readiness
The department’s fleet is in critical condition. Frontline engines are frequently out of service due to longstanding mechanical issues and a lack of preventive maintenance. Some engines have experienced pump failures and other critical defects that have remained unresolved for years. The only spare engine available is similarly compromised, with a non-functioning tachometer, speedometer, and leaking air lines. It is not uncommon for personnel to rely on loaned apparatus from neighboring departments—highlighting a severe gap in operational sustainability.
Ambulance Staffing & Coverage
OFD maintains four ambulances, but only two are typically staffed due to persistent personnel shortages. This leaves one unit to serve approximately 35,000 residents and another to cover 25,000. These ambulances are in deteriorating condition and are being maintained under strenuous conditions by field crews. The staffing shortfall places the department at significant risk and degrades service delivery to the community.
Additionally, neighboring fire departments are increasingly tasked with covering calls within Ocoee city limits. This has led to growing tensions between agencies and has placed undue pressure on already overworked OFD crews.
Non-Emergent Transfers & Call Volume
The issue is exacerbated by a rising number of non-emergent transfers from assisted living and rehabilitation facilities—many of which have ended contracts with private ambulance providers. Rather than address this surge in call volume through policy changes or strategic partnerships, administration has advised crews to “document calls as non-emergent transfers” and continue handling them without additional support.
The primary administrative response has been to monitor offload times to ensure that units are “jumping” calls, despite most delays being related to active patient handoffs. This approach fails to address the root causes of system inefficiency.
Staffing & Attrition
Over the past four years, OFD has experienced a significant workforce exodus, with over 70 personnel departing the department—only two of whom left due to retirement. This figure is especially alarming considering the department is authorized for only 63 personnel under its current staffing model. The attrition rate is unsustainable and points to systemic morale and retention issues.
Budget & Training Impacts
Since April, the department has been operating over budget due to overtime expenditures—an oversight by both city and departmental leadership. In response, the city mandated a halt to all overtime, with no recorded resistance from the department’s administration. This has led to the cancellation of training classes, suspension of professional development opportunities, and the restriction of extra-duty assignments to compensatory time only.
Conclusion
In summary, the Ocoee Fire Department is currently overworked, understaffed, over budget, and under-resourced. While there are positive attributes within the organization, they are increasingly obscured by fundamental issues in leadership, infrastructure, staffing, and planning. Immediate, proactive leadership intervention is necessary to stabilize operations, restore morale, and ensure the department can fulfill its mission to protect the residents of Ocoee effectively.