Hollywood Fire Rescue & Beach Safety
Founded in 1924
• Operates 6 fire stations across the city
• About 300 personnel, including ~260 sworn firefighters and 100 support staff
• Responds to over 30,000 calls per year
• Services include fire suppression, emergency medical response, and ocean lifeguard operations
• Specialized units:
• Hazardous Materials team
• Technical Rescue team (confined space, dive rescue, high-risk rescues)
• Fire inspection and investigation
• Supports law enforcement with SWAT medics trained to deliver medical aid during tactical operations
One of the worst departments to work for. Do not come to Hollywood you will be overworked and underpaid. Our administration for the city doesn’t care how busy you are just run more calls. They refuse to get more rescues and shift personal in service when call volume has reached around 30,000 calls per year and sometimes higher. Yet they hire new Chiefs positions more training positions and more fire prevention with no new rescues in service. They keep hiring support staff to support a department that is falling apart. On top of that they have a HazMat team that is always out of service forcing other units to run even more calls. The department is too small for it HazMat team.
Morale is low call volume is high. The department is severely short-staffed and overtime is mandated constantly yet they blame line personnel for calling out because you should never call out because nobody ever gets sick. The department has become a joke. New hires leave frequently yet the Chiefs makeup reasons why they left and pretend it’s not because the department sucks. Hollywood is merely a stepping stone department get a job then leave and go to a real department.
24/72 not in Hollywood the city has almost a billion dollars and claims they’re broke. Our chief support the lies coming out of City Hall and are too afraid to fight for their own personal to get better working schedules even though it has been recommended by the state. Week leadership, week Union, and a poorly run City. Don’t come to Hollywood.
I don’t know who hurt the previous reviewer, or if they were wronged in any way by the department, but I can say that it’s not nearly as bad working here as was described in that review.
Does the department have some issues? No doubt. As does every other fire department. But is it the worst? Absolutely not. To pretend it is, is just foolish. The culture here is enviable. We’re a fairly tight Department. We work well together, we look after each other, we suffer together, and when the sh*t hits the fan, we’ve always closed ranks and backed each other up.
Are there things that can be fixed? Yes of course. Are they being addressed? Why, yes they are. Gone are the days of having an Administration that doesn’t care about the membership; or chiefs that laughed off our relentless workload. These days, the concerns we’ve had for many years are being addressed. And many, like me, truly believe we’re finally pointed in the right direction. But we’re 100 years old. It took a while to get to this point, so making things right isn’t going to be an overnight process.
Same with the Union. Is everything done perfectly? Of course not. It’s an imperfect society. But we’ve come a long way, and apparently they also have plans for better things. And they, too, are taking serious many of our concerns.
In short, Hollywood Fire Rescue is an extremely busy Department. This is true. But we all got into this profession to work, not lounge around. And if you’re a Hollywood Firefighter, or are blessed to know one, you’re already aware that we’re one of the hardest working fire departments in the area. And that’s a pride that no one can rate poorly.
City of Hollywood Fire Rescue is truly an outstanding department and a great place to work. One of the strongest qualities of this department is the brotherhood and sisterhood among its members. We are an extremely busy department, and the workload can be demanding, but the camaraderie, teamwork, and overall morale remain exceptionally strong.
There is a tremendous amount of pride throughout the organization. Whether responding to routine calls, major incidents, or complex emergencies, our personnel consistently step up for one another and for the community we serve. The experience gained from working in such a high-volume system also creates highly capable, well-rounded firefighters and paramedics.
Our HazMat, Special Operations, and Technical Rescue Team also deserve recognition. The level of training, experience, equipment, and operational capability within these teams is exceptional. In my opinion, they are among the premier special operations teams in Broward County, with members who take tremendous pride in maintaining a high level of readiness and professionalism.
No fire department is perfect, especially one operating at the pace and call volume that Hollywood does, but the people are what make this department special. The brotherhood and sisterhood, strong morale, specialized capabilities, and commitment to taking care of each other and the public make City of Hollywood Fire Rescue a department I am extremely proud to be a part of.
If you’re not afraid to stay busy, get your hands dirty, work hard, and be part of a department with great camaraderie, brotherhood, and sisterhood, then come get hired with us. Hollywood Fire Rescue is busy, demanding, and not for everyone — but if that’s the kind of environment you thrive in, you’ll fit right in.
– GOOD VIBES
Rating Breakdown
3/5
3/5
2.7/5
2.3/5
3 Reviews on “Hollywood Fire Department”
One of the worst departments to work for. Do not come to Hollywood you will be overworked and underpaid. Our administration for the city doesn’t care how busy you are just run more calls. They refuse to get more rescues and shift personal in service when call volume has reached around 30,000 calls per year and sometimes higher. Yet they hire new Chiefs positions more training positions and more fire prevention with no new rescues in service. They keep hiring support staff to support a department that is falling apart. On top of that they have a HazMat team that is always out of service forcing other units to run even more calls. The department is too small for it HazMat team.
Morale is low call volume is high. The department is severely short-staffed and overtime is mandated constantly yet they blame line personnel for calling out because you should never call out because nobody ever gets sick. The department has become a joke. New hires leave frequently yet the Chiefs makeup reasons why they left and pretend it’s not because the department sucks. Hollywood is merely a stepping stone department get a job then leave and go to a real department.
24/72 not in Hollywood the city has almost a billion dollars and claims they’re broke. Our chief support the lies coming out of City Hall and are too afraid to fight for their own personal to get better working schedules even though it has been recommended by the state. Week leadership, week Union, and a poorly run City. Don’t come to Hollywood.
I don’t know who hurt the previous reviewer, or if they were wronged in any way by the department, but I can say that it’s not nearly as bad working here as was described in that review.
Does the department have some issues? No doubt. As does every other fire department. But is it the worst? Absolutely not. To pretend it is, is just foolish. The culture here is enviable. We’re a fairly tight Department. We work well together, we look after each other, we suffer together, and when the sh*t hits the fan, we’ve always closed ranks and backed each other up.
Are there things that can be fixed? Yes of course. Are they being addressed? Why, yes they are. Gone are the days of having an Administration that doesn’t care about the membership; or chiefs that laughed off our relentless workload. These days, the concerns we’ve had for many years are being addressed. And many, like me, truly believe we’re finally pointed in the right direction. But we’re 100 years old. It took a while to get to this point, so making things right isn’t going to be an overnight process.
Same with the Union. Is everything done perfectly? Of course not. It’s an imperfect society. But we’ve come a long way, and apparently they also have plans for better things. And they, too, are taking serious many of our concerns.
In short, Hollywood Fire Rescue is an extremely busy Department. This is true. But we all got into this profession to work, not lounge around. And if you’re a Hollywood Firefighter, or are blessed to know one, you’re already aware that we’re one of the hardest working fire departments in the area. And that’s a pride that no one can rate poorly.
City of Hollywood Fire Rescue is truly an outstanding department and a great place to work. One of the strongest qualities of this department is the brotherhood and sisterhood among its members. We are an extremely busy department, and the workload can be demanding, but the camaraderie, teamwork, and overall morale remain exceptionally strong.
There is a tremendous amount of pride throughout the organization. Whether responding to routine calls, major incidents, or complex emergencies, our personnel consistently step up for one another and for the community we serve. The experience gained from working in such a high-volume system also creates highly capable, well-rounded firefighters and paramedics.
Our HazMat, Special Operations, and Technical Rescue Team also deserve recognition. The level of training, experience, equipment, and operational capability within these teams is exceptional. In my opinion, they are among the premier special operations teams in Broward County, with members who take tremendous pride in maintaining a high level of readiness and professionalism.
No fire department is perfect, especially one operating at the pace and call volume that Hollywood does, but the people are what make this department special. The brotherhood and sisterhood, strong morale, specialized capabilities, and commitment to taking care of each other and the public make City of Hollywood Fire Rescue a department I am extremely proud to be a part of.
If you’re not afraid to stay busy, get your hands dirty, work hard, and be part of a department with great camaraderie, brotherhood, and sisterhood, then come get hired with us. Hollywood Fire Rescue is busy, demanding, and not for everyone — but if that’s the kind of environment you thrive in, you’ll fit right in.
– GOOD VIBES