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Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,311
9,313
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
SWFD Dec 29, 2018
[Facebook announcement]

South Walton Fire District 35th Anniversary Concludes

As the 2018 year comes to an end, it also signifies the conclusion of the South Walton Fire District's 35th year anniversary.

As we revisited many of the memories that made up those 35 years, we were reminded of how far we’ve grown since our humble beginnings when we were first designated as a special taxing district and created by the Walton County Board of Commissioners on August 9, 1983 through Walton County Ordinance 1983-06.

This was later codified by the South Walton Fire District's enacting Charter in House Bill No. 1919 Chapter 2000-491 and signed by the Governor Jeb Bush on June 14, 2000.

Between 1985 and 1990, the Fire District was a combination department made up of career firefighters and volunteer firefighters. With less than 10 state certified firefighters during that time, they staffed 4 fire stations in South Walton. By 2000, our Fire District had grown to a staff of 48 full-time firefighters that responded to approximately 2,000 calls for service. The South Walton Fire District now maintains 5 fire stations, 116 full-time employees, 9 part-time employees and 67 seasonal employees that make up our beach safety program. In 2017, the South Walton Fire District responded to 5,794 calls which is nearly three times the amount of calls for service compared to 2000.

The South Walton Fire District is responsible for providing Fire Protection, Emergency Medical Services Transport, Beach Lifeguards, Hazardous Material Mitigation, 9-1-1 Emergency Communications, Public Education and Fire Prevention activities for the South Walton area. This 84-square mile area encompasses all properties from the Okaloosa County Line eastward to the Bay County Line and south of the Choctawhatchee Bay to the Gulf of Mexico.

As one of the premier fire/rescue agencies in Northwest Florida, the South Walton Fire District continues to proactively participate, inform and engage our community to strategically plan and poise ourselves to meet the future needs of our communities as well as explore public/private partnerships to balance growth with public safety response and protection.

Members of our South Walton Fire District are dedicated, highly skilled and motivated professionals that have faced countless of incidents over the past 35 years and have provided millions of residents, tourists and guests with “Prompt, Competent, Caring Response in Time of Need”.

As we continue to “Serve from the Bay to the Beach” we wish to thank all of you for your support during the past 35 years and look forward to the next 35 years and beyond.

We are truly humbled to be called your South Walton Fire District.

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Teresa

SoWal Guide
Staff member
Nov 15, 2004
30,311
9,313
South Walton, FL
sowal.com
I remain grateful and amazed that South Walton has a professional fire and rescue department dedicated to readiness, first response, safety and protection covering beach to bay in our community. In a still growing and developing beach town without dedicated city government this organization is truly an essential part of South Walton. Thank you SWFD.
 
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