What Palm Beach County Fire Rescue does

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue (PBCFR) is a Class 1 all-hazards fire and rescue department operating as a public-safety agency of Palm Beach County Government, headquartered at the Fire Rescue Complex, 405 Pike Road, West Palm Beach, Florida. The department serves unincorporated Palm Beach County and served municipalities, covering nearly 1,800 square miles through 51 fire stations (including a dedicated station at Palm Beach International Airport) staffed by 2,057 employees comprising firefighter/paramedics, ocean rescue personnel, communications staff, and administrative support.

The department's operational portfolio spans structural fire suppression, advanced life support emergency medical response, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, water and ocean rescue, aircraft emergency response, fire and arson investigations, emergency management and hurricane preparedness, and community risk reduction (fire inspections, plan review, public education including hands-only CPR/AED training). Service delivery is coordinated through a Communications & Technology Division that handles approximately 156,526 911 calls annually via computer-aided dispatch, supported by specialty response groups and a dedicated Training and Safety division.

PBCFR is funded through public tax revenues and county budget appropriations; it does not sell commercial products or services and generates no commercial revenue. Its go-to-market is direct-to-government: residents and businesses access emergency services through the 911 system, while non-emergency services (inspections, plan review, open burn permits, community education) are delivered through department outreach. The department was founded in 1984 and is led by Chief Herman W. Brice. In FY 2022 it achieved ISO Class 1 Public Protection Classification from the Insurance Services Office, placing it among the top-rated fire departments in the United States.

Name

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue

Legal name

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue

Website

https://pbcfr.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is a Class 1-rated all-hazards fire and rescue department serving unincorporated Palm Beach County and served municipalities across nearly 1,800 square miles via 51 fire stations and 2,057 personnel, responding to roughly 156,526 911 calls per year.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Emergency Fire and Rescue Services

NAICS

Fire Protection (922160), Fire Protection (92216), Justice, Public Order, and Safety Activities (9221)

akta.pro primary industry

Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Firefighting & Casualty Stabilization (Marine Fire, De-watering) (IMAJANAG), Emergency Dispatch Center Services (PSAP/911 Support, Private Dispatch) (BPAKAFAJ), Fire & Life Safety Services (Inspection/Testing/Sprinklers/Alarms) (IMAIAAAI)

Keywords

• Emergency fire rescue
• Advanced life support
• Hazardous materials response
• Community risk reduction
• Ocean rescue services

Headquarters

HQ city

West Palm Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Public Tax Funding: Government-funded emergency services department supported by public tax revenues. No commercial revenue generation as the department provides essential public safety services at no charge to residents.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is a Class #1 all-hazards fire and rescue department that provides 24/7 emergency response across nearly 1,800 square miles in Palm Beach County, Florida. Core services include fire suppression, advanced life support medical response, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, water/ocean rescue, aircraft emergencies, fire and arson investigations, and emergency management for hurricanes and disasters. The department operates 51 fire stations with 2,057 employees and handles approximately 156,526 911 calls per year.

Product overview

Palm Beach County Fire Rescue is a Class #1 rated all-hazards fire and rescue department providing comprehensive emergency services across nearly 1800 square miles in Palm Beach County, Florida. The department operates 51 fire stations with 2,057 employees responding to approximately 156,526 emergency calls annually. The service portfolio includes fire suppression and rescue operations, advanced life support emergency medical services, ocean rescue, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, and community risk reduction programs including fire safety education, inspections, and plan reviews. Specialized divisions include Communications & Technology, Emergency Management, Training and Safety, and Specialty Groups, all coordinated through an ISO Class 1-rated infrastructure.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• All-Hazards Emergency Response Comprehensive 24/7 emergency response services covering fire suppression, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, technical rescues, water rescues, and aircraft emergencies across Palm Beach County's nearly 1,800 square miles of service area. Served by 2,057 employees operating out of 51 fire stations.
• Medical Services Advanced life support and emergency medical services provided by firefighter/paramedics who respond to medical emergencies and provide pre-hospital care across Palm Beach County.
• Ocean Rescue Beach and water safety rescue operations providing drowning prevention, water rescue, and aquatic emergency response services along the county's coastline.
• Community Risk Reduction Fire prevention and community safety programs including fire safety education, inspections, plan reviews, open burn permits, and community outreach initiatives for Palm Beach County residents and businesses.
• Emergency Management Hurricane preparedness, disaster response coordination, and emergency management planning for Palm Beach County, including hurricane preparation and response activities.
• Training and Safety Firefighter training programs, continuing education, safety certifications, and professional development for department personnel.
• Specialty Groups Specialized response capabilities including hazardous materials teams, technical rescue units, and other elite emergency response functions.
• Fire Inspections Commercial and residential fire safety inspections, code compliance verification, and life safety assessments performed by the Community Risk Reduction / Office of the Fire Marshal.
• Plan Review Review of construction and development plans for fire safety code compliance, including building design and fire suppression system requirements.
• Fire and Arson Investigations Investigation services to determine cause and origin of fires, including arson detection and criminal investigation support.
• Hands-Only CPR and AED Training Community education program teaching bystander hands-only CPR skills and AED usage to Palm Beach County residents.
• Communications and Technology Division Emergency dispatch and communications infrastructure supporting 156,526 annual 911 calls across 51 fire stations, including computer-aided dispatch and emergency notification systems.

Quantifiable outcome

• 156,526 911 calls handled annually
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Cobb County Fire and Emergency Services: Suburban Atlanta county fire and emergency services agency providing fire suppression, EMS, and specialized response. Comparable county-level all-hazards operating model with similar funding and governance.
• Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department: Large, ISO Class 1-rated fire and rescue department serving a major U.S. county. Closest functional peer on quality designation, scale, and all-hazards capability mix.
• Hillsborough County Fire Rescue: Florida county-level fire rescue department operating under an all-risks model with comparable station counts, EMS integration, and community risk-reduction programming. Direct structural peer.
• Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department: One of Florida's largest municipal fire rescue departments, providing fire suppression, EMS, hazmat, technical rescue, and ocean rescue services. Comparable scale, scope, and public-municipal operating model.
• Charlotte Fire Department: Large southeastern U.S. municipal fire department operating with similar all-hazards capability including technical rescue, hazmat, and EMS integration. Comparable organizational structure and funding model.
• Miami-Dade Fire Rescue: Large all-hazards fire rescue department serving Miami-Dade County, Florida. Comparable scale, structure, and service portfolio (fire, EMS, hazmat, ocean/rescue) and operates under similar county-government funding dynamics.
• Orange County Fire Rescue: Central Florida county fire rescue agency providing all-hazards response including fire, EMS, and specialty rescue. Operates with similar county-funded, multi-station structure to PBCFR.
• Broward County Fire Rescue: Adjacent South Florida county fire rescue agency serving Broward County. Direct geographic neighbor with overlapping hurricane, hazmat, and urban-response demands and similar municipal-service funding model.

Broad incumbents

• Fire Department of the City of New York (FDNY): Largest municipal fire department in the United States. Overlaps with PBCFR in fire suppression, EMS, technical rescue, and hazmat capabilities, but operates at far greater scale and density.
• Los Angeles County Fire Department: Very large, broad-spectrum U.S. county fire agency operating across urban, wildland, and coastal environments. Comparable all-hazards scope at significantly larger scale, with similar municipal funding structure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pbcfr

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Palm Beach County Fire Rescue