History

The City of Punta Gorda Fire Department was established in 1897 as an all-volunteer department. The first fire station was at City Hall located at 326 W. Marion Avenue with the engine housed where the City Clerk's office is today.

In 1950-52 the Fire Department hired the first career firefighters consisting of three (3) men who rotated their time on duty with a twenty-four hour shift. At this time the Fire Chief was still a volunteer position which was traded off every other year or so between Jettson (Joe) Smith and Robert Barley.

In 1968 the Fire Department moved to a building that had been a Ford dealership for many years, and is now the location of the US Post Office on E. Marion Avenue. In 1970 the City built a new Public Safety building at 1410 Tamiami Trail with larger quarters to accommodate the fire equipment and personnel, Fire Department Administration and the Police Department. Then in 2002 an updated Public Safety Complex was constructed at the same address. The Public Safety Complex is the location of Fire Station #1, Fire Administration and the Police Department.

In 1970 the first full-time paid Fire Chief was hired, George Hill. Chief Hill and Assistant Chief Darryl Moore ran the Department for approximately seven years, at which time they both retired. The next Chief of the department was Donald Romer, who served from July 1977 until 1989. In 1989 the helm was turned over to Edward L. Keeler. Chief Keeler had started as a Volunteer Firefighter and worked his way up the ranks to Chief; he served in that position until 1995. In 1995 the city hired William Dryburgh, who retired from Orange County (Florida) Fire Rescue, to be its next Chief. Chief Dryburgh served until 1999 at which time he retired. In 1999 Robert C. Naylor, a long time member of the department and past Fire Marshal, became the next Fire Chief. Chief Naylor retired in 2004 after 25 years of service. The current Chief, Robert Hancock, began serving in 2005 after having served with Hillsborough County (Florida) Fire Rescue in excess of thirty years.

Punta Gorda Fire Department
1410 Tamiami Trail
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Headquarters: (941) 575-5529
Fax: (941) 575-5565