On November 12, 1973, the Board of County Commissioners passed a fire protection ordinance establishing the Seminole County Fire Control District and creating the Department of Fire Protection. This action was based on the recommendation of a citizens group studying the countywide fire protection problem. Less than 50% of the unincorporated area of the County had an organized fire protection plan and several disastrous fires had recently occurred. Gary E. Kaiser was appointed as Seminole County's first Chief Fire Administrator. Chief Kaiser was given a budget of $48,000.00 and charged with responsibility for preparing a proposal to set up a fire department to begin operation on October 1, 1974.

At midnight on October 1, 1974, the Fire Unit of the Department of Fire Protection began service to the unincorporated areas of Seminole County. The Department consisted of 67 personnel, a budget of $892,000.00, nine fire stations (with two persons each), and a Communications Division staffed by 4 personnel using a radio console borrowed from the Sheriff's Office. This start was rather unconventional, as rented trucks were used for fire apparatus and mobile homes, space in a warehouse, and even a rented two-bedroom apartment served as fire stations. The Business Office was assigned one office in the County Courthouse. During its first year of operation, the department responded to approximately 2,800 alarms and was rated a 9/10 by the Insurance Services Office.

The program was so successful that, after only fifteen months of operation, Seminole County received the coveted National Association of Counties - NACO - Award for "Innovative Fire Protection Services." This award was for the year 1975 and may still be seen in the BCC reception area. During the 1975 reorganization of County Government, the Department of Fire Protection became the Department of Public Safety and was charged with responsibility for providing emergency fire/rescue communications, disaster preparedness, and fire, rescue and emergency medical services for the unincorporated areas of the County. Gary Kaiser was appointed as Director of Public Safety. The budget increased to $1.4 million dollars and the County's ISO rating was reduced from a Class 10 to Class 7, resulting in substantial savings for property owners.

In 1976, the County entered into a First Response Agreement (which provides for the automatic dispatch and response of fire and rescue units) with the City of Altamonte Springs Fire Department. The Seminole County Dive Team was formed that same year.

The City of Longwood Fire Department joined the First Response Agreement and Public Safety Administration, including Communications and Fire Investigations, relocated to the old County Home Building. These events took place in 1977.

Nineteen-eighty marked the creation of the Fire/Rescue Division's Hazardous Materials Team.

In 1981, the Department of Public Safety Emergency Operations Center was completed and housed Administration, Communications, and Fire Inspection/Investigation personnel. Temporary housing for Fire Stations 23, 34, 35, and 41 was replaced by permanent firehouses.

Calls for assistance increased to 11,000 in 1982, and temporary Fire Stations 16, 22, and 43 were replaced by permanent stations. As the result of a cooperative effort between Seminole County and the City of Altamonte Springs, both jurisdictions were able to close one fire station each and relocate to new facilities. This saved the City and County $1 million dollars in annual operating expenses.

Nineteen eighty-four marked the start-up of the Advanced Life Support Program with Paramedics being placed at Stations 16, 23, 35, and 41. This Program was established with Dr. Benjamin Newman serving as the Medical Director.

Fire Station 36, Markhamwoods Road, was added with an engine and a squad. This made a total of 10 County Fire Stations in 1986. That same year, the Countywide Enhanced 9-1-1 System became operational, thus reducing the amount of time between receiving calls for assistance and dispatching units to an alarm.

During 1988, temporary Fire Station 27 was added (making it the 11th County station), the City of Winter Springs Fire Department joined First Response, the 800 MHz Radio System became operational, and the County's ISO rating was dropped to a Class 5.

Emergency Medical Dispatch was implemented in 1989. This program allows Emergency Communications personnel to give pre-arrival emergency medical instructions over the phone to assist callers with the emergency until fire/rescue units arrive. Babies have been born and drowning victims have been saved because of this program. Telecommunications and Emergency Communications were combined into one division and the new Countywide Telephone System became operational. The ISO rating dropped to a 4 and the City of Sanford Fire Department signed the Automatic First Response Agreement., and Dr. Ron Brown became Medical Director. As part of a reorganization of County Government, the Animal Control Division was placed under the Department of Public Safety in December that same year.

Nineteen Ninety marked the completion of the building of permanent Stations 27 and 42; funds were also allocated for Station 45 to be located in Remington Park. That same year, Public Safety hosted the International Extrication Competition and Learning Symposium.

In 1991, three transport capable units with firefighting ability were added to the fleet - this was one of the first adaptions of its kind in the country. That same year, the State contracted with Seminole County to provide Storage Tank Inspection services. That section was placed under the Emergency Management Division.

Fire inspection and code enforcement functions of the Department were transferred to the Building Section of the Development Review Division of the Planning and Development Department in 1992. This was accomplished to place like services in one area in order to provide for one-stop permitting. Seminole County, Altamonte Springs, Orange County, and Maitland Fire Departments joined into a four-party agreement for Automatic First Response.

Lake Mary Fire Department joined in Automatic First Response and Seminole County co-located an Advanced Life Support Transport Capable Unit and personnel at their facility. This took place in 1993.

Nineteen ninety-six marked a reorganization of County government placing Information Services (Computer Services) and Cable under the Department of Public Safety, Communications Division.

Gary Kaiser, who served as Director of Public Safety and Fire Chief since the inception of the Department, officially left his position with Public Safety in March of 1997 and was appointed County Manager for Seminole County. Kenneth Roberts, formerly the Manager of Emergency Management, was appointed Director of Public Safety in June that same year and he continues to serve in that capacity. In order to help citizens and their neighbors during times of disaster, Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training was initiated. In July of 1997, after a long and tedious RFP process, the EMS/Fire/Rescue Division was directed by the Board of County Commissioners to begin providing emergency medical transport services. Director Roberts then appointed Terry L. Schenk as Fire Chief in September that same year.

The year 1998 turned out to be one of the most significant in Seminole County's history. First, the tornadoes of February 23 affected the entire community leaving 12 dead, 34 injured and over $6 million dollars in damage. Then, in June, wildfires broke out in the community of Geneva resulting in the loss of 12 primary residences and in excess of $1 million dollars in damage, with over 2,000 acres burned. Throughout both of these disastrous events, the entire community, agencies and citizens alike, pulled together to provide assistance to those in need and the true meaning of "community" was realized in Seminole County.

As part of of a reorganization of County Government, the Animal Services Division was placed under the Department of Public Safety in December that same year.

In May 1998, Information Services, Telecommunications, and Cable were transferred from the Public Safety Department and joined together to make a new County department - Information Technologies. At that same time, Public Safety reorganized and the EMS Division's focus was changed to that of Medical Quality Assurance and Education; this section was then placed under Administration. Emergency Communications and E-911 were merged to make up their own Division and the EMS Manager was reassigned to oversee those functions.

On October 13, 1998, Seminole County and IAFF Local 3254 signed a collective bargaining unit agreement, the first since unionizing in September 1990. In November that same year, Public Safety personnel moved into the new Public Safety Complex shared by the Sheriff's Office and Public Safety. The new CAD System became operational in December.

In 1999, Fire Station 65 (formerly designated Station 45) was placed in service - - - a joint project between Seminole County, Orange County and the University of Central Florida. A joint helicopter, Air Rescue 3, cooperatively obtained and operated by Seminole County Public Safety and the Sheriff's Office, was placed into service and the new Seminole County Emergency Operations Center was selected by the Florida Division of Emergency Management as an alternate State EOC, one of only two in the State of Florida.

The Department's Budget grew to almost 20 million dollars with a staff of 288; and October 1, 1999 marked the 25th anniversary of the Department of Public Safety.

The year 2002 brought with it many changes. The new Computer Aided Dispatch System and Fire and EMS Reporting Package became operational, the City of Oviedo joined the First Response System, and the City of Altamonte Springs and Seminole County merged to provide emergency services. The Petroleum Storage Tanks Section expanded to include providing services for Lake County clean-up sites and the addition of three personnel. To accommodate the increased number of staff to be housed at the Public Safety Building as a result of the merger with Altamonte Springs, the Petroleum Storage Tanks Section relocated to Reflections at Hidden Lake.

The EMS/Fire/Rescue Division promoted its first female Assistant Chief, Leeanna Raw, and reorganized to include three shift Division Chief positions. Medical Quality Assurance was reassigned to Emergency Communications/E-911 to place all County-wide functions under one Division, and Dr. Todd Husty became the new Medical Director. Animal Services' new shelter management software, Multiple Options, was installed and is fully operational.

The Fiscal Year 2002/2003 budget grew to over 30 million dollars and includes a new Emergency Communications Tactical Radio Operator, a Senior Coordinator to maintain a Quality Assurance Program, a new Lieutenant for Hazardous Materials training and the addition of 72 personnel formerly with Altamonte Springs for a total staff of 393.