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Space Coast volunteer fire departments face staffing crisis, move toward paid positions

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Published  May 19, 2025 11:07pm EDT
Brevard County
FOX 35 Orlando
Space Coast volunteer fire departments face staffing crisis

Space Coast volunteer fire departments face staffing crisis

Volunteer fire departments along Florida’s Space Coast are facing a critical staffing shortage, prompting cities like Indian Harbour Beach to consider hiring paid firefighters for the first time in decades.

The Brief

    • Indian Harbour Beach eyes full-time firefighters after decades of volunteer service.
    • Shrinking numbers and stricter training are straining departments across the region.
    • Officials plan renovations and staffing upgrades to sustain emergency response.

INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH, Fla. - Volunteer fire departments along Florida’s Space Coast are facing a critical shortage in staffing, prompting cities like Indian Harbour Beach to consider bringing in paid firefighters for the first time in decades.

What we know:

Volunteer fire departments along Florida’s Space Coast, including Indian Harbour Beach, are facing steep declines in staffing. 

In response, Indian Harbour Beach Fire Chief David Lewis is requesting the addition of at least two full-time firefighters — a first for the city after more than 50 years of relying exclusively on volunteers. 

The city has also begun hiring part-time maintenance staff to help manage daily operations.

The backstory:

Since 1965, Indian Harbour Beach has operated its fire services entirely through volunteer efforts. However, increasing training requirements and waning interest among recruits have steadily eroded the number of available volunteers. 

These conditions are prompting city officials to reevaluate a decades-old system and move toward a hybrid model of paid and volunteer staff.

Big picture view:

The situation at Indian Harbour Beach reflects a broader regional trend. Melbourne Beach recently took similar steps, initiating plans to hire professional firefighters and renovate their facilities. 

Across the Space Coast, departments are struggling to maintain service levels with dwindling volunteer numbers, prompting structural and financial changes.

What we don't know:

It remains unclear how soon Indian Harbour Beach will secure funding and complete the necessary renovations to house full-time firefighters. It is also uncertain whether paid staffing will fully resolve the coverage gap or if volunteer recruitment can be revitalized alongside the transition.

What they're saying:

After more than 50 years of relying solely on volunteers, Indian Harbour Beach Fire Chief David Lewis is asking the city to fund at least two full-time firefighter positions. While part-time maintenance staff are currently being hired to support day-to-day operations, Lewis says long-term solutions will require professional staffing.

"Our numbers just keep going down and down," Lewis said. "We can’t serve the community without our group of dedicated volunteers. We eventually need to have paid firefighters to supplement those volunteers — especially during the day when most people are at work and our numbers are very slim."

Lewis said the decline in volunteers is driven by more rigorous training requirements and a drop in interest among potential recruits — challenges that are forcing departments to rethink their longstanding reliance on volunteer personnel.

Despite the transition, Lewis emphasized the continued importance of volunteers in keeping the department operational.

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by Indian Harbour Beach Fire Chief David Lewis, and the Town of Melbourne Beach.

Brevard CountyCrime and Public Safety