The Division of State Fire Marshal protects life, property, and the environment from the devastation of fire. The division also provides oversight and administration of the Florida Firefighters Occupational Safety and Health Act (Ch. 633 Part V, Florida Statutes), which governs workplace safety for fire departments and volunteer and career firefighters.

The division is organized into two bureaus, which provide the services described below.

• Fire Prevention inspects state-owned and state-leased buildings and develops the statewide Florida Fire Prevention Code. The bureau also evaluates new building and renovation construction plans to determine compliance with fire safety codes and licenses fire protection contractors, fireworks manufacturers and distributors, explosive storage locations, and construction mining sites. In addition, the bureau assists local governments in providing fire prevention services, and inspects boiler systems to determine compliance with state codes.
• Fire Standards and Training provides state certification and training for both paid and volunteer firefighters. The bureau operates the Florida State Fire College, regulates 44 certified fire training centers, and approves curricula for the state fire college, training centers, and colleges that provide courses accepted for certification.

In Fiscal Year 2018-19, the division completed 100% of fire code inspections within statutory timeframes.

Fire Prevention and Control. The 2021 Legislature enacted Chapter 2021-113, Laws of Florida, which, among other provisions, makes the following changes.

• Transfers responsibility for the benefits payable for firefighters with a cancer diagnosis to the State Risk Management Trust Fund (SRMFT). The SRMFT is a self-insurance fund created and administered by DFS that provides insurance for workers' compensation, general liability, federal civil rights actions, or similar proceedings against the state.
• Prohibits anyone from influencing a fire safety inspector by threat, coercion or deception; in addition, the bill prohibits a firesafety inspector from knowingly and intentionally requesting, soliciting, accepting, or agreeing to accept compensation to induce the inspector to violate the Florida Fire Prevention Code.
• Modifies qualifications firesafety contractors to design or alter fire sprinkler or fire protection systems.
• Allows volunteer firefighters who are transitioning to become career firefighters to serve for one year as regular or permanent firefighters.

Other Reports

Fire Loss in the United States During 2019, National Fire Protection Association, September 2020.

U.S. Fire Death Rates by State, National Fire Protection Association, September 2019.

Florida Fires Annual Report, 2018. 

Department of Financial Services - Division of State Fire Marshal and Information Technology Controls - Information Technology Operational Audit, Auditor General Report No. 2018-211, June 2018.

Total Cost of Fire in the United States, National Fire Protection Association, October 2017.

United States Firefighter Injuries-2017, National Fire Protection Association, November 2018.

An Overview of the U.S. Fire Problem, National Fire Protection Association, March 2017.

Websites of Interest
Florida Fire Chiefs' Association
International Association of Fire Chiefs
International Association of Fire Fighters
National Association of State Fire Marshals
National Fire Protection Association
National Volunteer Fire Council
U.S. Fire Administration

Performance Information

Performance measures and standards for the department may be found in its Long Range Program Plan.

Chapters 552 (Manufacture, Distribution, and Use of Explosives), 554 (Boiler Safety), 624 (Insurance Code: Administration and General Provisions), 633 (Fire Prevention and Control), 791 (Sale of Fireworks), and 806 (Arson and Criminal Mischief), Florida Statutes.

Division of State Fire Marshal, 850-413-3170

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