The Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue Department will join the Broward Sheriff’s Office family Friday evening after its 160 firefighters are sworn in by Sheriff Al Lamberti.
“We’re pleased and honored to have the men and women of Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue join us in continuing to deliver a high level of service to the community,” Sheriff Lamberti said. The Deerfield Beach City Commission unanimously supported the merger. “The city’s leaders should be commended for their vision and commitment to writing a new chapter in public safety service for their residents.”
The merger will take effect officially at 8 a.m. Saturday, October 1 when the uniforms and trucks reflect the change.
“As the City of Deerfield Beach expands its partnership with BSO, we are also laying extraordinary groundwork as a role model for regionalization. In the end, the winners will be the city’s more than 77,000 residents, who will benefit from the wealth of resources that this merger will bring to our community,” Mayor Peggy Noland said.
The $20.5 million annual contract includes a value-added savings of $2.9 million for the city. Part of the plan includes increased staffing at Fire Station 75, which is the sole station on the beach, and plans for opening a sixth fire station to better serve the southwest section of the city, including the Crystal Lakes area.
“The merger underscores the city’s commitment to streamlined efficiency and excellent service provision and builds upon a well-established partnership that we’ve enjoyed with BSO for more than 20 years,” Vice-Mayor Marty Popelsky said.
Deerfield Beach and Hillsboro Beach will be the newest addition to the Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue family. They join Dania Beach, Cooper City, Lauderdale Lakes, Pembroke Park, West Park and Weston as municipalities served. Under the leadership of Fire Chief Neal de Jesus, BSFR also provides fire-rescue services to Broward County’s Port Everglades, Ft. Lauderdale – Hollywood International Airport and unincorporated areas of the county including the western Broward I-75/Alligator Alley corridor through Everglades Regional Fire Station 106. BSFR also provides regional services countywide through dedicated air rescue, Hazardous Materials Team and Technical Rescue Team response, as well as fire marshal and regional logistics services.