Today, we introduce you to Polk County Fire Rescue's new chief, Dr. Hezedean Smith. Dr. Smith was sworn in as the 8th fire chief since 1975 and first Black fire chief in the department’s history.

Polk County Fire Rescue Battalion Chiefs Ramon Gonzalez and Charles True will be moving up the ranks to deputy chiefs, ...

“With great reluctance and a heavy heart and in protest, I submit my resignation,” reads the beginning of a three-page resignation letter from Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Hezedean Smith.

Shawn Smith, who is not related to the ousted fire chief, has been with Polk County Fire Rescue for 21 years. In 2003, he started his career as a Firefighter/EMT.

Polk County Fire Rescue celebrates the swear-in of its new fire chief, Robert Weech, as well as Polk County’s first ambulance service accreditation.

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A day after the release of a report detailing the deadly fire in which a 76-year-old woman died, the Polk County fire chief has announced his retirement. Anthony P. Stravino ...

LAKELAND, Fla. – The chief of Polk County Fire Rescue has announced his retirement, just one day after an analysis was released detailing what went wrong in a fire that left a 76-year-old woman ...

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A Polk County Fire Rescue battalion chief was fired, accused of insubordination and untruthfulness regarding pay for his crew's recent disaster relief deployment.

According to PCFR, Brian Herr, 41, was a firefighter/paramedic who died in a vehicle crash on Interstate-4 in Davenport, Fl. He was hired in the fire department in March 2023 and was sworn in on ...