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, ...

Smith, who was hired as chief in November 2022 and made $168,096 annually, was Polk County Fire Rescue’s first Black chief. He wrote in his letter that his position in the role of chief had ...

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.

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 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 ...

Polk County Fire Rescue paramedic arrested Sheriff Grady Judd, along with PCFR Fire Chief Robert Weech and Deputy County Manager Joe Halman, is giving details about the arrest of Polk County Fire ...

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.

“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.