The City of Panama City Fire Department serves a coastal community located in the panhandle of northwest Florida on beautiful St. Andrews Bay.  This area is immediately adjacent to the Florida’s Inter-Coastal Waterway and the blue-green waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Panama City is also known as a popular year-round tourist location offering a comfortable climate and friendly atmosphere.  Both the City of Panama City and the Panama City Fire Department were founded in 1909 and will celebrate our 100th birthday in 2009.  A Centennial Committee is in the process of planning the many festivities which will pay tribute to this historic event.

Panama City’s attributes provide a highly attractive living environment compatible with a variety of tastes and lifestyles.  Cited most often are:

pleasant climate, attractive housing opportunities, fishing, water sports, arts, entertainment, and a pleasing small town environment.

Being a coastal city fire department provides some unique challenges for the Panama City Fire Department.  With the City being essentially surrounded by water on three sides, in addition to the numerous bayous and inlets, the Panama City area encompasses numerous miles of shoreline.  Included in the areas served by the Panama City Fire Department are two City-owned Marinas with a multitude of boat slips, several private marinas, a deep water port, and numerous other docking facilities.  This aquatic environment requires firefighters to be well trained in personal water safety and water rescue as well as other firefighting and rescue operations.   

As a result of this coastal environment, the Fire Department has participated in a number of water related rescue incidents over the years.  In 2007, two of our members, Firefighter

Apart from water related emergencies, Firefighters are also active in protecting our community from fire and other dangers.  Also of note for 2007, two other members of the Department, Lieutenant Scott Flitcraft and Firefighter Ryan Smith, were also awarded the Fire Department’s Live Saver Award for their actions in rescuing an unconscious victim from a burning building.  Lt. Flitcraft and Firefighter Smith also received national recognition for their efforts by being honored with a Unit Citation Award from Firehouse Magazine.

Being on the Gulf Coast, our community is also subject to landfall from hurricanes during the June 1 through November 30 Hurricane Season.  Although the Hurricane Season falls during a specified time frame, preparations for the hurricane season continue throughout the year.  Some of these preparations include planning and providing logistical support for Fire Department personnel and other essential workers from the City, training of the Department’s State sponsored Type II – Light Technical Rescue Team, establishing alternative power and water supplies to support workers, and continuing to work toward facility safety to name a few.