1883
Thanksgiving Day. A devastating fire occurs in the downtown business district.
The Ocala House, Palace Hotel, Ocala Banner and ten stores are destroyed.

1883
December. An ordinance is passed to sell Fire Bonds, to be used to purchase apparatus
and equipment for firefighting.

1884
Ocala is rebuilt, and quickly becomes known as the "Brick City". Brick, stone and
iron building materials replace the former wooden structures.

1885
An ordinance is created to establish the Fire Department of the city of Ocala.
Existing volunteer firefighters are incorporated into the new department.
William Fox is elected by City Council to be the first Fire Chief of Ocala.

1886
The first annual Firemen's Ball is held in the month of May.

1889
A fire bell is installed on the grounds near the corner of Osceola A venue and Ft. King
Street. The bell would later be moved to the tower of the new fire station in 1894.

1894
A fire station made of brick is constructed on Southeast Osceola Avenue between
Broadway and Ft. King Street, at a cost of $5,000.00
A medal was given by the fire department to a local writer named Beatrice Marean,
in appreciation for her efforts to raise funds to buy a strand of horses and a fire
engine. The medal was handmade at Tiffany's in New York and survives to this day.
Ocala's first fire horses are obtained to replace hand pulled apparatus.
Ocala's Marion Hose Company No.1 wins the State Championship at the 6th annual
convention, which is held in Ocala. A silver presentation cup is awarded to the fastest
hose team of the Ocala Fire Department, and survives to this day.

1898
The department consists of two hose wagons, one hook and ladder truck, one chief's
buggy and three horses.

1901
The salary of a fireman is $35.00 per month.

1903
A double team of horses rather than a single horse is used to pull apparatus for the
first time.

1915
A fire chief's vehicle is purchased, becoming the department's first motorized apparatus.

1916
All the apparatus becomes motorized, and the fire horses are retired. The former horse
stalls in the rear of the station are renovated into a reading room for the men and an
office for the chief.

1929
The work schedule for a fireman is 149 continuous hours, with just 19 hours off
per week.

1935
Firemen are given one full day off per week. The work week is reduced to 144 hours.

1941
An addition to the fire station is completed, changing the front of the station from
Osceola to face Broadway Street. The cost of construction is $19,359.00

1941
The firemen are placed on a two platoon system, working one day on and one day
off, thus reducing the hours worked to 84 hours per week.

1943
Firemen's uniforms are temporarily changed from blue to khaki color due to war
shortages. The first two way radio is installed enhancing communications.

1945
Gymnasium equipment is purchased for the firemen, including tumbling mats, boxing
gloves and a medicine ball.

1955
The city purchases a Seagrave 85' ladder truck for $33,501.75

1963
The beginning salary for a fireman is $330.00 per month.

1966
Ocala's second frre station is built on East Silver Springs Boulevard at 25th Avenue.

1967
The new Fire Station #2 opens on Northeast 3rd Street.

1968
The historic 1894 firehouse was razed, and the site is currently a vacant lot.

1972
The firefighters vote to be represented by the International Association of Firefighters,
and Local 2135 is established.

1974
Fire Station #3 opens on Southwest 16th Avenue. At the time this was a dirt road and
was the city limits.

1977
The first graduating class of paramedics begin serving the citizens of Ocala.

1980
The Fire Administration building is built on Northeast 3rd Street.

1985
Ocala's first female firefighter is hired.

1989
"911" becomes operational, replacing the seven digit phone number to call in case of
emergency.

1990
Fire Station #4 is built on Southwest 20th Street.

1992
Fire Station #5 opens on Northeast 25th A venue.

1994
The Ocala Fire Department is officially renamed "Ocala Fire Rescue".

2003
Fire Station #2 is relocated to Southeast 36th Avenue. The original Station 2 on East
Silver Springs Boulevard was razed, and is now the site of the Veteran's Park.

2008
Fire Station #6 is built on Southwest 50th Court. The two story station has a sliding
pole, the first since 1894.

2010
Ocala Fire Rescue celebrates 125 years of service to the citizens of our community.