Gasparilla Island Fire and Rescue

What This Data Tells You About Gasparilla Island Fire and Rescue

Gasparilla Island Fire and Rescue operates as a Volunteer department in Placida, within Charlotte County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 20 total personnel, 1 station, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as active.

Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. Florida has 758 registered fire departments and 21,048 total personnel, averaging roughly 28 staff per department. Gasparilla Island Fire and Rescue runs 29% below that state average, signalling a leaner crew typical of smaller jurisdictions or heavily volunteer-staffed areas. The state records about 106,000 fires, 206 fire deaths, and 24% volunteer coverage each year, which shapes training, funding priorities, and mutual-aid patterns felt at every department in the state.

Federal investment further defines this department's trajectory: Gasparilla Island Fire and Rescue has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $-15,933 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff.