City Of Tavares Fire Department

The City of Tavares Fire Department is a career department protecting Tavares, Florida, from two stations staffed 24 hours a day. Its roughly 26 personnel are split between an Operations Division running three shifts on a 24-hours-on, 48-hours-off rotation, each led by a Battalion Chief, and a small weekday Administrative Division.

Crews handle more than 4,000 calls for service each year, ranging from structure fires and vehicle collisions to alarms, smoke investigations, water rescues, brush fires, and weather emergencies. The department runs Advanced Life Support with paramedics and EMTs and partners with Lake Emergency Medical Services for patient transport.

Tavares works closely with neighboring agencies, maintaining mutual aid agreements with Eustis, Leesburg, Mount Dora, and Lake County. It is based at the Tavares Public Safety Complex on Gateway Drive.

Tavares hires firefighters through the City of Tavares employment system, with openings posted on the city's jobs page. The department has recruited for Firefighter/EMT positions (paramedic preferred) on an open-until-filled basis.

Applicants apply directly through the online job posting; all application materials are public record and incomplete applications may not be reviewed. Final candidates for these special-risk positions must pass a background check and drug testing as a condition of employment. Veterans may claim Florida veterans' preference by submitting the required certification before the closing date.