Budget cuts could mean firefighter layoffs.
Sumter County’s proposed budget puts Fire & Rescue staffing at risk — in one of the fastest-growing counties in Florida. We built this page so you can follow the facts, the hearings, and what happens next, straight from the firefighters themselves.
The fire assessment was set to zero this July, cutting a dedicated funding source for Fire & Rescue.
The raise our members previously gave up to help the county avoid layoffs. We’ve done our part.
Fire and emergency medical coverage our crews provide across Sumter County, every day of the year.
Who We Are
We are the Professional Firefighters of Sumter County, IAFF Local 5313 — the firefighters, engineers, lieutenants, and paramedics of Sumter County Fire & EMS. We live here, raise our families here, and answer the call here.
Our members respond to structure fires, wildfires, car crashes, and medical emergencies across the county. When you dial 911, we are the ones who show up — and we believe you deserve to know when the resources behind that response are at risk.
This page exists for one reason: to keep our neighbors informed about the county budget decisions that affect your fire and emergency medical protection.
Our Mission
To protect the lives and property of everyone in Sumter County with professional, fully staffed fire and emergency medical service — and to speak plainly and publicly when that protection is put at risk. Your safety is not a line item.
President’s Message
To our neighbors in Sumter County,
Nobody becomes a firefighter to talk about budgets. We would rather be training, running calls, and serving this community. But when proposed cuts put firefighter jobs — and your emergency response — on the line, staying quiet isn’t an option.
Our members have already sacrificed to help this county balance its books, including giving up a promised raise to prevent layoffs. Sumter County keeps growing, and the demand for fire and EMS grows with it. Cutting the people who answer 911 calls moves us in exactly the wrong direction.
This isn’t about politics for us. It’s about whether enough trained professionals are on duty when your family needs help. We’ll keep showing up at every hearing, and we’ll keep this page updated so you can follow along and make your own voice heard.
News & Updates
Make Your Voice Heard
The final vote on the county budget happens at a public hearing — and public comment is open to every resident. Showing up, or simply contacting your commissioners, tells the county that fire and EMS staffing matters to you.
Can’t attend? Follow this page. We’ll post what happened and what it means after every hearing.