Polk County Fire Rescue Holds First...Polk County Fire Rescue Holds ...

Polk County Fire Rescue Holds First Minimum Fire Standards Academy

Published: July 14, 2026

Bartow, Fla. (July 14, 2026) - Polk County Fire Rescue started its first in-house Minimum Fire Standards Academy Monday, July 13, at the county's new Fire Rescue Training Center in Winter Haven.

The new Polk County Minimum Fire Standards Academy will help streamline the education of new firefighters. It also allows Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) instructors to train new members in a way that aligns with the department's standard operating procedures.

Polk County Fire Chief Shawn Smith is excited to begin training new members internally.

"Being able to teach your own fire standards is so crucial to the growth of a large department like ours," said Smith. "We brought EMT training in house last year and we're continuing to bring training for other disciplines in house. Advancements like these are really what helps us reach our goal of becoming a destination department."

PCFR's new Minimum Fire Standards Academy will offer a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on learning. The academy will run for 14 weeks. Students will attend classes five days a week.