Should Fire and Rescue Stay under Broward County, FL, Sheriff's Office?

Broward County commissioners will soon decide if they want to look into removing a major responsibility from the Broward Sheriff’s Office: the fire department.

The commission will discuss whether to conduct a study on the potential benefits of bringing Fire Rescue back under county control, which means removing it from BSO’s purview, at next Tuesday’s meeting. The county fire department has operated under the sheriff’s office since 2003.

The county already directed a feasibility study with consulting firm Jensen Hughes in December 2025 on whether the county should restore its own law enforcement agency to protect the county-owned Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Port Everglades seaport, which BSO has also handled since 2003. Commissioner Lamar Fisher said the item, which he sponsored, would add Fire Rescue to that ongoing study.

The move to discuss the matter is “not because BSO did anything wrong,” Fisher said. He argues that it is “prudent” to extend the existing law enforcement study to the fire department. “It just seemed to make sense to go ahead and look at the fire department as well, since they all encompass public safety,” Fisher said.

County officials may consider reviving their old fire department and seaport/airport law enforcement agencies if it means saving money or improving public safety, Fisher said. He added that under state law, a sheriff’s office does not need to disclose how it allocates money it receives from a county government.

BSO allocates more than $259,000,000 to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, according to the sheriff office’s 2025-26 budget.

“Not to the sheriff’s fault at all, but unfortunately, we just can’t dictate to him or her how to spend their monies,” Fisher said. “But this would be a different level of accountability, where we would know exactly what dollars we’re spending for that law enforcement component.”

When asked to comment on the agenda item, a BSO spokesperson highlighted Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue’s accomplishments while operating under the sheriff. Fire Rescue provides services to most unincorporated areas of Broward and to the municipalities of Cooper City, Dania Beach, Deerfield Beach, Hallandale Beach, Hillsboro Beach, Lauderdale Lakes, Pembroke Park, West Park and Weston through contract agreements.

“For more than 22 years, Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue has been a cornerstone of public safety in Broward County by saving lives, easing suffering and protecting property,” BSO said in the statement. “Through high-quality fire and emergency services, crews respond 24/7 to protect residents and visitors across Broward County when it matters the most.”

The county commission item is the latest in a series of blows to BSO. In January, the Deerfield Beach City Commission voted to end its 30-year relationship with BSO. Pompano Beach may be next, the Sun Sentinel reported. Pembroke Park, a town just south of Hollywood, ended its contract with BSO in 2022. Last September, Sheriff Greg Tony implored neighboring city West Park to not even consider starting its own police department.

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