In the summer of 2025, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 929, strengthening firefighter health and safety protections under the Florida Firefighters Occupational Safety and Health Act. Among its provisions, the law limits standard firefighter shifts to 42 hours per week to reduce burnout.
As a result, many Florida fire departments are transitioning to a 24/72 schedule—24 hours on duty followed by 72 hours off—requiring the addition of a fourth shift. This change is intended to improve the work-life balance, reduce fatigue, enhance job satisfaction, and support long-term firefighter health, and is backed by both labor and management.
Kissimmee Fire Department Deputy Chief Joseph Leone told Firehouse.com that the implementation of a new “D-Shift” is well underway and has a target date of April 2026.
“The goal is to improve firefighters’ health with a more sustainable schedule and increased family time,” Leone said. "Limiting on-duty time to 24 hours helps reduce sleep deprivation. The first day after a 24-hour shift, you’re wiped out. With a second and third day off, firefighters are better prepared for their next shift."
To determine the most effective approach, the city of Kissimmee retained Emergency Services Consulting International (ESCI) to conduct a comprehensive staffing study. The study evaluated current operations, projected future service demand, and offered recommendations for staffing and deployment for a 42-hour workweek.
For Kissimmee, the shift change means adding 40 firefighters across four stations. To date, 20 paramedics have already been hired and integrated into the existing three shifts.
The impact of the fourth shift on the station facility is significant. According to Leone, accommodating a fourth shift requires:
- 40 additional turnout gear racks
- 40 personal lockers
- Addressing sleeping accommodations; staff is currently using bunk beds
- Additional refrigerators—one more per shift
Due to the use of residential stoves in station kitchens and additional staff at each station, grills and griddles had to be added. Commercial-grade appliances are recommended for the future.
Kissimmee currently has two new fire stations in designa and both have been planned specifically for four-shift operations.
To support chiefs navigating these changes, the 2026 Station Design Conference will introduce two new educational programs:
Fourth-shift readiness workshop: a practical, data-driven session designed to help fire chiefs understand how adding a fourth shift affects staffing levels, space requirements, and daily station operations with a 42-hour workweek.
H2M architects + engineers will lead the panel discussion featuring fire chiefs who will present the benefits and challenges of the 24/72 schedule, with a focus on fire station design and retrofitting existing facilities to meet the new work schedule.
This interactive program will offer attendees real-world scenarios that connect staffing models to station design needs, including sleeping quarters, lockers, kitchens, and support spaces.
A common misconception is that a fourth shift will significantly reduce overtime costs. “That’s false,” Leone says, “This change is about firefighter health and life balance.” Challenges include the loss of traditional weekends off and fewer opportunities for shift trades, as training and instruction now occur daily.
The Station Design Conference provides attendees with the tools to avoid costly mistakes when planning for their department's future.
The 12th annual Station Design Conference focuses on providing the best topics, speakers, and resources for fire, law enforcement, and public safety agencies designing and building new or renovated facilities. The conference also offers opportunities to meet product and service providers who specialize in public safety facilities.
Attend the Station Design Conference, May 18-21, in Reno, NV, and learn how to save your department time and costly errors. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
