July 1961                                
North Port Charlotte Volunteer Fire Department was organized.

September 1961                     
North Port’s first Fire Chief was “Doc” Henriksen and Assistant Chief Paul Albers.

October 1961                          
First fire truck purchased – 1926 American La-France Pumper.  Purchased from Daytona Beach for $1,000.

October 1961                           
Fire service provided to Port Charlotte.  Port Charlotte lost its fire protection from Punta Gorda Volunteer Fire Department on October 15, 1961.

November 1961                      
Fire Department responds to first structure fire in Murdock, a 75-year-old wood frame home owned by Mrs. Dorothy Frizzel.  NPCVFD was first on scene within eight minutes with one truck.  Personnel on scene included Chief Henriksen and four volunteers.  Building and contents of home destroyed.

August 1962                            
One Year Review – Almost half of the 17 volunteers are 60+.  Call volume for the year was five brush fires, one kitchen fire, one gas leak, one car accident – population was approximately 700.  Residents were expected to pay membership subscription dues of $10 first year and $5 each year thereafter.  Alarm calls were handled by Mrs. Lille Gurda of the Venice Answering Service.

December 1962                      
Chief Henricksen was re-elected Fire Chief.

October 1963                          
First Annual Fireman’s Ball was held.  Cost was $5 per couple and music was provided by Lou Werne’s Orchestra.

April 1966                               
Newly formed South County Ambulance and Rescue Service to provide ambulance service from North Port Charlotte to Osprey.  Prior to this, Rawles Funeral Home and Farley Funeral Home provided ambulance service.

1966-1967                                                               
Department budget request was $763.00.

February 1970                         
Ambulance need identified.  Civic leaders expressed the need for ambulance service in North Port Charlotte.  Of particular interest is a quote from Civic Association Director Oliver McShanog that “…an ambulance could be bought for 3,000 trading stamp books…”

April 1970                               
Ambulance volunteers were recruited by Mayor Roscoe Kirk.  The coverage area included North Port Charlotte, Warm Mineral Springs and Myakka River Manor.

May 1970                               
Civic Association gave $3,000 for the purchase of an ambulance.

February 1971                        
Ambulance Service started with 10-12 volunteers and one ambulance (a station wagon).  Ambulance call volume:  60 runs between February and July.

1974                                                                   
Referendum passed to change city name from North Port Charlotte to North Port.  Construction started on first fire station and city-owned building.

September 1975                     
North Port Blvd Fire Station dedicated by Mayor Marge Gentle and Commissioners William T. Powis, Abraham Verman, John M. Whalen and George Whisenant.

1980                                                   
Ruth Vito promoted to Ambulance District Supervisor. 

September 1983                    
Call volume for August was 66 calls, compared to 36 the previous year.  Current ambulance manning is one paid employee (supervisor) and eight volunteers.  They are either EMT- or driver-trained.

September 1983                    
Ordinance 83-149 passed creating the North Port Fire and Ambulance Tax District.

May 1984                               
Ambulance service becomes fully paid.

September 1984                 
Paul Kaskey is hired as Chief of the Fire Department.

October 1985                          
North Port Ambulance Service employees and North Port Fire Department employees merged as one department and all became cross-certified as firefighter/EMT or firefighter/paramedic.

December 1985                      
Advanced Life Support ambulance service initiated.  Three paramedics on line, two in training.

April 1989                               
Largest brush fire in City history to date – three brush fires burning over 3,300 acres – 200 firefighters from 25 agencies assisted in containing the fire.

April 1990                               
Estimated population 12,000.

March 1991                              
Fire Department members unionized under the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 2546 and submit first union contract proposal.

May 1991                                 
NPFR gains national attention on popular show, Rescue 911.  Motor vehicle crash filmed in which an elderly woman was struck by automobile.

January 1994                           
Fire Department expands and adds six new firefighters/EMT’s or paramedics.

February 1995                          
North Port Blvd. Fire Station renovation completed after approximately six months.

September 1995                       
North Port Blvd. Fire Station re-dedicated by City Commissioners.

Spring 1996                             
Nine new line personnel hired.

March 1996                             
Three firefighters promoted to Lieutenant in preparation for the second fire station.

April 1996                                
Opening of temporary North Port Fire Rescue District Station located on Price Blvd.

1998                                                                              
Fire Chief Paul Kaskey is appointed as City Manager.  Deputy Chief Michael Auclair is appointed as Fire Chief.

1998                                       
Ronald E. Coleman Fire Station, located at Sumter and North Port Blvd. is opened and dedicated, replacing temporary station on Price Blvd.

2000                                       
City of North Port’s estimated population 22,797 (90% increase in 10 years).

Jan 2000                                
Six new line personnel hired.

April 2001                               
A controlled burn being conducted in the Carlton Reserve jumps fire lines and crosses over into North Port Estates.  The biggest fire in North Port history, it burned 5,400 acres before being contained.  One home was lost in the Estates. While fighting the Carlton blaze, a second fire, started by an arsonist, raged out of control in the Atwater area and burned over 1,600 acres. One home was lost.  Over 39 fire companies across the state assisted North Port in containing the fires.

March 2002                             
Chief Michael Auclair leaves the department and Captain Howard Bearse is appointed as Interim Fire Chief.

December 2002                        
Three new line personnel hired.

January 2003                          
William J. Taaffe appointed as Fire Chief.

May 2003                                 
North Port Fire Rescue and North Port High School partner to raise DUI awareness through a vehicle accident enactment prior to the new high school’s first prom.

June 2003                                 
Howard Bearse appointed Deputy Chief of Operations.

June 2003                                
Spring Flood 2003 caused major damage in the City and put 291 roads under several feet of water.  President Bush declared a state of emergency in the area.

July 2003                                
Three new line personnel hired.

August 2003                            
Donald Adams, Sr. appointed Deputy Chief of Administration.

January 2004                           
City of North Port’s estimated population 42,000 (85% increase in 4 years)

January 2004                           
North Port Fire Rescue and North Port High School receive Florida Fire Chiefs’ Award of Excellence in Community Public Education for the year 2003 for the high school DUI enactment.

February 2004                          
A tanker carrying 8,000 gallons of gasoline and diesel crashes and explodes on the Myakkahatchee Creek/ I-75 bridge.  The bridge sustains major damage and I-75 southbound is closed for several days.