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On-Call: Media Relations & On-Call
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On-Call Policy

Orange County Fire Rescue Department's (OCFRD) Public Information Office is staffed Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. – 6 p.m. Understanding that significant events may take place anytime, a public information officer (PIO) is on-call after hours for incidents that exceed the capabilities of a battalion chief on scene. After hours, PIOs are notified of significant events and in such cases will either proactively release information on these events or will respond to individual media inquiries. Beat checks, routine crashes and fires, or other incidents not involving serious injury or death, or an immediate threat to public safety, will be responded to during normal business hours.

If media needs information after hours, battalion chiefs on scene are authorized to provide information. PIOs respond to a scene at the request of the incident commander.

To ensure your inquiry is received by the duty PIO, OCFRD has established FirePIO@ocfl.net, which will provide a more efficient means to facilitate media requests. By streamlining this process with one unified email, the on-call calendar will no longer be posted. You may also call the OCFRD media hotline at 407-836-9890. Before calling, please ensure you are calling the appropriate fire rescue agency. We provide fire/EMS dispatch for the cities of Maitland, Ocoee and Winter Garden fire departments and their calls will appear on OCFRD dispatch screens and PulsePoint however we will not have, nor release information, on those or any other fire departments’ calls.

During significant incidents or events, OCFRD utilizes Twitter @OCFireRescue as a primary means of communication. Please check Twitter for information already released on a call.

For more information, read our media relations guidelines.

CONTACT US

For members of the news media, you can reach an OCFRD PIO by calling the media hotline at 407-836-9890.

Media Relations Guidelines

Orange County Fire Rescue Department's Public Information Office is proud to serve our citizens and media partners with timely responses to requests. The Public Information Office is open during traditional working hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. We provide incident information, records and reports, audio files and interviews on topics within our jurisdictions.

Public records requests (including 911 audio) are handled during normal business hours. For public records requests, email publicrecordrequest@ocfl.net or call 407-836-9050.

EMS calls are listed on the OCFRD Active Calls page as a courtesy. Very little or no additional information (protected by HIPPA) related to these calls may be available and is limited to include confirmation of transport.

Orange County Fire Rescue Department remains the lead organization for the release of information related to fire response in unincorporated Orange County.

The Florida Forest Service remains the lead agency for wildfire response.

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office remains the lead organization for the release of any information regarding violent crimes (such as shootings, stabbings, and assaults) or suspicious device investigations. These inquiries should be directed to the Orange County Sheriff’s Office.

The Florida Highway Patrol remains the lead organization for the release of information regarding motor vehicle crashes resulting in significant injury, road blockage or fatalities. Media inquiries regarding motor vehicle crashes should be directed to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The release of information by Orange County Fire Rescue Department is governed by Florida State Statute 119 and HIPAA privacy laws. The Public Information Office welcomes inquiries from our media partners and strives to keep citizens and visitors informed about incidents of interest and those that impact public safety, while ensuring the protection of exempt information required by law.