Until the fires occurred in 1998, wildland and interface fire protection was not considered to be a major concern in most parts of Florida. This can be attributed to the low to moderate fire risk factors in the built environment and the high humidity that limits fire frequency and severity. Major structure fires, as well as wildland fires, are infrequent occurrences. While the residents usually place a high emphasis on emergency medical services, they generally do not view fire suppression as an equal concern.
Limited tax revenues and a desire to keep taxes at a low level also tend to keep fire department resources thinly distributed in most of Florida. In many areas it is not uncommon to find two career personnel staffing a fire suppression company and covering a large geographic area. These limited fire suppression resources are often found in municipal as well as county fire departments.
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