VPSD Earns Perfect Score in State Safety Audit as Monthly Report Highlights Strong Operational Performance

The Villages Public Safety Department reported a strong close to 2025, highlighted by a 100% compliant rating in a comprehensive firefighter health and safety audit conducted by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office, according to the department’s latest monthly report.

The inspection, completed on December 19, 2025, evaluated compliance with Florida administrative code, state statutes, OSHA standards adopted by the state, and NFPA guidelines. Inspectors reviewed critical safety elements, including health and safety programs, workplace safety committees, apparatus and equipment testing, respiratory protection, and personnel medical screening. The department achieved full compliance, a result officials say reflects strong internal oversight and sustained attention to firefighter wellness and operational safety.

Operational Activity Remains High

The monthly report shows continued high demand for emergency services during December 2025, with 2,744 total incidents recorded. These included 1,974 EMS-related calls and 770 fire and fire-related responses, demonstrating the department’s broad emergency response role across medical and fire services.

Response performance metrics remained a focus, with data showing:

• 72% of fire calls answered within eight minutes
• 65% of EMS calls answered within eight minutes

Department leadership noted that the long-term goal remains a continual reduction in first-unit response times as staffing levels increase and new stations become fully operational.

EMS and Specialized Care Performance

Ambulance statistics reflected consistent response standards across acuity levels. Average response times were:

• 7.4 minutes for critical/high-acuity calls
• 7.7 minutes for moderate/low-acuity calls

The system completed 1,622 patient transports during December and more than 4,600 transports year-to-date, underscoring sustained demand for emergency medical care.

The department’s Mobile Stroke Treatment Unit (MSTU) also reported notable activity. In December alone, the unit responded to 98 calls, admitted 42 patients, and performed several acute interventions, including the delivery of clot-busting medication and mechanical thrombectomy referrals, illustrating continued expansion of advanced pre-hospital stroke care.

Training, Staffing, and Expansion

In early January, the department celebrated professional development milestones with a pinning and promotional ceremony recognizing 12 graduates and two promotions from Class 2504.

Operational growth also continued with Station 49, which opened in October 2025 and added additional personnel capacity. A formal push-in ceremony is expected soon, reflecting ongoing investment in community coverage and response capability.

Safety Achievement Sets the Tone for 2026

While the monthly report covers a wide range of performance metrics, the department’s perfect score during the statewide safety audit stands out as a significant accomplishment. Fire officials emphasized that the result reflects not only audit preparation but long-term commitment to health, equipment readiness, and compliance with evolving firefighter safety standards.

As emergency call volume remains steady and service expansion continues, the department says maintaining high safety standards for personnel remains central to delivering reliable emergency services to the community.