Fort Walton Beach Fire Department

05/26/2026

We’d like to recognize Fort Walton Beach Fire Department Fire Chief Thearon Shipman, who recently graduated from the Florida Fire Chiefs' Association Emergency Services Leadership Institute (ESLI).

The year-long ESLI program addresses present-day leadership issues that affect fire service leaders as they manage the complexities of today's fire service. Participants complete six core areas of study:

✅Human Resources and Labor Relations
✅Personal Qualities, Leadership, and the Organization
✅Government Relations and Public Policy
✅Marketing Fire and Emergency Services
✅Finance and Budgeting
✅Emergency Management

"This program has immeasurable value," said Chief Shipman. "It helps prepare our current and future leaders for the challenges they face. It also helps keep our department current and continually moving forward."

Chief Shipman was promoted to Fire Chief in July 2025 and brings 24 years of firefighting experience to the position.

We applaud Chief Shipman on his commitment to professional development, we congratulate him on this accomplishment, and we thank him for his dedication to the City of Fort Walton Beach!

04/29/2026

3pm update, roadway is open.

Please avoid the area of Mooney Rd and Mooney Rd between Merioneth Dr and Burton Ave, in the Kenwood area, until further notice.

04/18/2026

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with our Brothers and Freinds to our East in Bay County.

04/06/2026

On Saturday April 4th at approximately 830pm, FWBFD units BAT6, Truck 6 and Engine 6 were dispatched to a reported structure fire on Hudson Drive.

T6 arrived on scene and reported heavy fire involvement in the roof of the home. BAT6 arrived shortly after and noticed the roof starting to collapse. Units worked quickly to knock down the bulk of the fire defensively and make access into the home for a search. Fortunately, the occupants were not home at the time of the incident. There were no injuries on scene. 2 pet lizards were later found alive within the structure.

Downtown units were assisted on scene by Engine 7 as well as Okaloosa Island Engine 4 and Truck 4 and Okaloosa County EMS.. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the State Fire Marshall.

03/21/2026

02/27/2026

Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with our Brothers and Friends at the Crestview Fire Department.

02/25/2026

Commercial structure fire at Choctaw Plaza Monday evening

The Fort Walton Beach Fire Department responded to a commercial structure fire on the evening of Monday, Feb. 23, 2026, that destroyed one business and caused smoke damage to several others in the Choctaw Plaza shopping center, located at 119 Racetrack Road NW.

The Fire Department received the 911 call around 8 p.m. The first firefighters arrived a few minutes later and reported heavy smoke and flames showing from the Rent-A-Center furniture store, located on the west side of the shopping center.

Due to the size of the occupancy and the amount of fire involvement, the incident was quickly upgraded to three alarms to help provide more manpower for a safe but intensive operation.

About 10 firefighting vehicles and 35 firefighting personnel from Fort Walton Beach Fire Department, Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District, and the Okaloosa Island Fire Department battled the blaze.

Fire crew initiated an aggressive interior offensive attack, working to contain the fire to its source. After an extensive operation, crews were able to bring the fire under control in 30 minutes and prevent the fire from extending to the adjacent businesses.

The Renta-A-Center business sustained significant damage and property loss. Additionally, smoke from the fire spread through the building’s roof and damaged several other adjacent businesses located within the same building.

No one was in the building at the time of the fire, and there were no reported civilian or firefighter injuries as a result of this incident.

The Florida State Fire Marshal’s office is currently investigating the cause and origin of this incident, and no further information is available at this time.

We would like to extend a huge thank you to our mutual aid partners at Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District and the Okaloosa Island Fire Department for assisting with the fire, and to the Eglin Air Force Base Fire Department for providing district coverage during the incident.

02/15/2026

Battalion 6, Truck 6, and Engine 7 assisted with suppression efforts this morning in Shalimar.

02/10/2026

Please join us on Friday February the 13th for a Celebration of Life for Calvin "P-Nut" Pina following his funeral services. The Funeral will be from 11am til 1pm at the First Baptist Church and we will be gathering at The Block immediately following the service. Please stop by for fellowship and share the many memories we have of such a wonderful person.

There will also be a procession that will go down Lewis Turner and continue onto Beal Parkway until First St SE. Please be aware of the possibility of traffic congestion or if you would like to come out for support.

02/06/2026

Today we pause to honor and remember Calvin “Pnut” Pina — a man who devoted 33 years of selfless service to the fire department and left an unforgettable mark on every life he touched.

Pnut was more than a firefighter. He was a genuine friend, a loyal brother, and a steady presence you could always count on. His character spoke through his actions — humble, dependable, and unwavering in his commitment to doing what was right. Through long shifts, difficult calls, and countless shared moments, he built bonds that went far beyond the firehouse. To many of us, he wasn’t just a coworker… he was family.

Behind the badge, Pnut’s greatest pride was always his family and the people he loved. No matter how demanding the job became, he never lost sight of what mattered most. He served this community with honor and dedication, but it was his kindness, his heart, and his loyalty to those closest to him that truly defined the man he was.

His absence leaves a space that cannot be filled, but his legacy will live on in every life he touched, every lesson he taught, and every memory shared. We are better for having known him, worked beside him, and called him our brother.

Rest easy, Pnut. Thank you for your years of service, your friendship, and the example you set for us all. You will be deeply missed, forever respected, and never forgotten.