The Daytona Beach Fire Department (DBFD) has an interesting history. Since the first big fire in 1898, several influential citizens tried to form a volunteer fire department. In 1902, the city actually owned a chemical fire engine. In 1909, the first paid fire chief was Henry T. Titus. By the end of that year, Charles Messing was the chief with about 65 volunteers. 1909 was also the year that the first water system was in place. The Water Works and the tower on Magnolia Avenue were erected. DBFD has continued to improve on the water system since that time and it has proven to be a valuable asset to the fire department.

There have been a few complex changes in the status of the Fire Department. In the mid-seventies, city management implemented a cross-trained "Public Safety Department." This combined the police and fire departments into one department. This system was costly and cross training lowered morale. So, fire and police separated into their own departments.

Again in the early nineties, city officials wanted a combined public safety department. This time they did not ask for cross-trained employees. Instead, the fire department just fell under the authority of the Police Chief with a Commander of the Fire Division under him. This only lasted until 1996. Once again, DBFD is its own fire department with Chief Larry Taft in charge.x`1x`