South Walton Fire District

South Walton Fire District "Prompt, Competent, Caring Response in Time of Need" The purpose of this site is to share information on specific South Walton Fire District topics of interest.
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SINGLE RED FLAGS! 5/31/26High surf hazards and dangerous rip currents are present Sunday, May 31, South Walton Fire Dist...
05/31/2026

SINGLE RED FLAGS! 5/31/26

High surf hazards and dangerous rip currents are present Sunday, May 31, South Walton Fire District lifeguards are flying single red flags. 🚩🌊

Follow the saying today. Stay close to shore and near a lifeguard at all times. The open water is not the same as a swimming pool!

Respect the power of rip currents- If you see a swimmer in distress, we strongly advise against attempting to rescue them yourself. Instead, alert the nearest lifeguard or call 911. Have an accurate location/address to give to dispatchers so they can get help to you quickly.

Remember: Many fatal drowning events on days like today are a result of untrained rescuers attempting to save another person. Rip currents can and will sweep even a strong swimmer out to sea, so please leave the rescuing to the professionals.

Be safe, stay hydrated, and enjoy your day at the beach. Help us educate and share this information with any visitors who may not know to follow our page! We are in this together.

Walton County Sheriff's Office, Florida Walton County Emergency Management 30A Visit South Walton US National Weather Service Tallahassee Florida NOAA NWS National Hurricane Center SoWal

DOUBLE RED FLAGS! 5/30/26After numerous rescues and public assists on Saturday, May 30, SWFD Beach Safety has changed be...
05/30/2026

DOUBLE RED FLAGS! 5/30/26

After numerous rescues and public assists on Saturday, May 30, SWFD Beach Safety has changed beach flags to double red.

Double red flags mean it is illegal to swim or boogie board in the Gulf according to Walton County Ordinance section 22-54(H).

Violators can face $500 fines from law enforcement. Please remember this decision is being made for your safety and the safety of our responding lifeguards. We do not want to see anyone’s beach day end with the loss of a friend or family member due to a drowning fatality.

Lifeguards evaluate the water constantly- Some of the factors we take into consideration are the size of the waves, strength and number of rip currents, the direction of the longshore current, and how the wind may be interacting with the surf.

We are asking for the public's help in preventing drownings by taking personal accountability for your own safety and heeding the warnings from our surf rescue professionals. Lifeguards will take a proactive approach to educating beach patrons related to the hazards and we ask for your patience and understanding.

Walton County Sheriff's Office, Florida SoWal Walton County Emergency Management US National Weather Service Tallahassee Florida Visit South Walton 30A

05/29/2026

South Walton Fire District Engine 6: Charged with protecting the “paradise city” we call our home and community since April 2025. This is a look back at the engine’s first year response numbers:

•Total Responses: 715
•Fire-Related: 55
•Medical: 223
•Other Call Types: 437

This additional apparatus staffed last spring translated to improved Advanced Life Support and fire suppression capabilities for communities such as Inlet Beach, Rosemary Beach, Seacrest Beach, Alys Beach, and WaterSound Beach.

Staffing this engine required rounds of hiring, promotions, strategic planning, and fleet oversight. The crews who ride this rig daily take tremendous pride in bringing a high level of service, hustle, emergency medical care, and compassion to their jobs.

We welcomed the new engine with an immediate and literal trial by fire, seeing it on-scene within the first minutes of several large structure fires, motor vehicle accidents, and involved in multiple positive outcomes from cardiac arrest. Not to mention, we got to take part in public education events like the Back-to-School Safe Driving Campaign and Fire Prevention Month.

This new engine currently sits in a “double house” with Engine 1, but will eventually be relocated to future SWFD Fire Station 6, to be constructed in the WaterSound North area.

Thank you for your support over the past year, and make sure to say hello to the E6 crews if you see them out responding to calls. We love this community! 🚒

This week, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast recognized the outstanding teamwork and lifesaving efforts of crews from...
05/29/2026

This week, Ascension Sacred Heart Emerald Coast recognized the outstanding teamwork and lifesaving efforts of crews from two local fire districts who responded to a recent stroke emergency.

Destin Fire Rescue’s Engine 10 responded to the possible stroke call earlier this year, and quickly recognized the severity of the patient’s condition, immediately initiating Stroke Alert protocols. South Walton Fire District’s Rescue 5 responded on mutual aid, and thanks to a detailed patient handoff from Destin crews, on-scene time was minimized so advanced care and rapid transport could begin immediately.

Because of the fast actions, communication, and teamwork between both agencies and hospital staff, this patient received the critical care needed during one of the most time-sensitive medical emergencies possible, where every second truly matters and time equals quality of life.

What made this moment even more special was seeing the patient walk out of the hospital and reunite with the crews during the hospital’s ribbon cutting ceremony this week, as they announced and celebrated being the area’s newest Certified Stroke Center.

It’s rare that first responders get the opportunity to reconnect with someone they responded to during such a difficult time. This event was a powerful reminder of why teamwork, training, and rapid emergency care matter so much. Outstanding job to everyone involved- from dispatchers and first responders to the dedicated hospital staff who helped make this outcome possible.

| South Walton Fire District responded to a drowning event Thursday, May 28, in Miramar Beach around 4 p.m., where one...
05/28/2026

| South Walton Fire District responded to a drowning event Thursday, May 28, in Miramar Beach around 4 p.m., where one person was transported to the hospital in critical condition.

Bystanders reported seeing an adult male, approximately 35-years-old, attempting to swim to a set of buoys located between the first and second sandbars when he began struggling in the water. Bystanders entered the water to assist, called 911, and initiated care.

SWFD Lifeguards and Walton County Sheriff's Office, Florida deputies arrived on scene just west of the Whale’s Tail restaurant and took over medical care. Beach Safety transported the patient off the beach to SWFD Advanced Life Support crews, who initiated additional lifesaving measures before transporting the patient to the hospital in critical condition.

To protect patient privacy, SWFD cannot provide additional patient updates.

Single red flags were flying at the time for high surf hazards and rip currents present. However, based on information from bystanders and lifeguards, the event is not believed to be rip current-related.

The incident occurred approximately a half mile from the nearest lifeguard tower, within a “tertiary” zone of lifeguard coverage. Lifeguards remind all beach patrons to:

•Swim near a lifeguard during the hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. when towers are staffed.
•Always consider local weather alerts and the beach flag warning system. Text SAFETY to 31279 for daily beach flag text updates.
•Only those who know how to swim should enter the water. Those who don’t know how to swim should stay on shore.
•Carefully watch young children and any other individuals who may be prone to wandering.
•Call 911 immediately in the event of beach-related medical or water emergencies.

SWFD Beach Safety will hold its next rookie lifeguard training academy June 6-7, 2026! This is your chance to apply NOW ...
05/27/2026

SWFD Beach Safety will hold its next rookie lifeguard training academy June 6-7, 2026! This is your chance to apply NOW and join our team this summer.

All interested candidates are asked to complete our interest card (linked below) to get started on the application, then you will schedule a swim and run test.

Application Link:
www.tinyurl.com/SWFDBeachSafetyCareers

More job details:
🌊No previous experience required
🌊Starting pay: $21/hour
🌊Flexible scheduling options
🌊Paid OT and training opportunities
🌊Make the beach your office
🌊Seasonal employment through October 2026

Our Beach Safety Division is responsible for covering 26 miles of beautiful coastline, with our headquarters in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. We protect and serve a population of millions every summer, with the goal of drowning prevention, emergency response, medical care, and public education about beach hazards.

This is one of the most rewarding jobs in our area. If you've got what it takes to join us in our mission, this is your chance to apply. Questions? Send us a message! 📩

Black and whites with our partners in flight at Walton Air Rescue, Florida and Okaloosa MedFlight 🚁🚒We consistently expe...
05/27/2026

Black and whites with our partners in flight at Walton Air Rescue, Florida and Okaloosa MedFlight 🚁🚒

We consistently experience an uptick in our call volume around the warmer times of year like Spring Break and summer. Medical calls lead the way for many of the responses you see us handling day to day.

For those who are critically injured, requiring advanced trauma care, or another kind of specialized service in locations outside of South Walton, our dispatchers and firefighters have the opportunity to coordinate with medical aviation units to provide a high level of service and emergency medical response.

Firefighters evaluate a patient's specific condition, then determine the fastest way to get them the care they need. Once a "helo" is requested, it's up to us to bring compassion, stability, and quick means of transport within the ambulance before the flight crew is safely on the ground.

While we know these calls are often sensitive, we appreciate every opportunity we are provided to make the difference for a member of our community who is experiencing a difficult day.

Happy from SWFD, stay safe 🔥📸

Address

911 N County Highway 393
Santa Rosa Beach, FL
32459

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

+18502671298

Website

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