Skip to main content
ATTENTION BURN BAN for unincorporated Polk County, Auburndale, Bartow, Davenport, Dundee, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred, Lake Wales Lakeland and Winter Haven until further notice. Learn more.


Person reaching for smoke alarm.

Fire Prevention Week

This week marks the 100th annual Fire Prevention Week in the U.S. The nationally observed week commemorates the Great Chicago Fire, which happened Oct. 8-10, 1871. The disaster killed an estimated 300 people, displaced more than 100,000 others and destroyed about 17,500 buildings. Fire safety has come a long way since the Great Chicago Fire, […]


SEE MORE


Hand resting on shoulder of elderly person

Community Kindness and Renewed Hope After the Ashes

Betty Frey, 85, faced a devastating loss on Jan. 15, 2024, when a fire in Polk County consumed almost everything she owned, including her beloved cat. Amidst the ashes of that tragic night, a remarkable journey began for Betty, revealing the extraordinary kindness of strangers and importance of community. The Tragic Night On the night […]


SEE MORE


Decorative blue swish decoration at the bottom of the page, serving as a visual element for design purposes