In 1979

Two years of contract negotiation with Volusia County to form a tax district was settled in 1979. This district was titled the Greater Edgewater Fire District and encompassed portions of the county adjacent to Edgewater city limits. The contract was an agreement that the department would furnish the manpower and the county would collect taxes to buy the equipment to service the district. Along with the contract was a parcel of county land on Mango Tree Drive that was deeded to the City of Edgewater for the construction of a firehouse. One windy February afternoon in 1979 tested the new mutual aid agreement for the department. A large brush fire started at the west end of the Florida Shores subdivision and was not brought under control until it had reached the river. The responding departments were able to protect all of the subdivision's homes and only one fireman suffered a serious burn injury; he later recovered. It was a large fire that brought units from all over the county to work together and again directed the department to increase its membership level to 40 men along with an approval to allow members to reside outside of the city but within the fire district.