The East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District (also referred to as ‘East Lake Fire Rescue’ or ‘The District’) is a legally established Special District under Florida Statutes. It is governed by a five member Board of Commissioners elected by the citizens of the District. The Commissioners have the authority to guide the agency, provide for programs and services, and manage the financial resources by Florida Statutes 189 and 191. The  District's Charter approved by the Governor of Florida and Filed in Office of Secretary of State on June 7, 2000. 

The East Lake Tarpon Special Fire Control District is located in Northeast Pinellas County. The District covers 33 square miles, serves a population of over 32,344 people and has a taxable property value of over $2.4 billion (Mike Twitty, Pinellas County Property Appraiser, 2021). Section 3 of the District Charter linked above describes the District's territory boundaries and service areas and maps showing ther are linked here:

East Lake Fire Rescue is a full time paid professional Fire Department consisting of 36 line personnel, 3 fire administrative personnel and 3 administrative support personnel. East Lake Fire Rescue has 3 fire stations strategically placed throughout the District. Each station has both fire suppression and Advanced Life Support (ALS) capability.

East Lake Fire Rescue is part of the Pinellas County, Florida EMS system. Pinellas County EMS is an integrated countywide system which provides first response ALS by fire departments coupled with a contracted county ambulance transport service, using a priority dispatch methodology.

East Lake Fire Rescue is also part of an integrated automatic aid network with other fire departments in Pinellas County. This means that East Lake will respond as the closest appropriate unit to emergency incidents outside the District borders, and surrounding departments will do the same for the East Lake Fire District as needed.

East Lake Fire Rescue also offers many community interactive services such as CPR instruction, certified child safety seat installation, blood pressure checks, home safety and pool inspections, fire safety programs with local schools and preschools as well as an annual "Safety Day" Open House. All three of its stations are also "Safe Place" havens for troubled teens.