 This department, which was created from numerous volunteer departments that were already established across the county, was designed to serve the unincorporated areas of Seminole County.By 2000 the department had grown to over 13 stations and in 2002 merged with the City of Altamonte Springs' Fire Department to make one of the largest fire departments in Central Florida.In October 2008, Winter Springs Fire Department also merged into Seminole County bringing the number of county stations to 18.