North Port Fire and Rescue has scored high in a recent comparison of its equipment for responding to emergencies as compared to the rest of the state. North Port Fire Chief William Taaffe said the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) released the 2010 NFPA Needs Assessment of the U.S. Fire Service, and Fire Rescue administration believes it clearly indicates that the equipment and services provided to the citizens of North Port are excellent when compared to the statewide survey.