Fire in Ancient Rome was an ever present danger. Caesar Augustus in the year 6 expanded the firefighting units, and subsequent emperors did the same. Even so, one of the worst fires in Rome's history happened during Nero's reign, in the year 62.
The slave brigades had no interest in risking their lives to save the homes of their masters. They were a less than effective force. Precautions against fire were enforced: Each householder in Rome was required to have the basics in firefighting equipment.
Much later, circa 205 in Rome, there were groups, or cohorts, of men called the Vigiles: They were the night watchman who patrolled the streets in the wee hours. They were the law and order, arresting drunks and burglars, on the look out for runaway slaves, and especially: watching for unsupervised fires. These official Roman firefighters belonged to the Equestrian class. Each unit had its own doctor and medical staff, complete with chaplain.
Roman firefighters were equipped with the most recent technology: a hand-operated piston water pump. It delivered water to a fire as fast as the brigade could relay the buckets. No hoses, they fought fire by passing water hand to hand in bucket chains. In Florian's time, around 250, firefighters were a critical part of the Roman military. More than 7000 highly trained and paid men, distinctive from the ordinary Roman soldier with a green tunic or skirt.
When Florian enlisted in the Roman Army, around 268, the Soldier Emperors of Rome were in the process of reforming the military. Emperor Gallienus was determined to make the army a quick and efficient mounted fighting force, ready to dispatch at a moments notice to the troubled border regions.

Florian advanced quickly through the ranks. He was officer material.

His superiors said he was good with people, a real problem-solver, and a dedicated hard-worker. Firefighting was now done by special forces whose sole responsibility was fighting fire. Florian, now a Captain, was assigned to lead one of these elite fire brigades.
Florian's unit was so successful that Florian shot through the ranks to General. Generals were often assigned to govern remote regions of the Empire. General Florian was assigned chief administrator of such a region: Noricum, in the Austrian/ Bavarian region of his birth. Florian had the power to enforce the law and collect taxes.
For years, since Emperor Decius, the Roman Empire had persecuted Christians.

Roman law of the land was to abolish Christianity.

Decius wanted to revitalize the worship of the original Roman gods and goddesses, the worship of spirits which lived in rocks and trees. The Roman gods, like Janus, Guardian of the door, and Vesta, goddess of fire, were old roman standbys. Those who would not renounce their Christian faith were burned at the stake, crucified, or otherwise tortured to death.
By 284, Florian had become a Christian. Rome became suspicious when rumors floated back from Noricum that Florian was not enforcing it's anti-Christian laws. When superiors, like Aquilinus, on direct orders from Emperor Diocletian, told Florian to burn the Christian churches, and their books, and to force Christians out of their jobs and throw them in prison, Florian was torn between duty and faith.
In 304, Florian refused direct orders to execute Christians. Aquilinus and the Emperor Diocletian feared Florian would lead a Christian rebellion. Thousands of Christians were rounded up, and their homes torched. Florian wrote his famous Acts, and then turned himself in at Lorch, to Aquilinus, and the Roman army.

Aquilinus ordered Florian to make sacrifices to the Roman pagan gods. Florian refused, and professed his Christian faith.

The Roman soldiers beat Florian with clubs and spikes, he was flayed, and then thrown into the fire. Florian challenged the Roman soldiers to build his pyre high, so the fire and smoke would take his soul to directly heaven.
Aquilinus, fearing the consequences of such an outcome, Florian might become a martyr for Christians, commanded the Roman soldiers to tie a millstone around Florian's neck, and then he was thrown him into the River Enns, not far from where it enters the Danube.
And there Florian drowned, in an icy blue river, his flesh torn and burned, not far from Vienna. His body laid there for a while, guarded over by an eagle, until a local peasant woman, Valeria, found him. Florian was given a Christian burial at Lenz.
Since then, many legends, many credible, have grown up around Florian. Even during his life time there were reports of miracles performed by him. So, Florian has become the protector of those who fight the peril of fire with water. Ironically, only a hundred years later Christianity was declared the official religion of the Holy Roman Empire, and all heathen cults were banned.

Pray to Florian not only for protection from fire and flood, but for a good harvest and success in all struggles. He's the Patron of Brewers, that's for the pitcher of water he threw on a village to save it, and for Soap Makers.

Feast Day ~ May 4, born 250 AD, died 304 AD

Saint Florian is, understandably, a major Patron Saint of Austria and Poland. He's also the patron of fire service people in Austria.