Fire services are an organized firefighting and fire prevention service and an occupation involving fighting fires.
Fire services involve fire prevention services, fire suppression services, and related services that may include structural and wilderness fire fighting, rescue services, hazardous materials operations, confined-space rescues, vehicle extrication, basic life support, fire investigation, and fire cause and origin determination.
Firefighters also educate the public on fire prevention, safety, and other issues. Many fire departments also provide various levels of emergency medical services, either as a separate division or as an integral part of the firefighter's duties.
Most fire departments are public sector organizations administered at the federal, state, regional, county, or municipal levels, but private fire service organizations also exist.
Traditionally, within industrial facilities that are at particular risk of fire, the company might establish a fire brigade that would be available to provide an immediate response and later supplement the fire suppression activities of responding public fire departments. However, private-sector, for-profit fire companies also protect communities that lack the tax base to subsidize a municipal fire department and may be contracted by industrial companies. Private firefighting companies may also be employed to fill gaps when public departments are spread too thin. The U.S. Forest Service often employs private fire organizations to assist in suppressing wildfires.
Public and private fire prevention organizations offer emergency response services to their local communities or subscribers, and the chief differences have to do with how they are funded. Public fire departments are primarily funded through taxes, while insurance companies, corporations, housing developments, or other commercial property owners may contract private fire departments.
While there may be differences from one part of the world to another, fire departments usually contain one or more fire stations within their jurisdiction. These stations are staffed by professionals, including professionals, volunteers, on-call, or conscripts. In most cases, volunteers receive the same basic firefighting training as professionals and are similarly equipped. Many fire departments employ a mix of professional and volunteer firefighters. They may also provide ambulance services staffed by volunteer or professional EMS personnel, who are usually dual-trained as firefighters.
In larger service areas, fire departments are often set up with multiple fire stations, fire engines, and other apparatus, which are strategically deployed throughout the region. Separate divisions within a large fire department might be referred to as brigades, firehouses, fire stations, engine companies, pumper companies, truck companies, ladder companies, squads, or fire companies, and these may have a separate organizational structure answerable to a central administration.
Specialized fire department services might include EMS operations, brush patrol, hazardous materials response, and rescue services.
There is no standardized system of rank within a fire department, but commonly used ranks include firefighter, driver, engineer, fire equipment operator, lieutenant, captain, and chief (battalion chief, district chief, division chief, assistant chief, deputy chief). Additional ranks might include sergeants, majors, and inspectors.
Fire services have been around for a long time. While the first evidence of firefighting equipment dates back to a portable water pump discovered in ancient Egypt's ruins, the first known organized fire service was in Rome under the rule of Augustus Caesar. Slaves were organized into a fire corps to keep watch for fires and crime. They were even given badges to identify them to guards tasked with killing runaway slaves. In AD 60, during the reign of Emperor Nero, building owners could pay for fire suppression services or otherwise not receive assistance.
Rome's invasion of Britain introduced the concept of fire brigades, and other parts of Europe soon followed. In North America, Benjamin Franklin is credited with creating the first volunteer fire department, which became the Union Fire Company.
Today, the types of duties performed by fire departments may vary considerably according to the geographical area, other available government services, and the size of the population and economy.
Topics related to fire services are the focus of this portion of our guide. While websites representing specific fire departments should be listed in the corresponding Local & Global category, those that include considerable information about firefighting and fire services in general may be found here, along with other, more general, websites covering fire service topics.
 
 
Recommended Resources
With three locations in New Jersey, two in New York, and one in Utah, Associated Fire Protection has been family-owned since 1947, providing fire protection and life safety systems and services to various industries, including the engineering, installation, inspection, and repair of fire protection, security, and life safety systems, and mobile application recordkeeping and information access, with no long-term contracts and inspection reminders. Contacts are provided.
https://www.associatedfire.com/
CTIF International Association of Fire and Rescue Services
Founded in 1900 in Paris as Comité Technique International de prevention et d'extinction de Feu, CTIF is made up of professionals and volunteers, in which fire chiefs and firefighters, volunteers, and professionals, are on an equal footing. Its history, organizational structure, governance, commissions, and membership levels and policies are set forth, along with contacts, a calendar of events, and news and information about a variety of firefighting topics.
https://ctif.org/
Fire Department Safety Officers Association
Founded in 1989, the FDSOA is a non-profit association that promotes safety standards and practices in the fire, rescue, and emergency services community. Led by a volunteer board of directors and small staff, the organization offers training, ProBoard Certifications, and the Health and Safety Conference for the incident safety officer and health safety officer, as well as the Fire Apparatus, Safety and Equipment Conference for emergency vehicle technicians. Contacts are provided.
https://www.fdsoa.org/
How to Become a Firefighter in the United States
Intended as a resource for individuals interested in a career as a firefighter in the United States, the site offers general information about minimum requirements, commonly suggested education and qualifications, the application process, and how long it might be expected to take. Specific information for major cities and states, and featured online and campus-based schools offering firefighting programs. Informational articles on the career path are included.
https://www.howtobecomeafirefighterinus.com/
The alumni program of the International Association of Fire Fighters is designed to assist retirees and former members in maintaining their relationships and connections with the IAFF. Alumni members are eligible to receive the "Fire Fighter Quarterly" magazine at a discounted rate and qualify for the benefits available to members through the IAFF Financial Corporation and Union Plus programs, as well as receiving regular communications about what's going on within the fire service and union.
https://iaffalumni.org/
International Association of Fire Chiefs
Headquartered in McLean, Virginia, the IAFC is a network of fire chiefs and emergency officers in several countries. Established in 1873, the IAFC seeks to provide leadership to current and future career, volunteer, fire-rescue, and EMS chiefs, chief fire officers, company officers, and managers of emergency service organizations throughout the international community. Its history, strategic initiative plan, conferences, and events are published on the site.
https://www.iafc.org/
International Association of Fire Fighters
The IAFF is the driving force behind advances in fire and emergency services in the 21st century. Headquartered in both Washington, D.C. and Ottawa, Ontario, the organization represents full-time professional firefighters and paramedics in more than 3,500 affiliates. Its executive board, contacts, active membership information, member benefits, and alumni memberships are published, and news related to firefighting and emergency services is featured.
https://www.iaff.org/
International Firefighters' Day
Observed on May 4, IFFD honors firefighters for their services throughout the world and to remember those who have lost their lives during service. It was established in 1999 after a proposal by an Australian firefighter following the December 2, 1998, deaths of five firefighters fighting a bushfire in Australia. Schedules and upcoming events are posted, along with promotion ideas, proposals, an overview of its "Sound Off" ritual, contacts, and downloadable media releases.
https://www.firefightersday.org/
The LAFD provides firefighting, technical rescue, hazardous materials, and emergency medical services to the City of Los Angeles, California. Founded in 1886, LA City Fire is the third-largest municipal fire department in the United States, after the New York City Fire Department and the Chicago Fire Department. Its fire stations, wildfire services, safety services, fire prevention services, and employment and volunteer opportunities are posted, along with a FAQ and contacts.
https://www.lafd.org/
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation
Created by the U.S. Congress in 1992, the tax-exempt non-profit Foundation is headquartered in Emmitsburg, Maryland, and it receives funding from private donations from individuals, organizations, corporations, and foundations, with grants and sponsorships for some of its programs and activities. Firefighters listed on its Roll of Honor are profiled, and names may be submitted through the site. A schedule of fundraising, fire services, and other events is included.
https://www.firehero.org/
National Volunteer Fire Council
The NVFC is a non-profit membership association representing volunteer fire, EMS, and rescue services. Founded in 1976, the organization advocates for first responders on a national level, including promoting legislation that benefits fire and emergency medical services, serving on standards-setting committees, taskforces, workgroups, and committees, and producing tools and other resources to address the needs of its membership. Its programs, events, and contacts are provided.
https://www.nvfc.org/
Organized in 1982 as the International Association of Women in Fire & Emergency Services, the organization provides training, education, advocacy, resources, mentoring, and networking in order to enhance fire services and the involvement of women in fire service opportunities. The history of the service and of female fire services is featured, along with an overview of member benefits, membership levels, sponsors, job opportunities, and contacts. An online store is included.
https://womeninfire.org/