fire department

American  

noun

1. the department of a municipal government charged with the prevention and extinguishing of fire.

2. the personnel in such a department.

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fire department British  

noun

1. the department of a local authority responsible for the prevention and extinguishing of fires

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Etymology

Origin of fire department

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

The fire department for Brownsville was dispatched to respond to the accident on Friday, said the city’s fire chief, Jarrett Sheldon.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

Francisco Arboleda, head of the Popayan fire department, said some of the spectators rushed to hospital were in serious condition.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

“We can’t just be building the housing if we don’t have the fire department resources or the road capacity to handle it,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

For decades, St. Michael’s had its own fire department and ambulance department, staffed largely by student volunteers and serving nearby towns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

The repair crew had the help of the volunteer fire department and intended to work through the night, it said; all that could be done was being done as speedily as possible.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson