fire department

American  

noun

fire departments plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• fire departments
  plural

Etymology

Origin of fire department

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

fire department

The local fire department said a second-floor section collapsed, leaving multiple people trapped inside as emergency responders worked to free them.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

The fire department said it turned over the dog to the SPCA, which reunited the dog with its owners.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 19, 2026

The fire department is where many people go, but the building is not fit for purpose.

From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026

With the help of City Manager Antony Lopez, he and other city officials set out to launch their own fire department.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

Some mention was made of the understaffed fire department, aged equipment, the need for fireboats to patrol the river, and the fact that hydrants were placed far apart.

From "The Great Fire" by Jim Murphy