The Tampa Fire Rescue Department is the agency that provides fire protection and emergency medical services within the city of Tampa, Florida. The department is also responsible for the handling of hazardous materials, aircraft rescue at the city's Tampa International Airport, and marine firefighting. A division of the department headed by the Fire Marshal is responsible for fire investigations, as well as review and enforcement of fire and building safety codes.

History

Tampa's first organized volunteer fire department began in 1884 with Seven "bucket brigades" organized to serve the city. A year later in 1895 the city council passed an ordinance authorizing Tampa's first professional & paid fire department. In July of 1914 the horse drawn carriages were replaced with the first engines.

Today, Tampa International Airport serves over 10 million travelers each year while the 75,000 seat Raymond James Stadium sees many travelers as well.

Marine Firefighting

The TFRD is responsible for fire suppression, search and rescue and medical emergencies in and around Port Tampa Bay, the 7^th largest port in the United States. Additionally they are responsible for all waters of Tampa Bay as far out as Egmont Key. The Port Authority and marine division maintains two 69 foot (21 m) MetalCraft Marine vessel, a 30 foot (9.1 m) Sea Ark and 27 foot (8.2 m) Boston Whaler. In addition, Tampa Fire Rescue operates several RHIBs for use in shallow waters.

A firefighter (also known as a fireman) is a rescuer extensively trained in firefighting, primarily to extinguish hazardous fires that threaten property and civilian or natural populations, and to rescue people from dangerous situations, like collapsed or burning buildings or crashed vehicles. In some areas, they are also trained in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and operate ambulances in addition to being a firefighter.

The complexity of modern industrialized life with a greater prominence of hazards has created an increase in the skills needed in firefighting technology and a broadening of the firefighter-rescuer's remit. The fire service, or fire and rescue service, also known in some countries as the fire brigade or fire department, is one of the three main emergency services. Firefighting and firefighters have become ubiquitous around the world, from wildlands to urban areas, and aboard ships. According to Merriam-Webster's Dictionary, the English word firefighter has been used since 1903. In recent decades it has become the preferred term, replacing fireman, since more women serve as firefighters, and also because the term fireman can have other meanings, including someone who sets, stokes, or tends fires, especially in designated fireplaces – the opposite of the firefighting role.