fire department

noun

1. the department of a municipal government charged with the prevention and extinguishing of fire.
2. the personnel in such a department.

fire department

noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of fire department¹

An Americanism dating back to 1815–25

Example Sentences

Craig-Lewis was an 11-year veteran of the Philadelphia Fire Department, a position she had aspired to since grade school.

From The Daily Beast

The New York City Fire Department had lost seven hundred and seventy-eight men from its founding in 1865 until September 10, 2001.

From The Daily Beast

One was the Parks Commissioner, and the other the Fire Department Commissioner, who had a personal stake in the races.

From The Daily Beast

The same is true with a fire department when a firefighter is critically injured.

From The Daily Beast

The Fire Department put out all these physical and visceral burnings.

From The Daily Beast

In Buffalo is a woman who runs a street-cleaning bureau; in Kansas City a woman is at the head of a fire department.

From Project Gutenberg

"Call out the fire department, probably," said Eleanor flippantly.

From Project Gutenberg

He served in the volunteer fire department of Walla Walla for twenty-two years, six of which he was chief.

From Project Gutenberg

In many towns and cities there is much of interest connected with the fire department.

From Project Gutenberg

He was to be appointed by the board of trustees of the fire department, and confirmed by the Board of Aldermen.

From Project Gutenberg