The Fire Operations Division provides around-the-clock emergency response throughout Jacksonville's 840-square miles. That adds up to more than 110,000 emergency calls for fires, accidents and medical emergencies a year. In 2007, the department responded to 20,835 emergency calls involving fires, extrications and investigations; 92,875 requests for emergency medical service; and 14,287 non-emergency calls.

The division is well equipped to handle that emergency call volume with 50 fire engines, 30 of which are advanced life support units; 12 ladder trucks and four fire boats housed among Jacksonville's 56 fire stations. 

The division is home to Special Operations, which includes Florida Task Force 5 Urban Search and Rescue, Technical Rescue, Haz-Mat and a Marine Unit. Two Haz-Mat teams are specially trained to respond to incidents involving chemical, nuclear or biological threats, fuel spills, gas leaks or other emergencies or threats involving hazardous materials. The Urban Search and Rescue Team and Technical Rescue Team respond to such things as building collapses, construction accidents and other out-of-the ordinary incidents. And the Marine Unit responds to emergencies on or adjacent to waterways.

On every emergency medical service call, the department sends a fire engine and rescue unit. All firefighters are qualified emergency medical technicans, and 30 of the department's 50 fire engines are furnished with advanced life support equipment and have at least one paramedic assigned to the unit. The Fire Department's goal is to begin emergency treatment as quickly as possible.

The department sends three engines, two ladder trucks and two chiefs to all structure fires. Here the goal is to arrive on the scene with more than adequate personnel and equipment needed to quickly extinguish the blaze and ensure that all occupants are safely out of the building.

The Fire Operations Division has 877 personnel and is under the direction of Chief Brady S. Rigdon.