The department was created on 25 August 1885 as the Calgary Hook, Ladder and Bucket Corps and a chemical engine was ordered soon after.

Before the fire there was much disorder in the town due to both George Murdoch and James Riley claiming to be and acting as Mayor.

As neither George Murdoch or James Reilly was capable of effectively governing the town, the newly ordered chemical engine was held in the Canadian Pacific Railway storage yard due to lack of payment.

Members of the department broke into the CPR storage yard on the day of the fire to retrieve the engine.

[1] May 1887 saw the opening of Calgary's first fire hall: which had been recommended at the meeting in November 1886, and was approved by Town Council shortly after.

When it came to a serious fire, they weren't well organized and in a short time the citizens of Calgary were calling for the reinstatement of the old brigade.

[2] The reinstatement occurred on 23 July 1889, when a meeting was held and a decision was agreed upon by the two bodies to have the regular brigade again take charge.

These "Chief Officers" are responsible for overseeing management functions as well as supervising fire operations and other services.

They include: The Fire Department relies on numerous uniformed day staff to fill various roles.