The first chief of the department was Miles Greenwood, an influential Cincinnati industrialist and inventor who had previously helped develop some of the early firefighting technologies.

Firefighters began engaging in community education programs, focusing on fire safety in homes, schools, and workplaces.

By the 1950s, the Cincinnati Fire Department had also introduced Hazardous Materials (HazMat) teams to handle dangerous chemical spills and other toxic threats.

This marked a new era of firefighting and rescue operations, as the department continued to evolve and incorporate specialized training and equipment.

The department implemented advanced life support (ALS) techniques, providing critical care to patients during transport in addition to responding to fires.

In the 1980s and 1990s, the CFD responded to a series of complex incidents, including large-scale fires in industrial and residential areas, toxic chemical spills, and urban disasters.