The department is also responsible for the handling of hazardous materials, aircraft rescue at the city's Tampa International Airport, and marine firefighting.

Eleven years later in 1895, the city council passed an ordinance authorizing Tampa's first professional and paid fire department.

Port Tampa Bay ships 52 million tons of cargo per year and handles more hazardous materials than anywhere else in Florida.

[3] In addition, Tampa Fire Rescue operates several RHIBs for use in shallow waters.

The TFD firefighting operations are based out of the city's 23 local fire stations.