Prior to 1874, fire services were composed of poorly trained volunteer companies in the city.

A wooden pumper truck presented to Toronto by British America Assurance Company c.1837 is now found at Black Creek Pioneer Village.

An update on the status of the numerous initiatives that are included in this plan was provided as part of the 2018 budget process.

[6] In 2018, 10 additional staff were added to support the creation of a permanent Toronto Community Housing Fire Safety Task Force.

[7] Also in 2018, one additional crew of 21 Operations Firefighters was approved to support the opening of the new Downsview fire station.

Jim Sales worked as a political bureaucrat in the Town of Markham and as general manager with the City of Barrie prior to his appointment as Toronto fire chief in 2012.

Pegg retired October 4, 2024 and will be replaced on interim by Deputy Chief Larry Cocco.

Prior to the 1950s, TFD used tiller-ladder trucks and since have reverted to smaller aerial units that can operate in narrow streets in Toronto.

Fireboat William Lyon Mackenzie entered service in 1964, replacing Charles A. Reed.

In 2006, the Toronto Fire Services acquired Fireboat Sora, a light utility boat built in 1982 for the Canadian Coast Guard.

Fireboat William Thornton is a type 400 cutter, built in 1982 for the Canadian Coast Guard, and was acquired by the Toronto Fire Service in 2015.

While not part of the fleet, Box 12 (Box 12 Association) and Support 7 (Greater Toronto Multiple Alarm Association) are canteen trucks run by volunteers and are present at large emergencies to provide food and beverages for Toronto firefighters.

Formed in 1949, the Box 12 Association is Toronto's oldest fire canteen unit and serves firefighters in the west end and the downtown core.

The unit is named after alarm box #12, which was pulled to trigger the response to the Great Toronto Fire of 1904.

The Box 12 Association celebrated 70 years of continuous volunteer service in 2018, with Mayor John Tory in attendance.

[19] Toronto Fire Services operates and manages both the heavy urban search and rescue (HUSAR) team and the chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives (CBRNE) response team on behalf of the City of Toronto and under contract with the Province of Ontario for provincial deployment as required as CAN-TF3.

Over the past 19 years since amalgamation, the majority of the older vehicles have either been retired or repainted to match the new scheme: fire engine red with yellow reflective trim and markings.