The Fire Department was first formed in 1892 through Bylaw 17: A Bylaw to Establish a Fire Department. The bylaw provided for a fire department composed of a Fire Chief, and Assistant Fire Chief, and any number of members deemed necessary to provide fire protection in Edmonton. The Chairman of the Fire, Water and Light Committee controlled a register in which the names of members of the Brigade were written. The Chief and Assistant Chief were elected by members of the brigade and ratified by Council. The Chief was responsible for all apparatus, for organizing the brigade into companies, and had the power to dismiss brigade members for certain infractions. The Companies were led by Captains, who were responsible to the Fire Chief for the work of their unit. All persons at or near a fire were responsible for helping to dowse the flames. In April 1906 the Fire Department went from a volunteer system to a paid system. Initially it was overseen by the Engineer’s Department, however by 1914, the time of the first available City organizational chart, the Fire Department was shown as an independent administrative section.

A 1952 organization chart for the City lists the responsibilities of the Fire Department as: “Operation of City fire equipment to extinguish fires in the City; installation and maintenance of fire alarm and traffic light system; inspection of structures and extinguishing equipment for fire protection; operation, maintenance and repair of fire equipment and vehicles; and maintaining complete accounting records.” By 1975 this had been replaced by a simplified policy “…to provide fire prevention, suppression, and emergency services for the City of Edmonton.” According to a history of the Fire Department written in 1946, the City Ambulance service was operated by the Fire Department prior to its transfer to the Police Department sometime after 1910.

The Fire Department was led by a Fire Chief, who reported directly to a City Commissioner, who in turn reported to City Council. This relationship continued until 1983, when the City Commissioners were replaced by a City Manager. From 1983-1993 the Fire Chief reported to the City Manager.

The Fire Department was dissolved in 1992 when it was combined with the Emergency Medical Services Department to form the Emergency Response Department.