The Wilmington Fire Department is made up of four main divisions: Administration, Operations, Support Services and Fire & Life Safety.

The Office of the Fire Chief is the administrative component of the fire and EMS operations.
 
The Operations Division provides fire suppression and first response emergency medical services (EMS) within the city. The department also responds to motor vehicle incidents, water rescues, and specialized fire and EMS emergencies.

The Support Services Division provides the following services clerical support, Firefighters Safety, Health and Wellness, Logistics, Information Technology, Public Information, Human Resources, Training, and Apparatus Repair Services.

The Fire & Life Safety Division of the WFD ensures the safety and well being of our community by promoting fire and life safety prevention through inspections and investigations of the origin and causes of fire. Inspectors issue permits and conduct inspections in all new and existing commercial occupancies. Investigators are notified if a fire is considered to be suspicious, cause a large dollar loss or include an injury or fatality. 

The Wilmington Fire Department maintains a Class 2 ISO Rating. ISO Ratings range from Class 1 (highest) to a Class 10, which generally means no fire protection.

The ratings process takes into consideration the community's water distribution system, 911 center communications and the fire department's resources and ability to utilize these resources at the scene of a structure fire. Incident records, maintenance records and training records are also evaluated.

For more information, contact the ISO or the North Carolina Fire Marshal's Office. 

Wilmington is currently seeking to become a National Accredited Fire Department so that we can deliver the best possible service to our citizens. In order to achieve this goal, the department has to undergo an extensive evaluation of its performances and best practice policies.

If you would like to learn more about this process, please visit the Center of Public Safety Excellence.