Tampa Fire Rescue provides essential service in the areas of fire prevention, fire protection, fire suppression services and emergency medical services for the seriously ill and injured. Tampa Fire Rescue also provides hazardous materials response, aircraft rescue, marine firefighting and fire and life safety education to the public. The Fire Marshal's office, a division of Tampa Fire Rescue, investigates causes of fire, conducts building code reviews and enforces fire and life safety codes. The department is comprised of the Operations, Rescue, Communications, Prevention, and Administrative Divisions.

Firefighters in the Operations division are assigned to twenty-one fire stations throughout the City. They are primarily responsible for first response to all emergency scenes and fire suppression. They are responsible for advanced life support (ALS) services at emergencies, and fire prevention and safety activities.  Rescue transport personnel are assigned to 14 ALS transport vehicles based at fire stations throughout the city. They provide basic life support and advanced life support medical care and transportation of the seriously ill and injured.  They also provide fire suppression support for the Operations division. There are also 21 ALS non-transport paramedic engines located at various parts of the city plus an ALS non-transport vehicle at Tampa International Air Port.

The Communications section receives calls for service, using the Police/Fire 911 system and dispatches the appropriate personnel and equipment. Fire prevention personnel conduct inspections, fire safety and loss management programs. The functions of personnel, supply, quality management, public education, and training are performed by Administrative division.