The Fire Rescue department of Norfolk is proud to be the third oldest career fire department in the United States while simultaneously leading the nation in the delivery of unique, cutting edge emergency services. NFR responds to more that 39,000 emergency calls annually, including 15,000 fire and 24,000 EMS incidents.

Fire protection actually dates back to before the Revolutionary War. The first mention of fire matters was actually in the form of fire prevention. In 1730, an Act of Assembly was passed in the City stating that wooden chimneys were prohibited. An organized fire department was slow in coming. In 1751, the first engine used for fighting fire was imported from Newsbam & Rag of White Chapel, London, England. It had to be filled by buckets and when pumped by four to six men, could throw half an inch of water stream a distance of thirty feet. After the Revolutionary War there were many privately owned fire engines in the city, but no organized fire fighting forces.

In 1788, the first organized fire fighting company was established. Each member was required to have an ax, two 2 ½ gallon buckets, and a hat with a white painted crown. In 1797 Robert Archer organized Fire Company No. 1. It was later known as the Union Fire Company and was headquartered on Main Street. In 1824, the Phoenix Fire Company was organized and utilized two suction engines. Water was obtained from street wells and pumped by using side levers. In 1827, a third company was organized and called the Franklin Fire Company. These three companies were the mainstay of fire protection in the City of Norfolk for many years.

In 1846, after a major fire, improvements in Norfolk's fire protection became necessary. The Franklin and Phoenix Fire Companies were disbanded and the Hope Fire Company was founded. Public interest in the fire companies grew greatly over the years following. Ranks of young men swelled the fire companies and the city was forced to build new stations on city owned property. By the end of the Civil War two companies were left to protect Norfolk from fire, the United Fire Company (formed in 1850) and the Hope Fire Company. Both volunteer companies received apparatus from the city and funding for supplies. This funding, however, was not enough to equip the apparatus.

Because they had to compete for funds, rivalries developed between the two companies. In 1871 these rivalries led to a bloody riot in which some men were killed and many were wounded. The Council was so outraged by the riots that the volunteer system was disbanded and on December 15, 1871 the Norfolk Fire Department, a professional department, was inaugurated with Thomas Kevill appointed as Chief Engineer (prelude to today's Fire Chief). Norfolk was the third fully paid fire department to be formed in the United States.

On April 9, 1991 the Norfolk Fire Department and the Bureau of Paramedical Rescue Services began its merger into one department, the Norfolk Fire and Paramedical Services. By November of 1992, all of Norfolk Fire and Paramedical Services paramedics had completed their firefighter cross-training.