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The Fire Tactical Operations Branch of the Fire Department is directed by an Assistant Chief. Firefighters are assigned to shift work at one of the city's eight fire stations. At full strength, each of the three shifts is comprised of approximately fifty personnel consisting of one Battalion Chief, three District Captains, eight Lieutenants, and thirty-eight Firefighters. The Battalion Chiefs direct the day-to-day activities of the division.

While one of the primary goals of the Tactical Operations Branch continues to be the provision of quality emergency response services, our priorities have expanded in recent years to the areas of education, prevention, and preparedness. In addition to their fire operations/rescue responsibilities, fire companies engage in the following programs and activities.

The First Responder Program involves a fire company response to all emergency medical calls within the city limits for the purpose of initiating basic medical treatment or advanced life support before an ambulance arrives to continue advanced life support and transport.

Under most circumstances, fire apparatus can respond to a medical emergency much quicker than an ambulance, simply because there are eleven fire companies in eight strategically-located fire stations throughout the city, as opposed to MetroCare's three ambulances at three base stations. Patients receiving timely advanced life support have a greater probability of surviving life threatening conditions, which makes this program one of the department's most effective and rewarding activities. Our department responds to an estimated 10,000 medical emergencies each year.

The Haz-Mat Response Team is comprised of the two fire companies assigned to Station #5. In addition to responding to all types of emergencies within their assigned districts, these personnel are prepared to assist with incidents involving hazardous materials. Team members must attend technical training courses and practice their skills at every given opportunity to stay proficient in this highly specialized assignment.
The Fire Department's Underwater Recovery Team consists of firefighters trained and certified as SCUBA divers whose primary responsibility is the recovery of drowning victims from any of the local lakes or waterways. The Underwater Recovery Team is activated at the request of any fire department or law enforcement agency in the immediate Abilene area.
Through this program, each business and place of assembly within the City limits is inspected annually by a fire company in its district. Each station captain is assigned an area of responsibility, and is required to maintain records for each inspection. Fire companies conducting in-service inspections remain available for emergency response while engaged in this activity. The information gathered during these annual inspections is recorded and tracked in a digital electronic records management system.