The City of Chandler was founded by Dr. A.J. Chandler in 1912. By the time the first official fire protection was initiated in 1917 the City had an active and involved Chamber of Commerce. It was the Chamber of Commerce that ordered the first 500 feet of fire hose, two carts, nozzles and other necessary equipment from the Diamond Rubber Company. In addition, a volunteer fire company was organized, and every effort was made to give Chandler efficient fire protection. A "Hose House" was built of galvanized iron and was located in the rear of the Bank of Chandler building. In case of fire, it was necessary to break the glass near the door to gain entrance.

On June 22, 1937, the first meeting of the official Chandler Fire Department was held. At that time, by-laws were adopted and officers were elected. A letter was sent to the Arizona Corporation Commission requesting the receipt of the percent of the insurance premium for the Chandler District.

The first piece of mechanized fire apparatus used by the Chandler Fire Department was a 1936 Dodge pumper. That unit, The Old Dodge, is still part of the apparatus inventory in use for parades and demonstrations. Fire Department personnel carefully maintain and rehabilitate it on an ongoing basis.

The Chandler Fire Department was staffed by all volunteers until 1953, when a paid fire chief and two paid captains were hired. The captains were placed on two shifts and served as drivers. In 1969, the organization was officially reorganized as a paid fire department with a volunteer standby system. By 1970, the Chandler Fire Department was fully staffed by paid personnel, as it is to this day.

The current authority under which the Chandler Fire Department operates is Chapter 12, Article II of the City Code. The City Council adopted Chapter 12, as currently written, as Ordinance No. 1688 on September 11, 1986. On August 22, 1988, the Mayor and City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1996 to allow the Chandler Fire Department to provide fire, emergency medical, and other emergency services outside the city limits of Chandler. That ordinance also provided legal authorization for the Chandler Fire Department to charge for those services.

On March 19, 1999, the Chandler Fire Department became one of only 14 fire departments in the world at that time to be granted accreditation from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). CFAI accreditation is the prestigious award granted to fire service agencies who successfully complete a rigorous peer and self-assessment. The department was reaccredited in 2004 and successfully completed the process for a third time in 2009.

Today, the internationally accredited City of Chandler Fire Department is comprised of 202 sworn and 22 civilian personnel, serving a jurisdiction of more than 70 square miles and an estimated city population of 252,000. The Department has 11 engine companies and 2 ladder companies operating from 10 stations. The operating budget is $29,114,077 for fiscal year 2009-2010.
 
The new Chandler Fire Department Administrative Headquarters opened in the fall of 2009. It includes exhibit space for CFD memorabilia and historical information. The lobby also has display space to showcase Chandler's first fire engine, The Old Dodge. The building has been awarded LEED-Gold Certification through the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

The men and women of the Chandler Fire Department continue to make a difference in someone’s life everyday. Professional firefighters continue to provide outstanding customer service to the citizens of Chandler with the full support of the department’s EMS, Training, Fire Prevention, Support Services, Community Preparedness and Administration Divisions.