fire company: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Not exactly. A 'fire department' is the overarching municipal organisation. A 'fire company' is a specific unit within that department (e.g., a station or a specialised team like an engine or ladder company), or it can be a standalone volunteer organisation, especially in rural areas.

A volunteer fire company is typically a non-profit organisation composed of community volunteers, common in smaller or rural communities where a full-time, paid municipal department is not financially feasible. It emphasises community ownership and participation.

It is very rare in contemporary UK usage. The standard terms are 'fire brigade' or 'fire service'. 'Fire company' is largely historical, referring to the private brigades operated by insurance companies in the 18th and 19th centuries.

Generally, no. While a company like 'Kidde' manufactures fire extinguishers, it is not called a 'fire company'. The term specifically denotes a firefighting organisation. However, in a historical insurance context, companies like the 'Sun Fire Office' operated their own fire companies.

A group of firefighters organised to extinguish fires, typically a volunteer or municipal organisation.

Fire company is usually formal, historical, official (municipal/government documents); regional (esp. us northeast). in register.

Fire company: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfaɪə ˌkʌmp(ə)ni/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfaɪr ˌkʌmpəni/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.