The Fire Chief is the Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Harlingen. Promotions to all ranks below the Fire Chief are decided solely by scores on a written civil service examination. Operational personnel make up most of the fire department. Firefighters assigned to operations work a 24-hour shift and are off for 48 hours. A Lieutenant is in charge of a company and is the fire and ranking supervisor.
Lieutenants are also responsible for their respective fire stations.
A Captain is responsible for three or more companies which are assigned particular districts. The City is divided into two districts with a Captain in charge of each district. A Battalion Chief is assigned to training and a deputy chief is assign to the Fire Prevention Office as the Fire Marshal. One Assistant Chief is appointed by the Fire Chief. The Fire Chief is appointed by the City Manager with the approval of the City Commission.