The Harlingen Fire Department Administration staff prepares payroll and maintains account payables records. The Administration staff also prepares the Fire Department's Annual Budget. The Office of Emergency Management was integrated into the Harlingen Fire Department in 1995. 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.