A fire protection district (district) is a type of special purpose district created to provide fire prevention, fire suppression, and emergency medical services within a district's boundaries, which can include incorporated and unincorporated areas.

Districts are authorized to:

• lease, operate, and provide fire and emergency medical apparatus and all other necessary facilities and equipment for the prevention and suppression of fires, provide emergency medical services, and the protection of life and property;
• lease, own, maintain, and operate real property for housing, repairing, and maintaining their apparatus, facilities, machinery, and equipment;
• contract with other governmental or private entities to consolidate, provide, or cooperate for fire prevention, protection, fire suppression, investigation, and emergency medical purposes;
• encourage uniformity and coordination of district operations;
• enter into contracts for life insurance for fire district personnel;
• perform building and property inspections the district deems necessary to provide fire prevention services and prefire planning within the district; and
• determine the origin and cause of fires occurring within the district.

A fire protection district may provide training, expend resources, and enter into an interlocal agreement to mitigate injuries and reduce the level of harm and occurrence when responding to calls.  The training may include worker or workplace safety, first aid, injury prevention, and reduction of industrial-related accidents.