The Chicago Fire Department (CFD) promotes fire safety, provides emergency care, and extinguishes fires. CFD is the largest fire department in the midwest, and one of the nation's largest departments throughout the United States. It's also one of the oldest major organized fire departments, established before 1833. The mission of the Chicago Fire Department is to protect the lives and property of the people of Chicago when they are put at risk due to fires, natural disasters, emergency medical problems and hazardous materials incidents. The Department delivers a variety of emergency medical, fire prevention, and public education initiatives in furtherance of this mission.