Wikipedia

Anchorage Fire Department

The Anchorage Fire Department (AFD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services to the city of Anchorage, Alaska. Areas that are served by department include the incorporated areas of downtown Anchorage, Bird, Bootleggers Cove, Eagle River, Fairview, Indian, Mountain View, Muldoon, and Spenard, among others.[1] AFD is assisted by two volunteer fire departments operating in the outlying areas of the Anchorage Municipality.

Anchorage Fire Department
AFD Logo
AFD Patch
Operational area
Country United States
State Alaska
City Anchorage
Agency overview[1]
Established1915 (1915)
Annual calls36,270 (2017)
Employees392 (2022)
Annual budget$104,173,605 2022)
StaffingCareer
Fire chiefDouglas Schrage
IAFF1264
Facilities and equipment[1]
Battalions3
Stations13
Engines14
Trucks2
Tillers1
Platforms2
Rescues3
Ambulances13
Tenders5
HAZMAT1
USAR1
Wildland1
Rescue boats2
Website
Official website
IAFF website

History

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Lt. Livingston of AFD poses with mascot Sparky, a dalmatian, and a pair of schoolchildren named "Fire Prevention King and Queen" in 1963.

The Anchorage Fire Department was founded in 1915. By 1951, AFD had grown to 50 fire fighters, and saw the beginning of Anchorage's first ambulance service. In 1967, the various fire companies unified as the Greater Anchorage Area Borough Fire Department. In 1975, the City of Anchorage and the Greater Anchorage Borough unified, becoming the Municipality of Anchorage.

As of 2015, the AFD has a goal of maintaining 315 fire fighters and paramedics on active duty.[2][3]

In 2024, AFD is led by Chief Doug Schrage with Deputy Chief Eric Scheunenmann and Assistant Chiefs Brian Partch and Ben Lewis. Brian Dean is the Fire Marshal.

Anchorage has a history of inclusive female Leadership: Chief Jodie Hettrick served as Chief of the Anchorage Fire Department, Virginia McMichael served as Chief of Chugiak Volunteer Fire and Rescue and Judie Coletta and Michelle Weston have served as chiefs of Girdwood Fire Rescue. Bridget Bushue and Michelle Weston previously served as AFD Deputy Chiefs. Cleo Hill and Bridget Bushue both filled command roles as Fire Marshals.

Stations and apparatus

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Anchorage Fire Department engine based at its downtown station, responding to a call early in the morning
 
Anchorage Fire Department garage entrance
Fire Station Number Neighborhood Engine Company Truck Company EMS Medic Unit Special Unit Battalion Chief Units
1 Downtown Engine 1
Engine 2		 Truck 1 Medic 1

Medic 81 (BLS)

Medic 82 (BLS)

HazMat 1, ALS 1 (fly car) Battalion Chief 1 [4]
3 Mountain View Engine 3 Truck 3 Medic 3 Rescue 3 (USAR) [5]
4 Tudor Engine 4 Medic 4

Medic 84 (BLS)

Rescue 4 (Heavy Rescue), Dive 4 (Water Rescue), ALS 4 (fly car) [6]
5 Spenard Engine 5 Truck 5 Medic 5 [7]
6 Muldoon Engine 6 Medic 6 [8]
7 Jewel Lake Engine 7 Medic 7 [9]
8 O'Malley Engine 8 Tender 8 [10]
9 Dearmoun Engine 9 Medic 9 Tender 9, Rescue 9 (Frontcountry Rescue) [11]
10 Rabbit Creek Engine 10 Tender 10 [12]
11 Eagle River Engine 11 Medic 11 Squad 11, Tender 11, Rescue 11 (Swiftwater Rescue) [13]
12 Dimond Engine 12 Truck 12 Medic 12 Safety 1 Battalion Chief 2 [14]
14 Tudor Baxter Engine 14 Medic 814 (BLS) Tender 14, Rehab 14 Battalion Chief 3 [15]
15 Southport Engine 15 [16]

Chugiak and Girdwood Fire Service Areas

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Chugiak and Girdwood fire departments provide fire, rescue and EMS services to the north and south of the Anchorage Fire Service Area. In the north, Chugiak Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company, Inc. operates five stations and serves an area from the North Eagle River overpass on the Glenn Highway to the Municipal boundary at the Knik River under the leadership of Chief Scott Fisher and two assistant chiefs.[17] In the south, Girdwood Fire Rescue operates one station and serves the Girdwood community and Turnagain Arm. Girdwood responds to vehicle accidents in the Seward Highway Safety Corridor from Indian to Mile 60 in the Kenai Peninsula Borough[18] under the leadership of Chief Michelle Weston and Deputy Chief Manch Garhart.[19] Both departments provide 24/7/365 advanced life support coverage along with vehicle extrication, water rescue, mud rescue, wildland initial attack and backcountry rescue. Girdwood is 45-60 miles from the closest hospital, and Girdwood Fire is the only medical provider in the community from 6pm-9am weekdays and for 24hr/day on weekends. Girdwood can be isolated from Anchorage and travel south to the Kenai Peninsula by severe weather (white out conditions), avalanches and rockfall and is in an earthquake and tsunami zone. Both departments do a significant amount of fundraising for specialized rescue equipment and training.

Fire Station Number Neighborhood Engine Companies Medic Units Special Units
31 Chugiak Engine 31 Medic 31 Tender 31, Brush 31, Utility 31, ALS 31 (24-hour ALS fly car), Captain 1, 2, 3, or 4 (24-hour duty officer)
32 Birchwood Tender 32 Utility 32 (Flatbed)
33 Peters Creek Engine 33 Medic 33 Rescue 33, Tender 33
34 Birchwood Airport Brush 34 off-season storage for snowmachines, 6-wheelers, Boat 31
35 North Eagle River Engine 35 Medic 35 Tender 35, Brush 35, Boat 31 (summer) or snowmachines (winter), Chief 31, Chief 32, Chief 33
41 Girdwood Engine 41 Medic 41, Medic 42 Rescue 41, Rescue 42, Brush 41, Tender 41, Tender 42, Tender 43, Utility 41, Chief 41,Chief 42, Boat 41, UAS, snowmachines (x2), Side-by-side (x2) Unimog

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Annual Report" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on October 29, 2018. Retrieved October 28, 2018.
  2. ^ "With 16 new recruits, Anchorage Fire Department ups its numbers". KTVA. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  3. ^ "Fire Department". Municipality of Anchorage. Archived from the original on April 2, 2015. Retrieved March 27, 2015.
  4. ^ "Station 1". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  5. ^ "Station 3". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  6. ^ "Station 4". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  7. ^ "Station 5". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  8. ^ "Station 6". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  9. ^ "Station 7". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  10. ^ "Station 8". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  11. ^ "Station 9". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  12. ^ "Station 10". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  13. ^ "Station 11". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  14. ^ "Station 12". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  15. ^ "Station 14". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on February 1, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  16. ^ "Station 15". Anchorage Fire Department Status. Archived from the original on August 10, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2015.
  17. ^ "About Us". www.cvfrd.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  18. ^ "Girdwood Fire Department". Girdwood Fire Department. Archived from the original on July 11, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  19. ^ "Personnel". Girdwood Fire Department. Archived from the original on September 15, 2017. Retrieved May 31, 2017.

61°13′06″N 149°52′56″W / 61.21833°N 149.88222°W / 61.21833; -149.88222

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