Anchorage Fire Department

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Anchorage Fire Department
Anchorage Fire Department Official Logo.png
AFD Logo
Anchorage Fire Department Logo.png
AFD Patch
Operational area
CountryFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States
State Flag of Alaska.svg  Alaska
City Flag of Anchorage, Alaska.svg Anchorage
Agency overview [1]
Established1915 (1915)
Annual calls36,270 (2017)
Employees392 (2022)
Annual budget$104,173,605 2022)
StaffingCareer
Fire chief Douglas Schrage
IAFF 1264
Facilities and equipment [1]
Battalions3
Stations 13
Engines 14
Trucks 2
Tillers 1
Platforms 2
Rescues 3
Ambulances 13
Tenders 5
HAZMAT 1
USAR 1
Wildland 1
Rescue boats 2
Website
Official website
IAFF website

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.

Contents

History

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

Anchorage Fire Department engine based at its downtown station, responding to a call early in the morning Anchorage Fire Department Engine 1.jpg
Anchorage Fire Department engine based at its downtown station, responding to a call early in the morning
Anchorage Fire Department garage entrance Anchorage Fire Department (47708410202).jpg
Anchorage Fire Department garage entrance
Fire Station NumberNeighborhoodEngine CompanyTruck CompanyEMS Medic UnitsSpecial UnitsBattalion Chief Units
1 Downtown Engine 1
Engine 2		Truck 1Medic Unit 1

Medic Unit 81 (BLS)

Medic Unit 82 (BLS)

HazMat 1, ALS 1 (fly car)Battalion Chief Unit 1 [4]
3Mountain ViewEngine 3Truck 3Medic Unit 3Rescue 3 (USAR) [5]
4TudorEngine 4Medic Unit 4

Medic Unit 84 (BLS)

Rescue 4 (Heavy Rescue), Dive 4 (Water Rescue), ALS 4 (fly car) [6]
5 Spenard Engine 5Truck 5Medic Unit 5 [7]
6 Muldoon Engine 6Medic Unit 6 [8]
7Jewel LakeEngine 7Medic Unit 7 [9]
8O'MalleyEngine 8Tender 8 [10]
9DearmounEngine 9Medic Unit 9Tender 9, Rescue 9 (Frontcountry Rescue) [11]
10Rabbit CreekEngine 10Tender 10 [12]
11 Eagle River Engine 11Medic Unit 11Squad 11, Tender 11, Rescue 11 (Swiftwater Rescue) [13]
12DimondEngine 12Truck 12Medic Unit 12Safety 1Battalion Chief Unit 2 [14]
14Tudor BaxterEngine 14Medic Unit 814 (BLS)Tender 14, Rehab 14Battalion Chief Unit 3 [15]
15SouthportEngine 15 [16]

Chugiak and Girdwood Fire Service Areas

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 NumberNeighborhoodEngine CompaniesMedic UnitsSpecial Units
31ChugiakEngine 31Medic Unit 31Tender 31, Brush 31, Utility 31, ALS 31 (24-hour ALS fly car), Captain 1, 2, 3, or 4 (24-hour duty officer)
32BirchwoodTender 32Utility 32 (Flatbed)
33Peters CreekEngine 33Medic Unit 33Rescue 33, Tender 33
34Birchwood AirportBrush 34off-season storage for snowmachines, 6-wheelers, Boat 31
35North Eagle RiverEngine 35Medic Unit 35Tender 35, Brush 35, Boat 31 (summer) or snowmachines (winter), Chief 31, Chief 32, Chief 33
41GirdwoodEngine 41Medic Unit 41, Medic Unit 42Rescue 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

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "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.

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