Anchorage Fire Department Explained

Anchorage Fire Department
Patch:Anchorage Fire Department Logo.png
Patch Caption:AFD Patch
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Type2:City
Subdivision Name2: Anchorage
Annual Calls:36,270
Employees:392
Annual Budget:$104,173,605
Staffing:Career
Chief:Douglas Schrage
Iaff:1264
Reference1:[1]
Battalions:3
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

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. AFD is assisted by two volunteer fire departments operating in the outlying areas of the Anchorage Municipality.

History

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

Fire Station Number NeighborhoodEngine CompanyTruck CompanyEMS Medic UnitSpecial UnitBattalion Chief Units
1Engine 1
Engine 2
Truck 1Medic 1Medic 81 (BLS)

Medic 82 (BLS)

HazMat 1, ALS 1 (fly car)Battalion Chief 1 [4]
3Mountain ViewEngine 3Truck 3Medic 3Rescue 3 (USAR)[5]
4Tudor Engine 4Medic 4Medic 84 (BLS)Rescue 4 (Heavy Rescue), Dive 4 (Water Rescue), ALS 4 (fly car)[6]
5Engine 5Truck 5Medic 5[7]
6MuldoonEngine 6Medic 6[8]
7Jewel Lake Engine 7Medic 7[9]
8O'Malley Engine 8Tender 8 [10]
9Dearmoun Engine 9Medic 9Tender 9, Rescue 9 (Frontcountry Rescue) [11]
10Rabbit Creek Engine 10Tender 10 [12]
11Engine 11Medic 11Squad 11, Tender 11, Rescue 11 (Swiftwater Rescue) [13]
12DimondEngine 12Truck 12Medic 12Safety 1 Battalion Chief 2[14]
14Tudor Baxter Engine 14Medic 814 (BLS) Tender 14, Rehab 14Battalion Chief 3 [15]
15Southport Engine 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 Companies Medic UnitsSpecial Units
31Chugiak Engine 31Medic 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 Creek Engine 33Medic 33Rescue 33, Tender 33
34Birchwood Airport Brush 34off-season storage for snowmachines, 6-wheelers, Boat 31
35North Eagle RiverEngine 35Medic 35Tender 35, Brush 35, Boat 31 (summer) or snowmachines (winter), Chief 31, Chief 32, Chief 33
41Girdwood Engine 41Medic 41, Medic 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

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annual Report. 28 October 2018. October 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181029071553/https://www.muni.org/Departments/Fire/Documents/2017%20Report%20to%20the%20Community.pdf. live.
  2. Web site: With 16 new recruits, Anchorage Fire Department ups its numbers . . March 27, 2015 . April 2, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092447/http://www.ktva.com/with-16-new-recruits-anchorage-fire-department-ups-its-numbers-704/ . live .
  3. Web site: Fire Department . . March 27, 2015 . April 2, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125601/http://www.muni.org/Departments/Fire/Pages/AboutAFD.aspx . live .
  4. Web site: Station 1. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. February 1, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150201094435/http://afdstatus.org/station-1/. live.
  5. Web site: Station 3. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810085016/http://afdstatus.org/station-3/. live.
  6. Web site: Station 4. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810095227/http://afdstatus.org/station-4/. live.
  7. Web site: Station 5. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810102945/http://afdstatus.org/station-5/. live.
  8. Web site: Station 6. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810111031/http://afdstatus.org/station-6/. live.
  9. Web site: Station 7. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810123723/http://afdstatus.org/station-7/. live.
  10. Web site: Station 8. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810130739/http://afdstatus.org/station-8/. live.
  11. Web site: Station 9. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810114014/http://afdstatus.org/station-9/. live.
  12. Web site: Station 10. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810110236/http://afdstatus.org/station-10/. live.
  13. Web site: Station 11. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810092244/http://afdstatus.org/station-11/. live.
  14. Web site: Station 12. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. February 1, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150201095642/http://afdstatus.org/station-12/. live.
  15. Web site: Station 14. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. February 1, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150201092301/http://afdstatus.org/station-14/. live.
  16. Web site: Station 15. Anchorage Fire Department Status. 24 June 2015. August 10, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150810145828/http://afdstatus.org/station-15/. live.
  17. Web site: About Us. www.cvfrd.com. 2017-05-31. April 1, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170401082654/http://www.cvfrd.com/about1.html. live.
  18. Web site: Girdwood Fire Department. Girdwood Fire Department. en-US. 2017-05-31. July 11, 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170711080323/https://www.girdwoodfire.com/. live.
  19. Web site: Personnel. Girdwood Fire Department. en-US. 2017-05-31. https://web.archive.org/web/20170915025317/https://www.girdwoodfire.com/personnel/. 2017-09-15. dead.