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Anchorage Fire Department

AFD Logo
AFD Patch
Operational area
Country	United States
State	Alaska
City	Anchorage
Agency overview
Established	1915 (1915)
Annual calls	36,270 (2017)
Employees	392 (2022)
Annual budget	$104,173,605 2022)
Staffing	Career
Fire chief	Douglas Schrage
IAFF	1264
Facilities and equipment
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
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. 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.

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

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. 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 under the leadership of Chief Michelle Weston and Deputy Chief Manch Garhart. 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.

References

1. ^ "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

• 1915 establishments in Alaska
• Fire departments in Alaska
• Government agencies established in 1915
• Organizations based in Anchorage, Alaska