The Fairbanks Fire Department:
The Fairbanks Fire Department was organized in 1904. In 1906 a large portion of the city was destroyed by fire. Our founding fathers, not wanting history to repeat itself, organized one of the earliest paid fire departments in the country. The first paid firefighters were hired in 1906.
Today, your Fairbanks Firefighters protect a population of about 30,000 residents, which swells to over 50,000 people during daytime hours. FFD responds to about 4,000 emergency calls a year, more than all other Fairbanks area fire departments combined. This is accomplished with only 36 firefighters and medics working rotating 24 hour shifts.
Fairbanks Firefighters do far more than just extinguish fires. They also provide paramedic- level ambulance service (the only paramedic level service in the Fairbanks area), hazardous materials and terrorism response, response to car accidents, many forms of specialized rescue and perform fire prevention activities.
The Fire Prevention Division of the Fairbanks Fire Department performs new construction plan reviews, does fire inspections of businesses and investigates the cause and origin of all fires to help prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.
The Fairbanks Firefighters Association (International Association of Fire Fighters, L1324) is in a partnership with the City of Fairbanks to ensure a safe and stable community for all. The FFD, ISO class 3, ensures low insurance rates for residents and businesses, attracting new investments and growth to our community. The fire department works hard everyday to ensure the safety of our community and plays a vital role in the continued economic stability of Fairbanks.
The Fairbanks Fire Department has changed a lot since this photo was taken in 1928. The FFD currently responds from two stations; Fire Station #1, the headquarters building at 1101 Cushman St. (built recently from a state grant), and Fire Station #3 at 1033 Aurora Dr.
Thanks to many federal grants the FFD is able to operate a modern fleet of fire apparatus including two engines (pumpers), two pumper/tenders, two aerial platforms (ladder trucks), four Advanced Life Support ambulances, one rescue truck, one rescue boat, and several support and specialty vehicles. (See pictures under “apparatus”)
The Fairbanks Fire Department currently has a minimum staffing level of nine firefighters, all of which are paramedics or EMT’s. This means there are at least nine firefighter/medics on duty 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Though this is far below the level suggested by national standards for a city of our size, we are able to provide our community with consistent and professional service.
At minimum staffing levels the FFD operates one 3 person Engine at Station 1, one 2 person Engine at Station 3, a one person Truck at Station 1, a two person Paramedic ambulance at Station 1 and a Battalion Chief at Station 1. Additional ambulances and the rescue truck are cross staffed as needed.
At full staffing the FFD operates one 3 person Engine at Station 1, one 3 person Engine at Station 3, a 3 person Truck at Station 1, a two person Paramedic ambulance at Station 1 and a Battalion Chief at Station 1. Additional ambulances and the rescue truck are still cross staffed as needed.
Our Community…The Golden Heart City.
The Fairbanks Firefighters are your friends and neighbors. We work, live, and recreate in our city.
Your Fairbanks firefighters are heavily involved in local charities. Through payroll deduction we donate approximately $5,000.00 per year to the United Way of Fairbanks. Each year we participate, along with firefighters across this country, in the annual “Fill-the-Boot” campaign where firefighters raise money for Jerry Lewis and his quest to treat and cure Muscular Dystrophy. In 2007 we raised almost $20,000.00. Additionally, many Fairbanks Firefighters participate in St. Baldricks, where firefighters raise money through pledges to shave their heads in support of children’s cancer research. The Fairbanks Fire Fighters Association L1324 also supports area youth sports through sponsorships of young athletes and other miscellaneous charities.
The FFD responds on average to over 11 emergencies a day. When not responding to emergencies you may find us testing hose (over 3.5 miles of it), testing some of our 1,300 fire hydrants, testing our fire apparatus, taking training classes (FFD personnel logged over 5,000 hours last year), cleaning the fire stations, washing the fire trucks, or conducting fire prevention activities in the nine public schools we protect.
Fairbanks Firefighters will even come to your house, check your smoke detector, and replace it with a free one if necessary.
If you would like further information about your fire department, please click on the Frequently Asked Questions under the menu. Also check out the photo’s where you will find historical pictures, pictures from emergency calls and pictures of the apparatus. Be sure to sign our guestbook before you leave!
Fairbanks Firefighters, Proudly Serving Fairbanks since 1904
Union proud since 1959
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