Fire & EMS Operations
This division consists of over 300 personnel covering three rotating 24-hour shifts in thirteen fire stations. On every shift, there are thirteen engine companies, eight Mobile Intensive Care Units, five truck companies, and five tankers collectively serving as the department's front line emergency medical, rescue, and fire suppression response capability. Each shift is overseen by six Battalion Chiefs (three Fire, two EMS, and one Safety). Also available through cross-manning are an additional rescue company and a variety of well-equipped specialized units, including dive, foam, hazmat, mountain and water rescue. A central 911 dispatch system serves the entire Municipality and coordinates police, fire and EMS response to all areas of the Municipality.
In addition to suppression duties, each engine company serves as a non-transport Basic Life Support (BLS) unit equipped with a semi-automatic defibrillator to enhance response to cardiac emergencies. The engine companies supplement the Department's 58 Paramedics, who, in combination with Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT's), provide Advanced Life Support (ALS) care and transport. Likewise, all Paramedics are cross-trained as firefighters to enhance response to suppression incidents when necessary.
The Anchorage fire service area covers the immediate 100 square miles of the Anchorage bowl; EMS coverage extends throughout the 1,980 square miles of the entire Municipality. Mutual Aid agreements exist between the Anchorage Fire Department, Ted Stevens International Airport Aircraft/Rescue/Fire, Elmendorf Air Force Base Fire Department, Fort Richardson Fire Department, Girdwood Volunteer Fire Department and Chugiak Volunteer Fire Department. In addition, the State of Alaska Division of Forestry and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management help protect residents and property lying within the 2000 square mile Municipality during the wildland fire season. The Anchorage Fire Department lends support to communities threatened by wildland fires throughout Southcentral Alaska.
Service within the main bowl area offers a variety of challenges. Rescue and fire response to off-road terrain that requires 4-wheel drive and, occasionally, helicopters, occurs only short distances from major highways and the high-rise, downtown urban area. The Port of Anchorage, Ted Stevens International Airport, Merrill Field (the world's busiest small plane airport) and the hub of the Alaska Railroad pose potential industrial and transportation hazards. Suburban and rural areas add to the mix and a young populace spread over a wide socioeconomic range contributes to a full spectrum of emergency response activity. The Anchorage Fire Department serves a diverse need with a fully blended fire and rescue service.