{{Short description|City department in Arizona}} {{Third-party|date=October 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2023}} {{Use American English|date=February 2023}} {{Infobox fire department | name = Phoenix Fire Department | native_name = | logo = Phoenix Fire Department Seal.jpg <!-- Operational Area --> | country ={{USA}} | subdivision_type1 =State | subdivision_name1 ={{flag|Arizona}} | subdivision_type2 =City | subdivision_name2 ={{flagicon image<!-- Commented out: |Flag_of_Phoenix,_Arizona.svg -->}} Phoenix <!-- Agency Overview --> | reference1 =<ref name=annual>{{cite web|title=2013 Annual Report|url=https://www.phoenix.gov/firesite/Documents/2013%20Annual%20Summary.pdf|website=Phoenix Fire Department|accessdate=22 February 2015}}</ref> | established = 1886 | annual calls = 242,067 {{small|(2024)}} | annual budget = $561,651,000 {{small|(2024-2025)}} | employees = 2,018 | staffing = Career | chief = Mike Duran III | iaff = 493 <!-- Facilities & Equipment history --> | reference2 =<ref name=annual/> | divisions = | battalions =9 | stations =60 | engines =66 | ladders =15 | squads =3 | rescues =38 | wildfire engines =15 | ambulances =38 | tenders =14 | hazmat =3 | FirstResponderBLSorALS =ALS | usar =1 | crash =5 <!-- Footer --> | website = {{url|https://www.phoenix.gov/fire|Official website}} | iaffweb = {{url|http://www.local493.org|IAFF website}} }} The '''Phoenix Fire Department''' provides fire protection and emergency medical services for the city of Phoenix, Arizona. The department responded to 242,067 calls during 2024, with 82% being for emergency medical services.<ref name="about">{{cite web |title=About Us |url=https://www.phoenixopendata.com/dataset/caf49f72-f22f-4ad9-9405-2a3db9619423/resource/2169fba5-a64a-42da-893d-931b97ea10ef/download/calls-for-service-fire_calls-for-service-2024_calls_for_service.csv |accessdate=9 February 2025 |website=Phoenix Fire Department}}</ref> The Phoenix Fire Department currently protects 1.5 million residents spread across an area of {{convert|520|sqmi}}.<ref name=about/> It is dispatched by the Phoenix Fire Department Regional Dispatch Center and is one of 26 jurisdictions that participates in the Automatic Aid system.
==History== The Phoenix Fire Department was established as a volunteer fire department on August 17, 1886, with the formation of Engine 1.<ref name=history>{{cite web|title=Phoenix Fire Department History|url=https://www.phoenix.gov/fire/about-us/history|website=Phoenix Fire Department|accessdate=22 February 2015}}</ref> In 1922 the department transitioned from volunteers to career members. From 1924 to present day, the department created the A, B, and C shifts, which started and ended every third day at 8:00 AM.<ref name=history/>
On December 9, 1929, the Phoenix Fire Department suffered its first fatality in the line of duty. While responding to a call, Squad 1 and Engine 2 crashed into each other at 14th and Van Buren streets. Captain Jack Sullivan of Squad 1 was killed instantly.<ref>[https://www.phoenix.gov/fire/about-us/history history]</ref>
In 1936 the Phoenix Fire Department joined the International Association of Firefighters and formed the union Local 493. The surrounding fire departments, Tempe, Glendale, Chandler, Surprise, and Peoria, are also part of Local 493.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.l493.org/Default.asp?p=aboutus|website=Local 493|publisher=United Phoenix Firefighters|accessdate=24 July 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150724115733/http://www.l493.org/Default.asp?p=aboutus|archivedate=24 July 2015}}</ref>
thumb|Phoenix fire department engine number 3 in the early 20th century
On June 5, 2021 the Phoenix Fire Department responded to a fire at a recycling facility near 35th Avenue and Lincoln Street. The 6-alarm fire drew more than 200 firefighters to scene from 10 different agencies from across Arizona.<ref>{{cite news |title=Massive recycling yard fire in West Phoenix triggers 'largest response' in fire department's history |url=https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/massive-recycling-yard-fire-in-west-phoenix-prompts-largest-response-in-fire-departments-history |access-date=18 February 2025 |publisher=FOX 10 |date=June 8, 2021}}</ref>
== Stations and apparatus == The Phoenix Fire Department is one of the busiest fire departments in the United States. Phoenix currently has 60 fire stations and 9 battalions. Two of the stations are located in the Town of Paradise Valley, who contracts with Phoenix for fire protection.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fire Stations {{!}} Paradise Valley, AZ - Official Website |url=https://www.paradisevalleyaz.gov/237/Fire-Stations |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=www.paradisevalleyaz.gov}}</ref> The Phoenix Fire Department has 66 engine companies, 15 ladder companies, and 38 rescue companies (ambulances).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fire Station Locations and Apparatus |url=https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/fire/about-us/units-divisions/locations.html |access-date=2026-03-15 |website=City of Phoenix |language=en}}</ref> Some fire stations have two engine companies. In February 2020, the fire department opened the 9th Battalion in the Central District. Each battalion is directed by one Battalion Chief per shift. Each district is administered by a Deputy Chief.
The most recent station, #62, opened in February 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phoenix Fire Department Hosts Grand Opening of Fire Station 62 with Open House Event |url=https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/fire/3323 |access-date=2025-02-09 |website=www.phoenix.gov |language=en-US}}</ref> Future stations include Station 74, which broke ground in October 2024<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phoenix Fire Department Breaks Ground on Fire Station 74 |url=https://www.phoenix.gov/newsroom/fire-news/3245.html |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=www.phoenix.gov |language=en}}</ref> and Station 51 planned in the far north part of Phoenix.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reports and Presentations |url=https://www.phoenix.gov/administration/departments/budget/general-obligation-bond/reports-presentations.html |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=www.phoenix.gov |language=en}}</ref>
== FEMA Urban Search and Rescue (US&R) Team Arizona Task Force == The Phoenix-based FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Team Arizona Task Force 1 (or AZ-TF1) is a FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Task Force sponsored by the Phoenix Fire Department.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fema.gov/emergency/usr/locations.shtm | title = US&R Task Force Locations | publisher = FEMA | access-date = August 28, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120705001444/http://www.fema.gov/emergency/usr/locations.shtm | archive-date = July 5, 2012 | url-status = dead | df = mdy-all }}</ref>
AZ-TF1 is one of 28 such FEMA US&R Rescue Teams with numerous disaster response capabilities such as search and rescue, hazardous material detection and decontamination, structural collapse rescue, technical search, emergency triage and medicine, live find and human remains detection canines, and disaster recovery.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-02-27 |title=Urban Search & Rescue Task Force Locations {{!}} FEMA.gov |url=https://www.fema.gov/emergency-managers/national-preparedness/frameworks/urban-search-rescue/task-force-locations |access-date=2025-07-05 |website=www.fema.gov |language=en}}</ref> The Federal Emergency Management Agency created the geographically positioned teams in an effort to provide support for large-scale disasters in both the United States and the potential international response abroad. In recent years the FEMA US&R system has developed the ability for a modular response in the event a specific capability is needed during a disaster response. An example of this would be a swift-water rescue team needed to augment the current search and rescue assets already deployed. FEMA provides the financial, technical and training support for all 28 teams as well as manage an internal auditing system to verify and validate each team's ability to provide a standardized response of both personnel and equipment. AZ-TF1 is one of six task forces in the nation to be certified with training for WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) related incidents. AZ-TF1 is also the only task force in the US to have armed police officers respond with them. This has however led to controversy and suspension of service during 2005 Hurricane Katrina. AZ-TF1 had armed officers deployed alongside firefighters to protect them against armed looters. This in turn led to a break in FEMA's rules about firearms. AZ-TF1 was sent home with the then-Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon saying it is outrageous.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-10-06 |title=Why was search and rescue team sent home? |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna9610225 |access-date=2025-01-25 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>
===Deployments=== Noteworthy AZ-TF1 deployments include:<ref>{{cite web|title=USAR|url=https://www.phoenix.gov/fire/directory/usar|website=City of Phoenix|accessdate=22 February 2015}}</ref> * 1994 Northridge earthquake, Los Angeles County, California<ref name="mayor">{{cite web|url=http://phoenix.gov/NEWSREL/SUPPORT/chertoffletter.pdf|title=Letter to Michael Chertoff|date=October 3, 2005|publisher=City of Phoenix Office of the Mayor|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061008063305/http://phoenix.gov/NEWSREL/SUPPORT/chertoffletter.pdf <!-- Bot retrieved archive -->|archive-date=October 8, 2006|access-date=August 29, 2006}}</ref> * 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma * 2001 World Trade Center, New York City, New York<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.fema.gov/remember911/911_search.shtm | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021020184408/http://www.fema.gov/remember911/911_search.shtm | url-status = dead | archive-date = October 20, 2002 | title = Searching in Hope: FEMA's Urban Se July 2024arch and Rescue Teams | publisher = FEMA | access-date = August 28, 2006}}</ref> * 2002 Winter Olympics, Salt Lake City, Utah * 2003 Space Shuttle Columbia disaster * 2005 Hurricane Katrina * 2008 Hurricanes Gustav/Ike * 2014 Oso mudslide * 2017 Hurricane Harvey/Irma/Maria
* 2018 Hurricane Florence * 2024 Hurricane Helene
==Line of Duty Deaths== Since its inception, the Phoenix Fire Department has had 11 firefighters die in the line of duty.<ref>{{cite web|title=In Memoriam|url=https://www.phoenix.gov/fire/in-memoriam|website=City of Phoenix|accessdate=19 July 2024}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Name of Firefighter !Title ! Last Alarm ! Apparatus Placement ! Cause of Death |- | '''John D. "Jack" Sullivan''' || Captain || December 9, 1929|| Squad 1 || Struck by another truck en route to a commercial structure fire. |- | '''Ambrose Shea''' || Firefighter || December 10, 1929 ||Squad 1 || Struck by another truck en route to a commercial structure fire. |- | '''Randolf J. "Randy" Potts''' || Firefighter || August 6, 1974 || Engine 11-B || Crushed by a falling wall at a commercial structure fire. |- | '''Walter D. Kelson''' || Engineer || March 12, 1977 || Engine 23-A || Drowned trying to save drowning children at Lake Pleasant. The children survived. |- | '''Chauncey E. Ray Jr.''' || Firefighter || March 12, 1977 || Engine 23-B || Drowned trying to save drowning children at Lake Pleasant. The children survived. |- | '''Dale R. Lockett''' || Firefighter || August 5, 1979 || Engine 25-A || Fell through a roof during a fire. |- | '''Ricky S. Pearce''' || Engineer-HazMat Technician || November 15, 1984 || Ladder 4-B || Spontaneous explosion while working in a worker-trapped confined space rescue storage tank. |- | '''Timothy J. Hale''' || Engineer || February 12, 1994 || Engine 15-A || Crushed by a truck while unloading a gurney from the back of the ambulance. |- | '''Bret R. Tarver''' || Firefighter Paramedic || March 14, 2001 || Engine 14-C || Became disoriented and ran out of air while interior of a 5-alarm supermarket fire. |- | '''Mark S. Carter''' || Engineer Paramedic || June 4, 2007 || Engine 37-A || Found in cardiac arrest inside of a fire truck by a civilian. |- | '''Bradley C. Harper''' || Firefighter || May 19, 2013 || Rescue 21-B || Pinned between his ambulance and a fire truck during a mulch fire. |}
== See also == {{Portal|Arizona}} * Hall of Flame Fire Museum
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.phoenix.gov/fire Official website]
{{United States fire departments}} {{Authority control}} Fire Department Category:Fire departments in Arizona Category:Ambulance services in the United States Category:Medical and health organizations based in Arizona Arizona 1 Category:Organizations based in Phoenix, Arizona