Ketchikan Fire Department

🔥 HEAT ADVISORY: KETCHIKAN HAS BEEN SET TO “BROIL” 🔥

Temperatures are expected to reach the low to mid-80s from noon Thursday through 7:00 p.m. Friday.

Yes, 80 degrees.

In Southeast Alaska.

We understand if you need a moment to process this information—or to locate the shorts you purchased three years ago and have never worn.

The Heat Advisory includes Annette Island, Hyder, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough, and Prince of Wales Island. Areas near the ocean or glaciers may be cooler, especially with an afternoon breeze.

A few important reminders:

💧 Drink plenty of water. Iced coffee is emotionally hydrating, but it does not count.

👵 Check on elderly and vulnerable relatives and neighbors—especially anyone who still has the heat turned on from last winter.

🚗 Never leave children or pets unattended in a vehicle. Temperatures inside can become deadly in as little as 10 minutes.

☀️ Wear sunscreen and lightweight, loose-fitting clothing. Alaskans can burn quickly after nine months of being stored in the dark.

🥵 Limit strenuous outdoor activities to the morning or evening. If possible, postpone all unnecessary movement until the temperature returns to a respectable 54 degrees.

🏠 Close curtains during the day, open windows at night, use fans, and visit an air-conditioned community building if needed. Please remember that standing in front of the open freezer eating ice cream is not an official cooling center.

⚠️ Know the symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and act immediately if someone becomes ill.

Locations near the ocean or glaciers should be cooler with a stronger afternoon breeze. Everyone else should hydrate, find some shade, and try not to say, “At least it’s a dry heat”—because this is Ketchikan, and absolutely nothing is dry.

Stay cool, Ketchikan. The rain will probably be back soon to apologize. 🌧️😎

🚒🏠 KETCHIKAN — HAVE YOU SIGNED UP FOR COMMUNITY CONNECT?

Living in Southeast Alaska, we tend to know a lot about our neighbors.

We know whose dog escapes every time the front door opens. We know who owns the boat that hasn’t moved from the harbor in three years. And we definitely know it’s raining without needing to look at the weather app. 🌧️😂

But when the Ketchikan Fire Department is responding to an emergency at your home, there may be some really important things we DON'T know.

That’s where Community Connect comes in.

Community Connect is a FREE, voluntary, and secure service provided by the Ketchikan Fire Department for residents who live within the City of Ketchikan.

It allows you to provide information that may help our firefighters and paramedics when responding to your home, including:

🏠 Important information about your property
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Who lives in the home
♿ Mobility or other functional needs
🐕 Pets — because they're family too
☎️ Emergency contacts
🔥 Fire protection and utility information
⚠️ Hazards or other things responders should know

You decide what information you're comfortable sharing, and the information is available to responders to help us better serve you during an emergency.

The idea is pretty simple: help us know the important stuff BEFORE the emergency happens.

Because we'd much rather know ahead of time that there's a dog hiding upstairs, someone in the home needs assistance getting out, or there's something unusual about accessing your property than figure it out while standing outside in 40-degree sideways rain. 🌧️💨🚒

It only takes a few minutes to create your profile. Once you're signed up, remember to update it whenever something changes.

👉 SIGN UP OR UPDATE YOUR PROFILE HERE:

https://www.communityconnect.io/info/ak-ketchikan

Community Connect is provided by the Ketchikan Fire Department for residents residing within the City of Ketchikan.

Help us help you — before the tones ever drop. 🚒❤️

Ketchikan Community Connect Find out more about Ketchikan Community Connect, brought to you by the Ketchikan Fire Department. Together, Building a Safer Community Through Prevention, Preparedness & Response.

☀️🔥 SOUTHEAST ALASKA WEATHER ALERT: THE SUN HAS DECIDED TO STAY AWHILE 🔥☀️

Apparently, someone forgot to tell Mother Nature that Southeast Alaska is supposed to come with unlimited complimentary rain. 🌧️

According to our friends at the National Weather Service in Juneau, the warm and dry weather will continue through the week, with temperatures climbing back into the 70s and possibly 80s and very little chance of widespread rainfall.

Yes… 80s. In Southeast Alaska.
Please remain calm. We will get through this together. 😎

More importantly, much of Southeast Alaska is now considered “Abnormally Dry” (D0), with Prince of Wales Island reaching Moderate Drought (D1) conditions.

While we’ve certainly experienced drier stretches before, these conditions can begin causing real impacts, including:
💧 Localized water shortages
🐟 Concerns for fish health and migration
🌲 Increasingly dry vegetation and fuels
🔥 Greater potential for fires to start and spread

A few reminders from your Ketchikan Fire Department:

🚫 Be extra careful with anything that creates sparks or flame outdoors.
🚬 Make sure smoking materials are completely extinguished.
🔥 Never leave outdoor fires unattended.
💧 If you rely on a private water source, keep an eye on your supply.
🐟 And please be mindful of low-water conditions affecting our streams and fish.

Also, remember to drink water. Coffee is wonderful, but apparently the medical people continue to insist that it doesn't count as our entire hydration plan.

Enjoy the sunshine, Ketchikan. ☀️

Take pictures. Sit outside. Wear sunscreen. Mow something if you can find something dry enough to mow.

Because we all know how Southeast Alaska works…

🌧️ At some point, the rain will realize it forgot about us and come back with overtime.

Stay safe, stay hydrated, and enjoy our temporary impersonation of summer!

— Ketchikan Fire Department 🚒🔥

🔥🌧️ KFD IS HIRING A FIRE INSPECTOR — KETCHIKAN EDITION 🌧️🔥

The City of Ketchikan Fire Department is looking for our next FIRE INSPECTOR!

💰 $32.07/hour + benefits
📍 Ketchikan, Alaska
🕐 Regular, full-time
📅 Open until filled

We’re looking for someone who can inspect buildings, review plans, investigate fires, teach fire safety, interpret fire and building codes, and professionally explain that:

“But we’ve been doing it this way since 1978” is not actually a section of the fire code. 😂

This is Southeast Alaska, so your normal workday may include:

🌧️ Conducting an inspection in sideways rain.

🥾 Discovering that Xtratufs are acceptable footwear for approximately 94% of life in Ketchikan.

🚢 Attempting to get across downtown when four cruise ships have simultaneously released 10,000 people looking for Creek Street.

🐦 Having a raven supervise your inspection from the dumpster and openly question your qualifications.

☕ Understanding that coffee isn't technically required PPE…but we're not saying it isn't.

🪜 Explaining that blocking an emergency exit because “we needed somewhere to put the boxes” does not make the exit less important.

🔌 Finding an extension cord plugged into a power strip, plugged into another extension cord, plugged into something you're slightly afraid to identify.

🔥 Hearing the phrase “It's grandfathered in” and resisting the urge to ask:

“Excellent. Can you show me where Grandpa signed the fire code?”

Other responsibilities include fire and life-safety inspections, complaint and license inspections, plan reviews, new and existing construction inspections, fire origin-and-cause investigations, public education, accurate documentation and administrative duties.

REQUIREMENTS:

🔥 High school diploma or equivalent, supplemented by specialized training in building construction, architecture, engineering, or a related field.

🚗 Valid driver's license or the ability to obtain one.

📚 ICC Fire Inspector certification, or the ability to obtain it within one year of hire.

We're looking for someone who can enforce the fire code, educate the community, work with property owners and contractors, and understand that in a 100-year-old Southeast Alaska building, opening one wall can occasionally lead to:

“Huh…well, that's interesting.”

Come join the Ketchikan Fire Department and help protect one of the most unique communities in Alaska.

Where the mountains are beautiful, the people are great, the salmon are plentiful, the rain is horizontal…

…and somebody, somewhere, is definitely holding a fire door open with a doorstop. 🤦‍♂️🔥

FIRE INSPECTOR — CITY OF KETCHIKAN FIRE DEPARTMENT
💰 $32.07/hour + benefits
📅 Open until filled
EOE/AA

🔥 Apply today.

https://www.ketchikan.gov/jobs/2283/

Xtratufs strongly recommended. Ability to identify “creative wiring” without visibly wincing is a plus. 🌧️🥾🔥

🚒🚓 Three-Vehicle Crash Near Walmart

Last evening, Ketchikan Fire Department and Ketchikan Police Department responded to a three-vehicle accident with injuries near Walmart.

One person was transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

Incidents like this are an important reminder that seat belts save lives. A crash can happen in an instant, even during a routine trip across town. Please take the extra second to buckle up—every trip, every seat, every time.

We also want to extend a sincere thank you to the community members who stopped and offered assistance before emergency crews arrived. Your willingness to help your neighbors is one of the things that makes Ketchikan such a special community.

And to everyone who waited patiently in traffic while KFD and KPD crews treated patients, investigated the accident, and worked to safely clear the roadway—thank you for your patience and understanding. We know delays can be frustrating, but giving responders the room and time they need helps keep everyone safe.

🚗 Buckle up. Slow down. Stay alert. And please give emergency crews plenty of room to work.

Stay safe, Ketchikan! ❤️

🚒 **Sometimes the Fire Service Is Just About Helping People** 📱🌊

One of the things the fire service has always been known for is helping solve everyday problems when time and emergency calls permit.

Sometimes it’s helping shut off a leaking pipe. Sometimes it’s getting someone out of a tough situation. Occasionally, the legendary cat really does need to come out of the tree.

And sometimes… **a brand-new cell phone needs to be rescued from Ketchikan Creek.** 😂📱

This past Friday, visitors Judy and Jack Rodgers from Washington, D.C., were enjoying Ketchikan when their brand-new phone unexpectedly decided to explore the bottom of Ketchikan Creek.

In desperation, they called the fire department. Two members of Ketchikan Fire Department were able to respond, retrieve the phone, and get Judy and Jack on their way in time to make it back to their cruise ship.

Even better — **the phone survived and is working perfectly!**

Afterward, we received this wonderful message:

> “Two wonderful public servants came to our aid immediately, and pulled the phone out of the river in time for us to get back to our cruise ship. And — the phone is working perfectly!
>
> We will always remember the kindness of these two Ketchikaners!”
>
> — Judy & Jack Rodgers, Washington, D.C.

We appreciate Judy and Jack taking the time to send such a kind message.

Not every call involves flashing lights, fire hoses, or a medical emergency. Sometimes being part of a community fire department simply means seeing someone who needs a hand and, when we can, **helping them out.**

We hope Judy and Jack enjoyed the rest of their visit to Ketchikan — and we're happy to report that this particular water rescue resulted in a successful resuscitation. 📱❤️😂

**Although we strongly recommend keeping your cell phones out of Ketchikan Creek. Our fish have terrible reception.** 🐟📵

— Your Ketchikan Fire Department 🚒

One of our absolute favorite traditions each year is welcoming the Blueberry Arts Festival Pet & Doll Parade to the Ketchikan Fire Department! 🫐🚒🐾🧸

This wonderful event kicks off the Blueberry Arts Festival and has become one of the highlights of the weekend for our firefighters. There’s nothing better than seeing the firehouse filled with smiling kids, proud parents, adorable pets, cherished dolls, and plenty of laughter. Add in a few snacks, lots of questions about the fire trucks, and a chance to visit with our crews, and it’s the perfect way to start the festival.

We believe a fire station is more than just a place where emergency responders work—it’s a community gathering place. Your Ketchikan Fire Department belongs to everyone, and we love opening our doors to our neighbors and friends.

Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this year’s parade another memorable event. Be sure to check out these fantastic photos of all the pets, dolls, and smiling faces that made today so special!

Happy Blueberry Arts Festival, Ketchikan! 🫐❤️🚒

🫐 KETCHIKAN FIRE DEPARTMENT PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 🫐

It’s Blueberry Arts Festival weekend, which means Ketchikan is about to become the only place where you can watch people race giant slugs, paddle handmade blueberry boats, throw blueberries at each other, and somehow call it “culture.”

Here’s how you can help keep our firefighters from becoming part of the entertainment:

🫐 If you’re entering the Blueberry Ball Roll, please roll the blueberry… not yourself.

🐌 If you’re racing slugs, remember: they’re already moving at emergency-response speed for a slug. No need to encourage them.

🚣 If your handmade blueberry boat starts becoming a handmade blueberry submarine, wave at us before you disappear.

🏃 If you’re running the 5K, remember it’s a race—not a reason to test whether our ambulance crews can keep up.

🫐 During the pie-eating contest, chewing is still faster than the Heimlich.

🚒 And if you see our crews around town, we’re probably there keeping everyone safe—not judging your blueberry-themed wardrobe. (Okay… maybe just a little.)

Have an amazing Blueberry Arts Festival, support our local artists, enjoy the incredible events, and remember: we’d much rather see your festival photos on Facebook than your name on our incident report.

Happy Blueberry Festival, Ketchikan! Stay safe, have fun, and may your only emergency this weekend be deciding between blueberry pie and blueberry jam. 🫐🚒

When you protect a community surrounded by mountains, water, steep terrain, and aging infrastructure, having the right equipment matters.

Over the past several years, the Ketchikan Fire Department has responded to a number of incidents that highlighted the need for additional technical rescue capabilities. Those calls helped justify the purchase of our **new-to-us Rescue Truck**, which previously served the **Los Angeles Fire Department** as a collapse rescue unit.

Rather than purchasing a new apparatus at a cost well into the millions, we worked to acquire and refurbish this specialized vehicle on a very limited budget—stretching every dollar while bringing an incredible resource to our community.

This project has truly been a team effort. While the fire department led the refurbishment, we could not have accomplished it without the support of many others across the City. Our **Ketchikan Maintenance Shops** have invested countless hours repairing, fabricating, troubleshooting, and helping bring this apparatus into service. Our **Information Technology Department** has also been instrumental in ensuring the truck has the communications and technology it needs to operate effectively in today's emergency response environment. This rescue truck is a great example of what can be accomplished when City departments work together toward a common goal.

One of the final pieces of the project was protecting the truck itself. A complete repaint simply wasn't in the budget, but preserving the bodywork and preventing future corrosion was important if we wanted this truck to serve Ketchikan for many years.

That's where **Sign Pro** stepped in.

This week, their team lightly sanded and sealed areas of surface rust before applying an outstanding wrap and graphics package that not only protects the truck's exterior, but also reflects the spirit of Ketchikan and the mission of the Ketchikan Fire Department. The finished product looks incredible, and we're grateful for their craftsmanship, generosity, and support of public safety.

Although we're still completing a few minor repairs and upgrades, the Rescue Truck has already been in service for one month and has responded to:

🚒 1 fire response
🚗 1 motor vehicle collision
☣️ 1 hazardous materials response
🛠️ 1 rescue call/extrication call
🚑 4 emergency medical responses because we had multiple calls occurring at once.

It's already proving its value, and we're confident it will continue serving our community for many years to come.

Finally, we'd like to sincerely thank the residents of Ketchikan for your continued support of your fire department, and thank the **Ketchikan City Council** for believing in the vision of expanding our rescue capabilities and investing in the safety of our community.

Projects like this don't happen because of one person or one department—they happen because people across an organization are willing to work together, solve problems, and find creative ways to make the most of every taxpayer dollar. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who had a hand in bringing this rescue truck to life, and we look forward to seeing it serve the Ketchikan community for many years to come.

🚨 Ketchikan, we've got a problem...

Apparently, someone decided one week of free, nationally recognized training wasn't enough... so we packed THREE outstanding courses into one week.

From Mental Health for Emergency Responders, to Youth Firesetting Prevention, to the Alaska Firefighter Cancer & Wellness Forum, there's something for nearly everyone in public safety. Best of all... it's FREE.

We know what you're thinking:
"But Chief... August is fishing season."

Good news—you can catch a salmon in the morning, attend world-class training during the day, and still spend the evening arguing about whose fishing story is the least believable.

So whether you're a firefighter, EMT, law enforcement officer, investigator, school official, behavioral health professional, or just someone who wants to learn from some of the best instructors in the country, we'd love to have you in Ketchikan.

✅ Free registration
✅ Nationally recognized instructors
✅ Practical, real-world training
✅ An excuse to visit Southeast Alaska (as if you needed one)

Scan the QR code on the flyer and reserve your spot. Bring a coworker, bring your department... just don't wait until the week before and tell us, "I meant to sign up."

We look forward to welcoming everyone to Ketchikan Public Safety Training Week – August 16–22, 2026.

Come for the training. Stay because your flight got delayed by Southeast Alaska weather. 🌧️🐟🚒