Fire Department - FAQ's

Yes, we have a patch exchange program. You can come to the station and get a patch, if you do not have a patch to exchange we will provide you with our patch exchange card so you can send one back to us when you get the chance. You can also email kfd@city.ketchikan.ak.us and request a patch be sent to you, you will need to include your name and address; if you live outside of the U.S. you will need to send a self-addressed envelope with postage to 70 Bawden St., Ketchikan, AK 99901.

Yes, we do provide SCHEDULED tours of the station, and conduct public education visits for more information regarding this topic visit the “Station Tours” webpage in the “Our Services” section of the website.

We are a combination fire department; with a full time staff of 4 administrative personnel, and 15 career personnel, supplemented by approximately 15-25 volunteers.

Ketchikan Fire Department does not sell these items.  However, when volunteer staff is available to open the museum our non-profit group “Ketchikan Volunteer Fire Department” does sell shirts, patches, coins, etc through local businesses.  There is also a vending machine located in our lobby that has made in USA union shirts, stickers, etc.

On average we respond to about 2100 calls per year.

We have three shifts (A, B, and C) that work a 48/96 shift schedule.

BLS and CPR classes are available through the following facilities.  Please contact them directly to schedule training.

• Tongass Substance Screening  907-247-1431
• First City First Aid  907-617-1998
• South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department  907-228-6673 
• American Marine Training Centers, LLC 1-855-344-2682 

We are currently hiring Firefighter/EMTs.  The job description and application can be found here.

When we are hiring, all job postings will appear here with the job description and access to apply online. 

We have three fire stations.

Station 1 is located at 70 Bawden Street and houses our administrative office and museum as well as our aerial truck, engine, mini-pumper and an ambulance.

Station 2 is located at 3352 Tongass Ave.  It is where most of our ambulances are stationed as well has being the location of our training tower.

Station 3 is located at 5403 N Tongass Hwy and houses a fire truck.

Construction was completed on Station 1 in spring of 2012 and the official dedication occurred on July 3rd, 2012.  Main Street station (old station 1) was officially closed in July of 2012. 

The bell at Station 2 was moved from the main street station in 1979.

No, we are currently out of At-Home COVID tests.

The yellow stickers are a notice that your business must be inspected before you may open to the public.

If you are a year-round business you may call the fire station at 225-9616 and schedule with the Fire Marshal. If you are a seasonal business you will need to pay the inspection fee before an inspection can be performed, you may pay in person at City Hall (334 Front St.) or over the phone by calling Juanita Day in Finance at 225-3111. Finance will then forward your information to the Fire Department and we will send a crew to conduct the inspection on a first come first served basis.

The number, size, and type of extinguishers required vary based on the type and size of your occupancy, the minimum size extinguisher required in any occupancy is at least a 2A10BC.  If you have additional questions regarding fire extinguishers please contact the Fire Marshal at 225-9616.

Burn Permits can be obtained by calling Central Dispatch at 225-6631.  Before calling please review the “Burn Permits” webpage in the “Our Services” section of the website.

The City of Ketchikan, Department of Public Works, Building Inspection Division manages the building permit program and works closely with the Fire Marshal to coordinate all plan reviews.  Information regarding whether or not a building permit is required can be found on the Public Works-Building Inspections page.

As of January 11th, the Fire Department is currently out of at-home test kits.

If/when we receive more test kits, the Fire Department will distribute free at-home tests to the public from the following locations:

• City Fire Station 1 (70 Bawden St) and Station 2 (3352 Tongass Ave)
• South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department Station 4 (5690 Roosevelt Dr)
• North Tongass Volunteer Fire Department Station 8 (13110 North Tongass Hwy)

The public can pick up two tests per family while supplies lasts. The goal of the distribution is for families to have at-home tests on reserve for when one might be needed; for instance, if you’re experiencing any symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have recently been in close contact with someone who tested positive. Do not go into one of these facilities to pick up at-home tests if you’re feeling sick.

An at-home COVID-19 test is a convenient option for anyone who needs to get tested for COVID-19. The test can be self-administered at home or anywhere, returns results in 15 minutes, and is a useful tool to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

If you’re feeling sick, even with mild symptoms, or have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19, you can take an at-home test to find out if you have COVID-19. Even if you don’t have symptoms and have not been exposed to an individual with COVID-19, using a self-test before gathering indoors with others can give you information about the risk of spreading the virus that causes COVID-19. This is especially important before gathering with unvaccinated children, older individuals, those who are immunocompromised, or individuals at risk of severe disease.

These at-home, rapid tests are antigen tests, which – while not as sensitive as PCR tests – are effective at detecting COVID-19 when it becomes transmissible.

Here’s more information and guidance on self-testing from the CDC, the Alaska Department of Health & Social Services, and Ketchikan Gateway Borough School District.

For the QuickVue At-Home OTC COVID-19 Test printed instructions are included in every test box or watch a short instructional video on how to use this particular test here.

For the BionaxNOW COVID-19 Antigen Self-Test kit printed instructions are included or watch a short instructional video on how to take this particular test here.

For the CareStart COVID-19 Antigen Home Test kit printed instructions are included or watch a short instructional video on how to take this particular test here.

Most test kits come in a pack that contains two tests:

• If the first test is negative, you should retest 36–72 hours after your first test.
• If either one of the test results is positive, you are considered positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • If the first test is positive, you do not need to do the second test as a subsequent negative test does not overrule the first positive test.

Two negative test results should be interpreted with caution in symptomatic individuals. Consider getting tested at the COVID-19 Drive-up testing facility, your healthcare provider, or another provider, especially if you have common COVID-19 symptoms, or if you have been exposed to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 14 days.

If you test positive:

• Please isolate yourself from others for 10 days (regardless of vaccination status or lack of symptoms). This means you should stay in a specific room away from other people and pets. If possible, you should use a separate bathroom. Don’t share personal household items, like cups, towels, and utensils. You should not go to work, school, church, or gatherings.
• Please notify your close contacts that they should quarantine. A close contact is anyone – either 48 hours before symptom onset or 48 hours before testing positive – you’ve been within six feet of for 15 or more cumulative minutes over a 24 hour period.
  • Fully vaccinated contacts:
    • Do not need to quarantine unless they become symptomatic
    • Should get a test 5-7 days after exposure regardless of lack of symptoms
    • Should wear a mask around others for 14 days or until their test is negative
    • Should test immediately if symptoms develop
  • Partially or unvaccinated contacts:
    • Need to quarantine for one of the below options:
      • 10 days from last exposure (no test required unless they have symptoms), or
      • Quarantine for 7 days, if they get a test on Day 5-7 and that test is negative
    • Should test immediately if symptoms develop

• Share your positive test results with your healthcare provider or call the COVID hotline at 907-531-3329 to learn about possible treatment options or any other appropriate medical follow-up you might need.
• Monitor yourself for symptoms. If your symptoms become worrisome, contact your healthcare provider. If you experience any emergency symptoms such as difficulty breathing, chest pain, or confusion, call 911.
• While positive results are not counted in Alaska Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS) COVID-19 numbers per guidance, your fire department asks residents to report positive at-home test results to learn about possible treatment options or any other appropriate medical follow-up that might be needed. Public Health can offer guidance on isolation and contact tracing but is not officially performing contact tracing on self-test results.

If you have questions about how to isolate or how to notify your contacts, call  the COVID hotline at 907-531-3329.

No. While positive results are not counted in Alaska Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS) COVID-19 numbers per guidance, your fire department asks Ketchikan residents to report positive at-home test results to learn about possible treatment options or any other appropriate medical follow-up that might be needed.

Since these positive test results don’t get counted in Alaska Department of Health & Social Services (DHSS) numbers, they do not get counted in City and Borough of Ketchikan COVID-19 either since Public Health gets its COVID data from DHSS.

Most test kits come in a pack that contains two tests. If the first test is negative, you should use the second test 36 hours later. If both tests are negative but you have continuing or worsening symptoms that are consistent with common COVID-19 symptoms, you should get a PCR test through the COVID-19 Drive-up testing facility, your healthcare provider, or another provider.

In light of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, if you’ve recently traveled, please take the free COVID-19 PCR test that’s offered at the Ketchikan International Airport upon arrival. Similarly, if you’ve recently traveled and test positive on an at-home antigen test, please take a follow-up PCR test at a local health provider or the drive-up testing site. Positive PCR test results from the airport or other facilities are sent to the State Public Health Lab for potential sequencing.