The Anchorage Fire Department (AFD) is the municipal department that provides fire suppression, emergency medical services and rescue for Anchorage. It responds to wildland and structure fires, opioid overdoses and ambulance calls, and the Anchorage Assembly funds its engines, tenders and equipment.
muni.org ↗100 E 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA
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Driver kills pedestrian at Airport Heights Drive and Debarr Road in Anchorage, flees
A driver struck and killed a pedestrian at Airport Heights Drive and Debarr Road early Monday and drove away, Anchorage police said.
Officers and Anchorage Fire Department medics responded at about 5:48 am to a report of an unresponsive man at the intersection, and he was pronounced dead there. A preliminary investigation indicates he was hit by a vehicle that then left, according to the police notice, which doesn't describe the vehicle or the driver. Police will release the man's name after his family is notified, and they're asking anyone with surveillance footage of the area or other information to contact them.
In August, a driver struck and killed a woman at the Seward Highway and Benson Boulevard and didn't stop.
Anchorage had 92 pedestrian deaths from 2016 through 2025, according to a state health bulletin. The 15 deaths in 2025 were the most of any year in that decade. They were most concentrated from August through October and between 11 pm and 2 am.
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Stories on what’s next
Last day for Anchorage Assembly to protest Crazy Horse Gentleman's Club license #720
Anchorage Assembly may hold the Crazy Horse's liquor renewal until fire officials sign off
The Assembly may hold up the Crazy Horse's liquor renewal until the fire department signs off on the Gambell Street club, in a building dating to 1955.

Anchorage Assembly 2027 Budget Final Action
Anchorage fire chief expects two recruit academies in 2027 as about 50 can retire
Anchorage's fire chief expects two recruit academies in 2027 as about 50 firefighters can retire. Even that may fall short, and a third costs about $2 million.

Latest
October 2026
One person dies in a second-alarm fire at a gated Midtown Anchorage condo complex
One person died in a second-alarm fire at a gated Midtown Anchorage condo complex Thursday. Police evacuated residents door to door as 31 fire units responded.

Anchorage approves $1.23 million for two fire tenders to replace aging trucks
Anchorage is buying two new water tenders for $1.23 million to replace trucks older than 25 years, though the new ones could take about 20 months to arrive.

Anchorage warned a private plan reviewer who missed 'egregious' safety risks
Anchorage says a private plan reviewer missed "egregious" safety risks. Officials warned them and want clearer power to drop reviewers who underperform.

Driver strikes and kills woman crossing Muldoon Road in Anchorage
A driver struck and killed Bertha Nesbit, 62, as she crossed Muldoon Road in Anchorage. No charges have been filed, and police are still investigating.

Anchorage Assembly to consider $1.2 million for two fire tenders replacing aging trucks
Two Anchorage fire tenders are past the 25-year mark. The Assembly considers $1.2 million for replacements Tuesday, with delivery about 20 months out.

Driver strikes and kills man crossing East 15th Avenue in Anchorage
A driver struck and killed a man crossing East 15th Avenue at Medfra Street in Anchorage on Tuesday morning. The driver stayed, and no charges have been filed.

Anchorage opioid overdose calls down 10%, fire department says
Anchorage fire crews are answering about 10% fewer opioid overdose calls this year. The department can't say why yet, and the numbers miss many deaths.

September 2026
A woman was killed at East 3rd and Orca, where the state mapped a cluster
A woman was killed by a driver who left the scene at East 3rd and Orca, on the edge of an area the state mapped as a pedestrian death cluster.

Anchorage had no ALS ambulance available about 70 times last year
Anchorage had no advanced life support ambulance available about 70 times in 2024, and no basic life support unit more than 315 times.

August 2026
Anchorage set to get $3 million to expand its crisis-response system
Anchorage is set to get about $3 million to expand its mental-health and addiction crisis teams, add assisted-living beds and start mobile opioid treatment.

Anchorage wildfire mitigation would be paid for citywide, researchers say
UA researchers will recommend all of Anchorage pay for wildfire mitigation, not just high-risk neighborhoods. Their full report is due in October.

Driver kills Anchorage pedestrian at Seward Highway and Benson Boulevard, flees scene
A woman was killed by a driver who did not stop, at Seward Highway and Benson early Saturday. Her name is being withheld until family is notified.

Researchers weigh broadening who pays for Anchorage wildfire work.
UA researchers will recommend Anchorage fund wildfire mitigation municipality-wide, not just the at-risk hillsides — but how to charge for it is unsettled.

July 2026
A dog reported killed in the Bear Valley bear attack turned up alive
The dog reported killed in Saturday's Bear Valley bear attack is alive and unhurt — another hiking party found it and brought it home.

Anchorage Assembly set to approve $1.4M fire engine with 900-day wait
Anchorage Assembly votes July 21 on a $1.4 million fire engine that won't arrive for roughly 900 days due to nationwide manufacturing delays.

Brown bear injures hiker on Bear Valley trail above south Anchorage
A brown bear injured a hiker on a social trail above Bear Valley in south Anchorage on Saturday, prompting Fish and Game to post warning signs and urge hikers to travel in groups and carry bear spray.

About Anchorage Fire Department
muni.org ↗100 E 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501, USA
The Anchorage Fire Department (AFD) is the department of the Municipality of Anchorage that provides fire suppression, emergency medical services and rescue. It answers structure and vegetation fires, ambulance calls and opioid overdoses across the city.
The Anchorage Assembly funds its fire engines, water tenders and other equipment, and its staffing depends on recruit academies as firefighters retire. Ambulance availability, wildfire mitigation in hillside neighborhoods, fire safety review of buildings and licensed premises, and the city's mental health crisis response are recurring questions.
The department works alongside the Anchorage Police Department at fires and traffic crashes. The Assembly has weighed a Public Safety Commission to advise on fire and police policy.
More from Anchorage Fire Department
AWWU files new tariff revisions with Alaska regulators, opening public comment on Anchorage water and sewer rates
Anchorage water and sewer bills rose $5.46 per month in 2026 after the Assembly approved increases and AWWU filed tariffs with state regulators, opening public comment through July 31.

Anchorage Hillside neighborhood demands expedited chipping days as municipal contracting stalls
Hillside residents demand the Municipality speed up brush chipping before fire season peaks, citing stalled contracting and uncleared piles in the wildland-urban interface.

Anchorage weighs $528,000 for addiction, homelessness, and disability care
Anchorage is set to accept ~$528,000 in grants for opioid treatment, homeless outreach, and disability services — the last one patching three years of state funding cuts.

May 2026
Anchorage Assembly considers new Public Safety Commission with community focus
Anchorage Assembly considers reviving a Public Safety Commission with nine voting community members and five non-voting agency reps. Commission would advise on police and fire policies, hold public hearings, and request records, but cannot investigate or discipline. Public hearing set for May 26.

Crews battle South Anchorage vegetation fire near 100th Avenue and C Street
Firefighters battled a 5-acre vegetation fire Tuesday afternoon near 100th Avenue and C Street in South Anchorage, with no evacuations ordered as of early afternoon.

April 2026
House Judiciary adopts committee substitute for infant safety device bill
House Judiciary advanced a bill to let hospitals and fire stations install anonymous infant safety boxes, after two infants died abandoned in Anchorage since 2013.

Two Skiers Rescued After Avalanche Near Turnagain Pass
Two skiers were rescued by helicopter Thursday after an avalanche at Falls Creek Trail near Turnagain Pass, with both sustaining injuries requiring hospital transport.