Fire Department · Combination
Northwest Arctic Borough Fire Department
Kotzebue, AK · Northwest Arctic County
Fire response is provided by 10 village volunteer fire battalions (Ambler, Buckland, Deering, Kiana, Kivalina, Kobuk, Noatak, Noorvik, Selawik, and Shungnak) coordinated by the NAB Fire Department; as of this listing, the Selawik and Shungnak battalion ch
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Department careers page ↗The Northwest Arctic Borough (NAB) Fire Department is a borough-level coordinating body rather than a traditional single-station fire department. On-scene fire response in the region is carried out by ten village volunteer fire battalions, one in each community, and the NAB Fire Department's role is to recognize, sanction, and administratively support those local battalions rather than to respond directly itself.
The department's stated functions include preventing and extinguishing fires, rescuing fire victims, training firefighters, investigating fire causes, inspecting buildings and structures, and maintaining records of fires and related grants and contracts. It carries these out primarily by supplying firefighting equipment upgrades to community battalions as borough resources allow, requiring monthly battalion meetings, facilitating periodic training for village volunteer firefighters, maintaining records of fire outbreaks and after-action reviews, and conducting annual fire-prevention inspections.
Each village battalion is led by a locally based volunteer Battalion Chief, and the department coordinates with the borough's broader Public Safety Department, which also administers the Village Public Safety Officer program and emergency management for the region.
MissionFire fighting capability in each village is developed to ensure that loss of life and property are dramatically reduced.
The NAB Fire Department recruits volunteer firefighters into its village battalions. Prospective volunteers complete a Volunteer Application and a Background Check Application; those interested in leading a battalion complete a separate Battalion Chief Application. Completed applications for borough positions generally are emailed or faxed to the Borough offices.
Requirements
- Completed Volunteer Application (Fire Department Membership Application)
- Completed Background Check Application
Hiring process
- Complete the NABFD Volunteer (Membership) Application
- Complete the Background Check Application
- Submit forms to the local village Battalion Chief or the Northwest Arctic Borough offices
- Battalion Chief candidates additionally complete the NABFD Battalion Chief Application
Does the Northwest Arctic Borough Fire Department run its own fire stations?
No. On-scene fire response is provided by 10 village volunteer fire battalions, one per community, and the NAB Fire Department's role is to recognize, support, and coordinate those battalions rather than staff its own station.
How do I volunteer for a village fire battalion?
Complete the NABFD Volunteer Application and a Background Check Application, and submit them to your village's Battalion Chief or the Northwest Arctic Borough.
What does the NAB Fire Department actually do if it doesn't respond to fires directly?
It sanctions and supports the ten community volunteer fire battalions: supplying equipment upgrades as resources allow, requiring monthly battalion meetings, facilitating firefighter training, maintaining fire records, conducting after-action reviews, and running an annual fire-prevention inspection program.
Which villages have volunteer fire battalions?
Ambler, Buckland, Deering, Kiana, Kivalina, Kobuk, Noatak, Noorvik, Selawik, and Shungnak each have a volunteer fire battalion under the NAB Fire Department.