Fire Department · Combination
Valdez Fire Department
Valdez, AK · Chugach Census Area County
The Valdez Fire Department is a combination department of about 10 career staff and roughly 35 volunteers serving the coastal community of Valdez, Alaska. It provides fire suppression, emergency medical services, and hazardous materials response across a rugged region at the head of Prince William Sound.
The department operates from three stations. Station 1 downtown is staffed around the clock year-round and houses two engines, a squad, and two advanced life support ambulances. Two outlying stations (roughly 7 and 14 miles from town) are volunteer-response and hold additional engines, tankers, and an ALS ambulance.
Crews respond to more than 500 calls a year and train in swift water rescue, backcountry and search rescue, rope and confined space rescue, and hazmat operations. The community carries an ISO Public Protection Class rating of 4.
MissionIt is the mission of the City of Valdez Fire Department to provide protection of life, property, and the environment from the effects of fires, medical emergencies, and hazards.
Valdez runs an open, no-experience-required volunteer program: anyone 18 or older can join by completing the VFD Volunteer Application and emailing it to the department's administrative assistant, or by stopping by Station 1 at 407 W. Pioneer Drive to inquire. Free training is provided, including a prerequisite hazardous materials course and a multi-week Fire I Academy.
Paid career firefighter positions with the City of Valdez are posted through the city's central Job Opportunities page when open.
Requirements
- Must be 18 years or older
- No prior experience necessary
- Complete the VFD Volunteer Application
- Complete the prerequisite Hazardous Materials class
- Complete the Fire I Academy training
Hiring process
- Complete the VFD Volunteer Application form
- Email the application to the department administrative assistant (RHarden@valdezak.gov) or visit Station 1 at 407 W. Pioneer Drive
- Complete the free prerequisite Hazardous Materials class
- Attend the Fire I Academy (weekly evening and Saturday sessions over roughly 11 weeks)
Benefits
Free training is provided to all volunteers, including the Hazardous Materials prerequisite course and the multi-week Fire I Academy. Career positions are city employment; specific benefits are not stated on the department site.
The Fire I Academy runs Feb 9 - Apr 25, 2026, with Monday/Wednesday evening (7-10pm) and Saturday (9am-5pm) sessions; a free Hazardous Materials prerequisite class is offered in January. Application deadline December 19.
What are the requirements to become a Valdez firefighter?
To join as a volunteer you must be at least 18 years old. No prior experience is necessary, and free training is provided.
How do I apply?
Complete the VFD Volunteer Application and email it to RHarden@valdezak.gov, or stop by Station 1 at 407 W. Pioneer Drive to inquire in person.
Do I need experience or certifications first?
No prior experience is required. New volunteers complete a free prerequisite Hazardous Materials class and then the Fire I Academy, all provided by the department.
What does the training academy involve?
The Fire I Academy runs from February to April with Monday and Wednesday evening classes (7-10pm) and Saturday sessions (9am-5pm), preceded by a weekend Hazardous Materials course in January.
Is this a paid or volunteer department?
It is a combination department of about 10 career staff and roughly 35 volunteers. Volunteer recruitment is open year-round; paid career openings are posted on the City of Valdez Job Opportunities page.
What kind of calls and specialties will I work?
The department responds to over 500 calls a year and trains in EMS/ALS transport, swift water rescue, backcountry and search rescue, rope and confined space rescue, and hazmat operations.