Central Arizona Fire And Medical Authority

CAFMA was formed in 2015 as Arizona's first Fire Authority, a joint powers agreement merging the former Chino Valley and Central Yavapai Fire Districts into a single organization; day-to-day operations began July 1, 2016. As a fire district rather than a municipal fire department, CAFMA is funded through secondary property taxes and governed by two elected five-member district boards rather than a city council, a structure the department distinguishes from in-city departments on its own FAQ page.

The authority runs 10 full-time stations plus 2 reserve stations across an elevation range of roughly 4,300 to 6,500 feet, protecting an estimated 100,000 residents and responding to more than 16,000 calls a year. Operations are organized into two battalions, each led by a Battalion Chief reporting up through a Deputy Chief and the Assistant Chief of Operations. CAFMA members also participate in the Prescott Regional Technical Rescue Team and the Prescott Area Hazardous Materials Team, and the agency fields Type I and Type III wildland incident management resources that deploy locally, statewide, and nationally.

In 2026 CAFMA earned Accredited Agency status from the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI), a five-year recognition of its planning, performance, and accountability. Fire Chief John Feddema, who took the department's top position in August 2025, leads an organization with a career-service workforce covering both fire suppression and ambulance transport for its district.

CAFMA hires career firefighter/EMTs and paramedics who work a 48/96 shift schedule (48 hours on, 96 hours off). The department encourages prospective applicants to request a ride-along to see operations firsthand, and interested candidates can submit an Employment Interest Form to be notified when positions open.