South Tongass Volunteer Fire Department

08/29/2025

Continuing prep work and maintenance for the new E-ONE ladder to be in service soon! 🚒

The crew are taking advantage of the nice weather to clean and grease the entire ladder.

08/07/2025

👨‍🚒Climbing Higher: Ladder Truck Training in Action 🚒

Our team recently took part in hands-on training with our new ladder truck, led by E-ONE Fire Trucks representative Dallas Tucker. The training included both classroom instruction and field exercises.

Before our firefighters respond to emergencies with the new truck, they must complete:

12 hours of driver training (plus 3 hours quarterly),

8 hours of aerial operations, and

3 hours of pump operations.

We’re proud of the time and dedication our members commit to mastering every detail of the equipment that helps protect our community.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue preparing this powerful tool for service!

07/20/2025

🔥 Smoke Alarms Save Lives, But Only If They Work

Did you know that nearly 3 out of 5 home fire deaths happen in homes with no smoke alarms or alarms that didn’t work?

Between 2018 and 2022, smoke alarms were present in 74% of reported home fires. However, 43% of fatal fires occurred in homes without alarms and 16% happened where alarms were present but failed.

Working smoke alarms can cut the risk of dying in a home fire by about 60%.

- Check your alarms monthly.
- Replace the batteries once a year.
- Replace the entire unit every 10 years.

A few minutes of prevention could save your life or the lives of your loved ones.

*Statistics provided by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Research at:
https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/research/nfpa-research/fire-statistical-reports/smoke-alarms-in-us-home-fires *

07/12/2025

11/24/2020

Santa will be in the South Tongass are on Sunday the 29th. Here is the schedule he will be riding on Engine 4 escorted by Chief Rydeen.

03/25/2020

Join us on Friday @ 5:30 PM for a Facebook Live Q&A with Ketchikan's Emergency Manager, Chief Hoage from the Ketchikan Fire Department. Questions regarding the current situation in Ketchikan over COVID-19 can be emailed to [email protected] by Thursday at Noon. We know there are many questions revolving this topic and we will do our best to address the community's concerns.

Join us on Friday @ 5:30 PM for a Facebook Live Q&A with Ketchikan's Emergency Manager, Chief Hoage from the Ketchikan Fire Department. Questions regarding the current situation in Ketchikan over COVID-19 can be emailed to [email protected] by Thursday at Noon. We know there are many questions revolving this topic and we will do our best to address the community's concerns.

03/21/2020

South Tongass Fire has been extremely busy over the course of the last couple of weeks. I am not going to put out information that I know not to be true and factual, I ask everyone to follow the Ketchikan Gateway Boroughs page for up to date information and press releases on the COVID-19 pandemic. The information is released through the PIO from the joint unified command of the Ketchikan EOC. Thank you for your patience and we will always respond to your needs our crews stand ready to serve you 24/7. Chief Rydeen