Ketchikan Fire Department

09/25/2026

💰🚒 IT WAS A BIG GRANT WEEK AT KFD! 🚑💰

Apparently, while everyone else in Southeast Alaska was busy checking the rain gauge, watching for bears, and wondering if summer already happened, KFD was out hunting grants. And this week, three of them came home! 🎯

Ketchikan Fire Department was awarded:

🚒 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG)
👨‍🚒 SAFER Grant supporting volunteer recruitment and retention
❤️ Rural Health Transformation Grant to strengthen the Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) services we provide to residents of our city

Three major grant awards in one week is a pretty monumental occasion for our department.

These awards represent a lot more than money. They reflect KFD’s continued commitment to finding ways to improve our services, update our equipment and programs, support our people, and bring outside funding back to Ketchikan — all while reducing the burden on local taxpayers.

And we're not done yet. We still have a few more grant applications floating around out there waiting for review. 🤞

In Southeast Alaska terms, landing three grants in one week is kind of like getting three sunny days in a row — you don't ask too many questions, you just enjoy it while it's happening. 🌧️➡️☀️😂

A huge thank you to everyone who helped research, write, review, and submit these applications. Grant writing isn't glamorous, but weeks like this make all those hours staring at applications, budgets, and federal websites worth it.

Three grants. One week. Not bad, Ketchikan. Not bad at all. 🚒❤️

09/25/2026

🔥 SENIOR LIFE SAFETY: Because “I Didn’t Want to Bother 911” Is Not an Emergency Plan 🚒

Ketchikan Fire Department is heading to the Ketchikan Public Library for a little Senior Life Safety talk — and yes, there will be cookies. Apparently, “free cookies” tested better than “come listen to firefighters talk about emergency preparedness.” 🍪😂

We’ll cover some genuinely important stuff, including when you should call 9-1-1 (hint: chest pain is not a “let’s see how I feel tomorrow” situation), what information dispatchers need when you call, and how to make sure emergency responders can actually find your house when seconds count.

📅 Thursday, October 8
⏰ 1:30 p.m.
📍 Ketchikan Public Library

We’ll also have fire-safety freebies and cookies — because nothing says public safety quite like learning how to survive an emergency while eating a cookie.

Bring yourself, bring a friend, bring your questions. And if you have a parent, grandparent, neighbor, or friend who has ever said, “I didn’t call because I didn’t want to bother you guys,” please bring them. You are never bothering us when you need help.

🚒 Your Ketchikan Fire Department — helping keep Ketchikan safe, one senior, one smoke alarm, and apparently one cookie at a time. 🍪🔥

09/19/2026

💨🔥 KETCHIKAN WEATHER ALERT: FREE SAME-DAY SHIPPING IS BACK.

Unfortunately, it’s for your garbage cans, patio furniture, tarps, and anything else you forgot to tie down. No tracking number will be provided.

Mother Nature apparently looked at Ketchikan and said, “You know what this place needs? More wind.”

A Wind Advisory is in effect from 4 PM Saturday until 7 AM Sunday, with southeast winds of 15–25 mph and gusts near 40 mph.

The strongest winds are expected Saturday evening into late Saturday night.

So before things get sporty outside, please take a few minutes to secure anything you’d prefer not to donate to another neighborhood.

🗑️ Garbage cans: Strap them down. Otherwise, they’ll be participating in the Ketchikan Grand Prix.

🪑 Patio furniture: Secure it. Nobody wants to explain to their insurance company how a lawn chair became airborne.

🚤 Tarps: Tighten them down unless you enjoy listening to WHAP-WHAP-WHAP-WHAP-WHAP at 2:17 AM while questioning every decision you’ve ever made.

🎃 Halloween decorations: If your 12-foot skeleton ends up in Saxman, he lives there now.

🌲 Trees: Give them some space. Strong gusts can knock down limbs and occasionally cause power outages.

And finally…

If you wake up Sunday morning and your garbage can is gone, please check Facebook Marketplace before calling Dispatch. 😂

Charge your phones, keep flashlights handy, use caution while driving, and secure outdoor objects before the wind gets going.

Stay safe, Ketchikan. We’d prefer everyone’s belongings remain in approximately the same ZIP code tonight. 💨😂🔥

— Your Ketchikan Fire Department

Send a message to learn more

09/14/2026

🚲 Helmets, Hot Dogs, and a Great Day at the Firehouse! 🌭

At your Ketchikan Fire Department, we believe the firehouse belongs to the community. It should be more than a place where emergency vehicles are parked—it should be a welcoming place where neighbors can gather, learn, have fun, and work together to make Ketchikan safer.

Today was a perfect example of that as we hosted the first of what we hope will become an annual bicycle helmet drive. The event was held in memory of Tim Lewis and made possible through the cooperation of the Ketchikan Wellness Coalition and PeaceHealth Ketchikan Medical Center.

More than 100 bicycle helmets were placed in the hands—and properly fitted on the heads—of children throughout our community. Our bicycle obstacle course was a huge success, giving young riders a chance to practice their skills while learning some important lessons about bicycle safety. We also served more than 100 hamburgers and hot dogs, because every good safety lesson is a little easier to remember with lunch!

As a reminder, helmets are not just for children. Every rider should wear a properly fitted helmet on every ride, even if they are only going a short distance. Make sure the helmet sits level and low on the forehead, the side straps form a “V” around each ear, and the chin strap is snug enough that only one or two fingers fit underneath it. Drivers should also slow down, stay alert, and give bicyclists plenty of room.

Thank you to our community partners, volunteers, families, and everyone who joined us. It was a wonderful day of safety, food, fun, and community—all while honoring the memory of Tim Lewis.

We’re already looking forward to next year! 🚒🚲

09/11/2026

25 Years — We Will Never Forget 🇺🇸

Today, members of public safety and our community gathered at Ketchikan Fire Department Station 2 for our annual remembrance of the tragedies of September 11, 2001.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of 9/11.

We gathered to honor the 343 FDNY firefighters who made the ultimate sacrifice that day, along with all those who lost their lives at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and aboard Flight 93.

Twenty-five years later, the sacrifice continues.

In the years since September 11th, hundreds more firefighters and other responders who worked at Ground Zero have died from cancers, respiratory illnesses, and other service-connected diseases resulting from their work in the rescue, recovery, and cleanup efforts. The number of FDNY members who have died from World Trade Center-related illnesses has now surpassed the 343 firefighters lost on September 11th itself.

They went to the pile searching for their brothers, sisters, and fellow Americans. For many, that service ultimately cost them their lives as well.

Today, we remember all of them.

We also extend a heartfelt thank-you to the Ketchikan Indian Community (KIC) for bringing Indian tacos for our firefighters and staff to enjoy at lunch following today's remembrance. We greatly appreciate your kindness and support.

Twenty-five years have passed, but our commitment remains the same:

We will remember. We will honor. We will never forget.

🇺🇸 9.11.01 🇺🇸

09/10/2026

🚲 THIS SUNDAY — LET’S RIDE, KETCHIKAN! 🚲

Join us at Ketchikan Fire Station 1 this Sunday, September 13, from 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. for our Community Bike Helmet Drive in honor of Tim Lewis. ❤️

We’ll have FREE youth bike helmets in a variety of sizes, proper helmet fitting, bike safety and injury-prevention education, and a bike obstacle course for the kids. Bring your bikes and scooters and come have some fun!

🌭 And because it wouldn’t be a KFD event without food, we’ll also have FREE hamburgers and hot dogs! 🍔

No rain excuses—we’re Ketchikan. 🌧️😄 Grab the kids, grab the bikes, and come spend Sunday with us at Station 1!

Safe Kids. Stronger Communities. Brighter Tomorrows. 🚒❤️🚲

09/08/2026

🐱🚒 Not Your Typical “Cat in a Tree” Call…

Today, Ketchikan Fire Department got dispatched for a good old-fashioned cat rescue.

Naturally, we expected a tree.

Nope.

This particular Ketchikan kitty apparently looked at the dryer vent and thought:

“Yeah… I can fit in there.”

Narrator: The cat could not, in fact, fit in there. 😂

So instead of ladders and tree branches, KFD crews found themselves conducting a highly technical feline dryer-vent extraction operation.

After some careful work, the furry suspect was successfully freed — unharmed, slightly embarrassed, and hopefully reconsidering future career opportunities in HVAC inspection.

🐈 Cat: 1
🌀 Dryer Vent: 0
🚒 KFD: Adding “Cat Extraction Technician” to the résumé.

Just another day at the Ketchikan Fire Department. You really never know what the next call will bring. 😂

09/04/2026

☀️🚒 KETCHIKAN LABOR DAY WEEKEND WEATHER ALERT 🚒☀️

The Ketchikan Fire Department would like to wish everyone a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!

We have reviewed the weekend weather forecast and have some potentially alarming news to report:

There appears to be a large yellow object in the sky. ☀️

Even more concerning, forecasters believe it may remain visible for an extended period of time.

Please remain calm.

After consulting several longtime Ketchikan residents, a couple of fishermen, three ravens, and someone wearing Xtratufs, we have confirmed that this object is called “the sun.”

Apparently, it does this occasionally. 😂

The current forecast calls for sunshine and temperatures around 70 Friday and Saturday before the clouds slowly return Sunday and Monday.

In other words:

☀️ Friday: Ketchikan summer
☀️ Saturday: Still summer — getting suspicious
⛅ Sunday: Nature begins correcting the mistake
☁️ Monday: Ketchikan restores factory settings

With weather like this, we know what happens next.

Every boat in town will suddenly need to be launched.

Every salmon will be informed that hiding is no longer an option.

Xtratufs will be worn with shorts.

Someone will say, “Man, it's hot,” at 68 degrees.

Half of Ketchikan will develop a mysterious illness preventing them from completing any indoor projects.

And approximately 14 people will discover that the sunglasses they bought three years ago are still in the glovebox. 😎

So get outside and enjoy this rare Southeast Alaska phenomenon!

🎣 Go fishing.
🚤 Take the boat out — and wear your life jacket.
🥾 Hit the trails and tell someone where you're going.
🔥 Enjoy the grill or campfire, but keep it attended and completely extinguish it.
🚗 Buckle up, drive safely, and have a sober driver.
🌊 And remember: sunshine does NOT make Southeast Alaska water warm.

KFD crews will be here all weekend if you need us.

Hopefully, the biggest emergencies we encounter are sunburns, tangled fishing lines, ravens stealing unattended lunches, and residents staring directly at the sky wondering:

“What the heck is that thing?” ☀️

Have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend from all of us at the Ketchikan Fire Department! 🚒🇺🇸

Enjoy the sunshine, Ketchikan.

The rain will be back. It knows where we live. 🌧️😂

Send a message to learn more

09/02/2026

🐻 Apparently the Fire Chief Has New Neighbors… 🐻

The Fire Chief’s home security system picked up a couple of suspicious characters recently.

Two bear cubs were spotted running through the driveway, then taking cover under a vehicle. No word yet on whether they were conducting a fire inspection, looking for snacks, or just trying to figure out why anyone would voluntarily live somewhere it rains this much. 😂

All joking aside, this is the time of year when our local bears are working hard to pack on the pounds before hibernation — basically the bear version of preparing for Thanksgiving, except it lasts several weeks. 🍔🐻

That means please be extra bear aware. Give bears plenty of space, keep food and other attractants secured, and most importantly, secure your garbage.

And speaking of garbage…

The City of Ketchikan offers bear-resistant trash cans that have been very successful at keeping our furry garbage inspectors from conducting unauthorized dumpster audits.

💰 They’re an additional $10 per month on your solid waste bill.

☎️ Interested? Contact the Scale House at 907-225-2370, and they can arrange delivery to your home.

Bonus features:
✅ No straps required.
✅ Much harder for bears to open.
✅ The lids drain rainwater better than many of our regular cans — which, considering this is Ketchikan, may actually be the most important feature. 🌧️😂

Remember: a fed bear is a problem bear, and a bear that learns your house has an all-you-can-eat garbage buffet will probably leave you a terrible Yelp review when you finally lock it up.

Stay safe, Ketchikan. Be bear aware, secure the trash, and enjoy this short video from the Fire Chief’s newest neighborhood watch team. 🐻🐻

08/31/2026

🔥🚲 FREE COMMUNITY BIKE HELMET DRIVE! 🚲🔥

Ketchikan Fire Department is excited to invite the community to Fire Station 1 on Sunday, September 13th from 11:00 AM–2:00 PM for our Community Bike Helmet Drive — held in honor of Tim Lewis.

This is about more than handing out helmets. It’s about making sure our kids have the right equipment, know how to use it, and can enjoy riding their bikes and scooters safely.

We’ll have FREE youth bike helmets in a variety of sizes, along with proper helmet fitting, bike safety education and injury prevention. Kids can also bring their own bikes or scooters and put their skills to the test on our bike obstacle course.

And because apparently preventing injuries isn’t enough excitement for one afternoon… we’ll also have FREE hamburgers and hot dogs! 🌭🍔

📅 Sunday, September 13th
⏰ 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Ketchikan Fire Station 1
🚲 Bring your bike or scooter!

This event is made possible through a great group of community partners coming together with one goal: keeping Ketchikan kids safe while honoring the memory of Tim Lewis. ❤️

So bring the kids, grab a helmet, learn a few things, tackle the obstacle course, and have lunch with us.

Helmets are replaceable. Heads… not so much. Wear the helmet. 🪖🚲

Please share this post and help us get the word out to Ketchikan families!

A big thank you to Peace Health Medical Center, Ketchikan Wellness Coalition, Ketchikan Firefighters Local 2761, and Ketchikan Volunteer Firefighters.