Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska (pop. 5,232) spans the western Aleutian Islands and the Pribilof Islands. Its main fire service is the combination Unalaska Fire Department, which protects Unalaska and the Port of Dutch Harbor from two stations with paid staff and paid-on-call volunteers. The Saint Paul Island Volunteer Fire Department covers St. Paul, Adak relies on a Village Public Safety Officer, and volunteer departments are on record for Atka, St. George and Nikolski. Outside these communities there is no structural fire protection.
Unalaska Fire Department (non-emergency)
(907) 581-5330- Unalaska Department of Public Safety (police and dispatch): (907) 581-1233
- City of Saint Paul Public Safety (non-emergency): (907) 546-3130
- City of Adak (VPSO office, 100 Mechanics St): (907) 592-4500
- Unalaska Fire Department, 29 Safety Way, Unalaska, AK 99685, USA
- unalaska.gov/fire
- Unalaska FD: staffed 10 hours a day, 7 days a week; 24-hour emergency response
Who Provides Fire Protection in Aleutians West Census Area
- Unalaska Fire Department — the combination fire and EMS department of Unalaska and the International Port of Dutch Harbor, now the city's Department of Fire and EMS. A 2017 city recruitment brochure listed a fire chief, a senior fire captain and two paid fire captains plus about 30 paid-on-call volunteers. It answers about 400 calls a year from two stations and handles fire suppression, rescue, ambulance service and hazardous materials incidents.
- Saint Paul Island Volunteer Fire Department — about 8 active volunteers, averaging one fire call a year; the city's 24/7 EMS answers about 100 medical calls a year.
- Atka, St. George and Nikolski — volunteer fire departments appear on the NERIS registry (Atka) and the State Fire Marshal's registration list (St. George, Nikolski); their current staffing and stations are not published.
- Adak — the state fire department directory lists an Adak FD, and the City of Adak says its Village Public Safety Officer (VPSO), provided with the Aleutian/Pribilof Islands Association, is the first responder for public safety, fire and EMS.
In Unalaska, the Department of Public Safety's Communications Division runs the public safety answering point and dispatches police, fire and EMS. On St. Paul, 911 calls are forwarded to the Alaska State Trooper dispatch center in Fairbanks, which alerts local responders. Dispatch arrangements for the other villages are not published.
Fire Departments in Aleutians West Census Area
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unalaska Fire Department | Combination (2 stations) | 29 Safety Way, Unalaska, AK 99685 | (907) 581-5330 |
| Saint Paul Island VFD | Volunteer | St. Paul, AK 99660 (station address not published) | (907) 546-3130 (Public Safety) |
| Adak FD | Not published (VPSO first response) | Adak, AK 99546 | (907) 592-4500 (City) |
| Atka VFD | Volunteer | Atka, AK 99547 (not published) | Not published |
| Saint George VFD | Volunteer | St. George, AK (not published) | Not published |
| Nikolski VFD | Volunteer | Nikolski, AK (not published) | Not published |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For anything urgent, call 911 rather than an office number.
Unalaska Fire Department Stations
| Station | Address | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Station 1 (main) | 29 Safety Way, Unalaska, AK 99685 | Engine 1, Tower 1, Medic 1, 3 command vehicles, Utility 6, MIH trailer |
| Station 2 (Amaknak) | 2713 Airport Beach Road, Unalaska, AK 99685 | Engine 3, Rescue 1, Medic 2 |
Source: City of Unalaska. In late 2024 the city sought a feasibility study on renovating, expanding or replacing both stations and on a dedicated fire training facility.
Estimated Response Time
Because the census area is mostly roadless islands and sea, the estimate uses only each department's own service area: r ≈ √(area ÷ (stations × π)). The City of Unalaska covers about 102 square miles of land (2020 Census) with two stations, an average radius of roughly 4.0 miles, but most of that land is mountainside without roads; the town and port are linked by about 40 miles of road, and the city reports an average response of 4–6 minutes for fire and medical calls. On St. Paul and in the other villages, fire response is limited to the village itself, and the remote islands have no structural fire protection.
| Radius | Unalaska (combination) | Villages (volunteer) |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 5–8 min | 8–12 min |
| 1.5–3 mi | 7–10 min | 10–14 min |
| 3–6 mi | 9–13 min | No estimate |
| > 6 mi | 13+ min | No estimate |
Typical expectation: about 4–6 minutes in Unalaska and Dutch Harbor (the city's published average), longer at the ends of the road system; inside St. Paul and the smaller villages, roughly 8–14 minutes, as volunteers must first reach the station.
Estimated Fire Control Time
| Fire size | Example | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Grass patch, dumpster, small vehicle | 5–20 min |
| Medium | Room-and-contents, car fully involved | 15–45 min |
| Large | Whole house, commercial unit | 45–120 min |
| Major | Multi-alarm, warehouse, seafood plant | 2–12+ hours |
The communities sit on separate islands, so each one relies mainly on its own crew and equipment; expect the upper end of each range outside Unalaska. Unalaska has long been the top US fishing port by quantity of catch, with five seafood processing plants and the deep-draft, year-round ice-free Port of Dutch Harbor, and its fire department also coordinates hazardous materials and disaster response.
Apparatus & Equipment
Unalaska Fire Department fleet:
- Engines
- 2
- Tower (aerial)
- 1
- Rescue
- 1
- Ambulances (Medic units)
- 2
- Command vehicles
- 3
- Utility vehicle
- 1
- MIH trailer
- 1
St. Paul's EMS has a four-wheel-drive BLS ambulance and an off-road UTV ambulance. Village fire apparatus is not published.
- Fire suppression
- EMS / ambulance
- Hazmat
- Rescue
- Search and rescue
Ratings & Accreditation
ISO Public Protection Classification ratings for departments in Aleutians West Census Area are not published. The Unalaska Fire Department was listed in 2017 as registered with the Alaska Department of Public Safety and certified as a ground ambulance service by the state.
Outdoor burning: In Unalaska, a permit from the fire department, (907) 581-5330, is needed to burn trash, scrap wood, cardboard or other material; burn barrels of 55 gallons or less and small campfires, picnics or barbecues are exempt. Statewide, the Alaska Division of Forestry requires burn permits from April 1 to August 31 (small-scale permits cover burn barrels and brush piles up to 10 ft across and 4 ft high; campfires under 3 ft need none) unless stricter local rules apply. Elsewhere, ask the city office or the Division of Forestry at (907) 269-8400.
Neighboring Areas
- Aleutians East Borough, AK (east)
- Bering Sea (north)
- Aleutsky District, Kamchatka Krai, Russia (west, across the sea)
- Pacific Ocean (south)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Aleutians West Census Area?
Unalaska Fire Department: (907) 581-5330. City of Saint Paul Public Safety: (907) 546-3130. City of Adak: (907) 592-4500. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Who fights fires in Unalaska and Dutch Harbor?
The Unalaska Fire Department, from Station 1 at 29 Safety Way and Station 2 at 2713 Airport Beach Road on Amaknak Island. It is staffed 10 hours a day with 24-hour emergency response and answers about 400 calls a year.
Is there a fire department on St. Paul Island?
Yes. The Saint Paul Island Volunteer Fire Department has about 8 active volunteers. On St. Paul, 911 calls are forwarded to the Alaska State Trooper dispatch center in Fairbanks, which alerts local responders.
How fast does the fire department respond in Aleutians West Census Area?
The City of Unalaska reports an average response of 4–6 minutes. In St. Paul and the smaller villages, response is limited to the village itself, and the remote islands have no structural fire protection.
Do I need a burn permit in Aleutians West Census Area?
In Unalaska, burning trash, scrap wood or other material needs a fire department permit; burn barrels of 55 gallons or less and small campfires are exempt. Statewide, Alaska requires burn permits from April 1 to August 31 unless stricter local rules apply; ask the Division of Forestry at (907) 269-8400.
Last verified:
- City of Unalaska — Fire Department (contacts, services)
- City of Unalaska — Stations & Equipment (stations, units, staffing hours, calls, response time)
- City of Unalaska — About UFD (duties, hazmat)
- City of Unalaska — Burn Permits
- City of Unalaska — Department of Public Safety (Communications Division, dispatch)
- City of Unalaska — Firefighter posting (2026) (Department of Fire and EMS)
- City of Unalaska / GovHR USA — Fire Chief recruitment brochure (2017) (staffing, registration, roads)
- City of Unalaska — Fire station and training center feasibility study RFP
- City of Saint Paul — Public Safety (volunteer fire department, EMS, 911 routing)
- City of Adak — Village Public Safety Officer
- Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety — Fire department registration status (St. George, Nikolski)
- Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety — Fire Department Directory (February 2026) (Adak FD)
- Alaska Department of Public Safety — Village Public Safety Officers
- Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection — Burn Permits
- NERIS registry — Atka Volunteer Fire Department
- Wikipedia — Aleutians West Census Area, Alaska (2020 population, land area, neighbors)
- Wikipedia — Unalaska, Alaska (city land area, 2020 Census)