Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska (pop. 844), is protected by one department: the Bristol Bay Borough Fire Department, which runs volunteer fire and emergency medical services in each of its three communities: Naknek, the borough seat, King Salmon and South Naknek. A paid fire chief leads volunteer firefighters and EMTs, and the department staffs three ambulances, one per community. Naknek and King Salmon are linked by a 16-mile road; South Naknek, across the Naknek River, has no road connection.
Bristol Bay Borough Fire/EMS (non-emergency)
(907) 246-4224- EMS / Fire Department Coordinator: (907) 246-4224 ext. 309
- Bristol Bay Borough Police Department: (907) 246-4222
- Alaska State Troopers, King Salmon post: (907) 246-3346
- Camai Community Health Center, Naknek: (907) 246-6155
- Bristol Bay Borough Fire Department, 2 Main St, Naknek, AK 99633, USA
- bristolbayboroughak.us — Fire & EMS
- Office hours: Not published
Who Provides Fire Protection in Bristol Bay Borough
- Bristol Bay Borough Fire Department — the borough provides volunteer fire and emergency medical services in Naknek, King Salmon and South Naknek. Each community has its own volunteer firefighters and EMTs, and each volunteer station is headed by a lieutenant. The department is led by a paid fire chief, with a paid EMS / Fire Department Coordinator. Volunteers receive stipends for call-outs, medevacs and certification training.
- Emergency medical services — three ambulances (one per community) provide basic life support, with some advanced life support responders. About 10 EMS volunteers serve year-round; in summer, the peak season, 3 to 4 hired seasonal EMTs join them. Patients go to the Camai Community Health Center in Naknek.
The national registries class the department differently: NERIS lists it as a combination department with four stations, while the USFA registry lists it as mostly volunteer. Wildland fires are handled by the Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection. King Salmon Airport and the former King Salmon Air Force Station, kept in caretaker status by a contractor, are also in the borough; their fire protection arrangements are not published. Who answers and dispatches 911 calls in the borough is not published; an older state profile lists Bristol Bay Borough Emergency Services at (907) 246-4224 or (907) 246-4222.
Fire Departments in Bristol Bay Borough
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Bay Borough Fire Department (Fire & EMS) | Volunteer (paid chief, paid-per-call volunteers) | 2 Main St, Naknek, AK 99633 | (907) 246-4224 |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For any fire or medical emergency, call 911 rather than the borough number.
Bristol Bay Borough Fire Department Stations
| Station | Address |
|---|---|
| Naknek (headquarters) | 2 Main St, Naknek, AK 99633 |
| King Salmon | Not published |
| South Naknek | Not published |
Sources: Bristol Bay Borough (one volunteer station per community); NERIS registry (headquarters address).
Estimated Response Time
Because the borough is mostly roadless, the estimate is worked out for each community's own area rather than for the whole borough: average distance to the station r ≈ √(area ÷ (stations × π)). Naknek's single station covers about 81.5 square miles of land, an average radius of roughly 5.1 miles; King Salmon's station covers about 168 square miles, roughly 7.3 miles. Most homes sit close to the stations, so these are upper averages. With about 1.7 residents per square mile the borough is rural, and volunteers must first reach the station. South Naknek has no road link: its volunteers serve the village itself, there is no estimate for outside areas, and remote parts of the borough have no structural fire protection.
| Radius | Volunteer department |
|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 8–12 min |
| 1.5–3 mi | 10–14 min |
| 3–6 mi | 12–18 min |
| > 6 mi | 18+ min |
Typical expectation: about 8–14 minutes near the stations in Naknek, King Salmon and South Naknek, 12–18 minutes for outlying Naknek addresses and 18 minutes or more for outlying parts of the King Salmon area.
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, industrial, large tundra fire | 2–12+ hours |
Water supply and hydrant coverage are not published, and outside help is far away, so expect the upper end of each range. On April 6, 2020, a fire destroyed a single-story home in Naknek and one person died; two deputy fire marshals from Anchorage helped borough police investigate. In August 2019 the lightning-caused Paul's Creek Fire burned up to 25 acres of tundra about seven miles northwest of King Salmon airport; it was given full-suppression status because it was close to King Salmon and Naknek, smokejumpers fought it, and borough volunteers stood by to assist.
Apparatus & Equipment
- Ambulances (one per community)
- 3
The borough does not publish its fire apparatus list.
- Fire suppression
- BLS ambulance
- Some ALS responders
- Medevac support
Ratings & Accreditation
ISO Public Protection Classification ratings for Bristol Bay Borough are not published.
Outdoor burning: The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection requires burn permits from April 1 to August 31, statewide unless a stricter local or federal permit applies. A small-scale permit covers burn barrels, maintained lawns under 1 acre and brush piles up to 10 feet across and 4 feet high; campfires under 3 feet are exempt. Get a permit online by choosing your area on the state burn-permit site, or call (907) 269-8400. Check local rules with the borough at (907) 246-4224.
Neighboring Boroughs and Census Areas
- Lake and Peninsula Borough, AK (north, east and south)
- Dillingham Census Area, AK (west)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Bristol Bay Borough?
Bristol Bay Borough Fire/EMS: (907) 246-4224 (ext. 309 for the EMS / Fire Department Coordinator). Borough police: (907) 246-4222. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Who fights fires in Naknek, King Salmon and South Naknek?
The Bristol Bay Borough Fire Department. Each of the three communities has its own volunteer firefighters and EMTs and a volunteer station headed by a lieutenant, under a paid fire chief.
Is there an ambulance in Bristol Bay Borough?
Yes. The fire department staffs three ambulances, one in each community, providing basic life support with some advanced life support responders. Patients are taken to the Camai Community Health Center in Naknek.
How fast does the fire department respond in Bristol Bay Borough?
About 8–14 minutes near the stations, 12–18 minutes for outlying Naknek addresses and 18 minutes or more for outlying parts of the King Salmon area. South Naknek has no road link, and remote areas have no structural fire protection.
Do I need a burn permit in Bristol Bay Borough?
From April 1 to August 31, Alaska requires a burn permit from the Division of Forestry & Fire Protection for burn barrels, lawn burning and brush piles; campfires under 3 feet are exempt. Call (907) 269-8400 or apply online, and check local rules with the borough at (907) 246-4224.
Last verified:
- Bristol Bay Borough — Fire & EMS (volunteer stations, paid chief, ambulances, EMS staffing, coordinator ext. 309)
- Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection — Burn Permits (season, permit types, phone)
- Alaska DEC — Bristol Bay Subarea Contingency Plan, community profiles (older borough emergency-services phone listings)
- Bristol Bay Native Association — Regional Reference Guide (2022) (Fire/EMS, police, troopers, clinic phones)
- Southwest Alaska Municipal Conference — Bristol Bay Borough profile (communities, King Salmon Air Force Station)
- USFA National Fire Department Registry (department listed as mostly volunteer)
- NERIS registry — Bristol Bay Borough Fire Department (headquarters address, combination, 4 stations)
- KDLG — Lightning-started Paul's Creek Fire near King Salmon (2019)
- KDLG — Structure fires in Naknek and Pilot Point (2020)
- Wikipedia — Bristol Bay Borough, Alaska (2020 population, area, neighbors)
- Wikipedia — Naknek, Alaska (population, land area)
- Wikipedia — King Salmon, Alaska (population, land area, road to Naknek)
- Wikipedia — South Naknek, Alaska (population, no road link)