The Central Arizona Fire and Medical Authority (CAFMA) is a career fire agency in Yavapai County, Arizona, formed by the Central Yavapai and Chino Valley fire districts and operating since July 1, 2016 as the state's first fire authority. From ten full-time and two reserve stations it covers 369 square miles and about 100,000 residents in Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt, Paulden and the Williamson Valley Road area. Crews answer over 16,000 calls a year, run their own ambulance service, staff regional hazmat and technical rescue teams, and CAFMA earned CFAI accreditation in 2026.
Non-emergency
(928) 445-5357- Main office / administration: (928) 772-7711
- CAFMA Administration, 8603 E. Eastridge Dr., Prescott Valley, AZ 86314, USA
- cazfire.gov
- Office: Mon–Thu 7:00–17:00 (MST)
Personnel: CAFMA reported 122 career firefighters to the USFA registry, which also lists 14 stations; CAFMA's own site counts ten full-time and two reserve stations plus a 40-hour peak-time engine. Full-time crews work three shifts in two battalions (3 and 6). The boards of the two districts signed the agreement creating the authority on October 15, 2015. Crews respond to "over 16,000 calls each year", according to CAFMA.
Services Offered
- Fire suppression and rescue (Fire and Rescue division)
- Emergency medical services; CAFMA ambulances are staffed by paramedics and EMTs
- Ambulance transport since October 1, 2024, for Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt and surrounding areas
- Hazardous materials: member of the Prescott Area Hazardous Materials Team
- Technical rescue: member of the Prescott Regional Technical Rescue Team
- Wildland fire suppression; Wildland Division members serve on Type I and Type III incident management teams
- Fire investigations, honor guard, planning and logistics
- Fire prevention: a Fire Marshal and four Fire Inspectors; permits, inspections and plan review
Stations
| Station | Address | Area / units |
|---|---|---|
| 50 | 2780 N. Valley View Dr., Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 | Engine 50, Truck 50 |
| 51 | 1700 W. Iron Springs Rd., Prescott, AZ 86305 | Not published |
| 53 | 8555 E. Yavapai Rd., Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 | 6.39 sq mi |
| 54 | 13155 E. State Route 169, Dewey, AZ 86327 | 41.6 sq mi |
| 57 | 4125 W. Outer Loop Rd., Prescott, AZ 86305 | 35.31 sq mi |
| 58 | 4850 N. Robert Rd., Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 | 5.11 sq mi |
| 59 | 6401 N. Viewpoint Dr., Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 | 23.14 sq mi |
| 61 | 1133 W. Road 3 North, Chino Valley, AZ 86323 | 27.3 sq mi |
| 62 | 730 E. Road 2 South, Chino Valley, AZ 86323 | 16.1 sq mi |
| 63 | 250 W. Sweet Valley Rd., Paulden, AZ 86334 | 44 sq mi |
Show all stations
| Station | Address | Area / units |
|---|---|---|
| 52 (reserve) | 1601 Happy Valley Rd., Prescott, AZ 86305 | Not published |
| 56 (reserve) | 4411 S. Ponderosa Rd., Prescott, AZ 86303 | Not published |
Stations have no public phone numbers; call the non-emergency line. Reserve stations 52 and 56 are not always staffed but have a resident firefighter who maintains the facility and equipment. Station 53 also houses the Battalion 3 chief. Engine 540, a 40-hour peak-time engine, works from the training center.
Response Times
Published performance: CAFMA's website does not publish a response-time standard or 90th-percentile result in the pages we checked.
Estimate: r ≈ √(369 sq mi ÷ (10 full-time stations × π)) ≈ 3.4 miles average station radius. With about 270 residents per square mile, the area mixes town neighbourhoods with suburban and semi-rural land, all served by career crews. In town the station areas are small (Station 58: 5.11 sq mi, about 1.3 miles radius); outlying ones are large (Station 63: 44 sq mi, about 3.7 miles).
| Radius | Town areas (career) | Outlying areas (suburban) |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 4–6 min | 5–8 min |
| 1.5–3 mi | 6–8 min | 7–10 min |
| 3–6 mi | 8–11 min | 9–13 min |
| > 6 mi | 11+ min | 13+ min |
Typical expectation: about 4–6 minutes in central Prescott Valley, 8–11 minutes on average across the CAFMA area, and 9–13 minutes or more for outlying addresses near Paulden, Dewey-Humboldt or Williamson Valley Road.
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 wildland fire | 2–12+ hours |
In outlying areas expect the upper end of each range. Large wildland fires can take days to contain; CAFMA has its own Wildland Division.
Apparatus & Equipment
- Ladder truck (Truck 50)
- 1
- Peak-time engine (Engine 540)
- 1
Only these units are described on CAFMA's station pages (Station 50 also runs Engine 50). The full fleet, including the number of engines and ambulances, is not published.
- Paramedics
- Ambulance transport
- Hazmat
- Technical rescue
- Wildland
- Ladder truck
Ratings & Accreditation
ISO PPC Class: Not published · CPSE/CFAI accredited: Yes, awarded Accredited Agency status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International in 2026 (five-year designation).
Community Programs & Burn Permits
- CPR, AED and first aid classes.
- Fire permits, inspections and plan review through the SmartGov portal; local fire code is the 2018 International Fire Code (revised 2022) with local amendments.
Outdoor burning: Open-air fires such as burn piles and bonfires need an approved permit from prescottarea.burnpermits.com (shared by CAFMA, Prescott, Groom Creek and Walker). Burn only wood, yard debris and leaves; never trash. Barbecues and warming or cooking fire pits need no permit. On October 13, 2026 the portal showed a burn ban: you may apply, but you may not burn.
Neighboring Fire Departments
- All fire departments in Yavapai County, Arizona
- Prescott Fire Department (City of Prescott)
- Williamson Valley Fire District (northwest)
- Groom Creek Fire District (south of Prescott)
- Mayer Fire District (southeast, State Route 69)
- Verde Valley Fire District (east, beyond Mingus Mountain)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for CAFMA?
(928) 445-5357. The main office line is (928) 772-7711, at 8603 E. Eastridge Dr., Prescott Valley, open Monday to Thursday 7:00–17:00. For emergencies, always call 911.
How many fire stations does CAFMA have?
Ten full-time stations (50, 51, 53, 54, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62 and 63) and two reserve stations (52 and 56), plus a 40-hour peak-time engine, Engine 540.
Does CAFMA run its own ambulances?
Yes. CAFMA launched its ambulance transport service on October 1, 2024, staffed by paramedics and EMTs, for Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, Dewey-Humboldt and surrounding areas. For billing questions, call (928) 772-7711.
How fast does CAFMA respond?
CAFMA does not publish response-time results on its website. With an average station radius of about 3.4 miles, we estimate 4–6 minutes in central Prescott Valley, 8–11 minutes on average and 9–13 minutes or more in outlying areas.
Do I need a burn permit in the CAFMA area?
Yes, for open-air fires such as burn piles and bonfires. Apply at prescottarea.burnpermits.com and burn only wood, yard debris and leaves. No burning is allowed while a burn ban is in effect.
Last verified:
- CAFMA — About CAFMA (history, stations, area, population, CFAI)
- CAFMA — Home (phones, address, hours)
- CAFMA — Operations (calls, battalions, special operations, wildland)
- CAFMA — Fire and Rescue (station areas, units, reserve stations)
- CAFMA — Station directory (addresses)
- CAFMA — Ambulance Service
- CAFMA — Prevention (inspectors, permits, fire code)
- Prescott Area Burn Permits (rules, burn status)
- U.S. Fire Administration — National Fire Department Registry (Arizona download, retrieved October 12, 2026)