The Tucson Fire Department is the career fire department of the City of Tucson, Arizona, protecting 542,629 residents (2020 Census) across 241 square miles from 22 fire stations. Founded in 1881 and rated ISO Class 1 since 2017, it provides fire suppression, advanced life support (ALS) ambulance transport with 17 paramedic units, hazardous materials response, technical and swift-water rescue, fire inspections and investigations. In 2025 it answered 104,784 calls for service, 90,192 of them medical.
Non-emergency (main line)
(520) 791-4512- 300 South Fire Central Place, Tucson, AZ 85701, USA
- tucsonaz.gov — Fire Department
- tucsonfirequestions@tucsonaz.gov
- Office hours: not published (City of Tucson info: 311)
Personnel: 632 career firefighters as reported to the USFA registry. The city's budget overview for fiscal year 2022/23 listed 700.5 full-time positions, 645 of them commissioned (sworn) officers.
Services Offered
- Fire suppression and rescue: 22 engines and 8 ladder companies, 3 of them quints
- EMS: every uniformed member is at least an EMT. Paramedics provide ALS transport in 17 paramedic units, and all apparatus carry ALS equipment.
- Hazardous materials: the team is based at Station 1, with at least 9 hazmat technicians on duty at all times
- Technical rescue: a Technical Rescue Team. Ladder companies carry swift-water tools for flash-flooded washes.
- Brush fires: 2 brush trucks and a 2,500-gallon water tender
- Fire prevention: 8,779 fire inspections and 8,676 plan reviews in 2025; 229 fires investigated
- Community risk reduction: home safety visits, smoke alarm installs, car seat checks, Narcan leave-behind kits and TC-3 referrals
- Training: the Regional Public Safety Training Academy
Stations
| Station | Address | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 300 S Fire Central Pl, Tucson | E1, E2, L1, HZ1, PM1, BC |
| 3 | 24 N Norris Ave, Tucson | — |
| 4 | 2102 N Dragoon Ave, Tucson | — |
| 5 | 2835 E Grant Rd, Tucson | — |
| 6 | 10251 S Wilmot Rd, Tucson | — |
| 7 | 4902 E Pima St, Tucson | — |
| 8 | 1025 W Prince Rd, Tucson | — |
| 9 | 730 S Wilmot Rd, Tucson | Engine, ladder, medic, BC |
| 10 | 4410 S Park Ave, Tucson | — |
| 11 | 4075 E Timrod St, Tucson | — |
Show all stations
| Station | Address | Units |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 250 S Harrison Rd, Tucson | — |
| 13 | 7975 E Stella Rd, Tucson | — |
| 14 | 5500 S Nogales Hwy, Tucson | — |
| 15 | 1555 W San Juan Trl, Tucson | — |
| 16 | 7579 E Speedway Blvd, Tucson | — |
| 17 | 5270 S Houghton Rd, Tucson | — |
| 18 | 1855 W Drexel Rd, Tucson | — |
| 19 | 9700 E Esmond Loop, Tucson | — |
| 20 | 4798 N 1st Ave, Tucson | — |
| 21 | 8620 E Tanque Verde Rd, Tucson | — |
| 22 | 6810 S Alvernon Way, Tucson | Engine, ladder, ladder tender, TRT, BC |
| 23 | 1151 E Hermans Rd, Tucson | — |
The city numbers its stations 1 and 3–23 (no Station 2 is listed). Station phone numbers are not published; call the main line or 311. Unit assignments are only published for Station 1 (city), Station 9 (Fire Apparatus Magazine, 2022) and Station 22 (station architect). Several stations are being rebuilt or remodeled under the city's bond program, so a few addresses may change.
Response Times
Published performance: the City of Tucson reports an average response time of 8.72 minutes for fire incidents in 2025 (34 seconds faster than 2024) and 8.70 minutes for EMS incidents (41 seconds slower). The city does not say which time segments these averages include, and no 90th-percentile figure is published.
Estimate: with 22 stations over 241 sq mi, the average station radius is r ≈ √(241 ÷ (22 × π)) ≈ 1.9 miles. At about 2,250 residents per sq mi, Tucson falls in the Urban / career class.
| Radius | Estimated arrival |
|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 4–6 min |
| 1.5–3 mi | 6–8 min |
| 3–6 mi | 8–11 min |
| > 6 mi | 11+ min |
Typical expectation: the distance model gives about 6–8 minutes for most addresses. The city's published 2025 averages are around 8.7 minutes.
Estimated Fire Control Time
| Fire size | Example | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Brush 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 |
Apparatus & Equipment
- Engines (Class A pumpers)
- 22
- Ladder trucks (incl. 3 quints)
- 8
- Ladder tenders
- 4
- Paramedic transport units
- 17
- Rescue (assessment) vehicles
- 5
- Hazmat trucks
- 2
- Technical rescue truck
- 1
- Brush trucks
- 2
- Water tender (2,500 gal)
- 1
- Rapid Response Team trucks
- 2
- Air, power & light truck
- 1
- Rehab vehicle
- 1
- Mass-casualty box truck
- 1
These are the front-line apparatus listed on the city's Emergency Operations page. Rescue vehicles are 2-person assessment units that do not transport patients. Seven engine and ladder companies also staff paramedic assessment units, and every engine and ladder company carries a thermal imaging camera. Reserve fleet: not published.
- ALS transport
- Hazmat
- Technical rescue
- Swift-water rescue
- Brush / wildland
- Mass casualty
Ratings & Accreditation
ISO PPC: Class 1 (held since 2017). CPSE/CFAI accreditation: not published. The city's FY 2022/23 overview said the department intended to pursue it.
Community Programs & Burn Permits
In 2025 the department made 198 home safety visits, installed 306 smoke alarms in 120 homes, ran 155 safety classes and checked 83 car seats. For service or presentation requests, use the city's TFD request form or call 311.
Outdoor burning: inside the City of Tucson, open-burn permits come from the Tucson Fire Department rather than Pima County DEQ. Campfires and barbecues are exempt. County rules: Pima County DEQ, (520) 724-7400. Wildland fire: Arizona DFFM.
Neighboring Fire Departments
- All fire departments in Pima County, Arizona
- Rural Metro Fire – Tucson (unincorporated areas)
- Northwest Fire District
- Drexel Heights Fire District
- South Tucson Fire Department
- Pascua Pueblo Fire Department
- Tohono O'odham Nation Fire Department
- Corona de Tucson Fire Department
- Rincon Valley Fire District
- Tucson Airport Authority Fire Department
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for the Tucson Fire Department?
(520) 791-4512, the department's main line at 300 South Fire Central Place. For general city questions, call 311. In an emergency, call 911.
How many fire stations does Tucson have?
The Tucson Fire Department staffs 22 fire stations, numbered 1 and 3 to 23, plus the Regional Public Safety Training Academy.
What ISO rating does the Tucson Fire Department have?
ISO Public Protection Classification Class 1, held since 2017.
How fast does Tucson Fire respond?
The city reported average response times of 8.72 minutes for fire incidents and 8.70 minutes for EMS incidents in 2025. Based on the average station radius of about 1.9 miles, the estimate is 6–8 minutes for most addresses.
Do I need a burn permit in Tucson?
Yes, for most open burning. Inside the City of Tucson, the permit comes from the Tucson Fire Department instead of Pima County DEQ. Campfires and barbecues are exempt.
Last verified:
- City of Tucson — Fire Department (main line, address, email, ISO Class 1)
- City of Tucson — TFD Emergency Operations (22 stations, apparatus, hazmat, EMS)
- City of Tucson — By the Numbers 2025 (calls, response times, inspections, programs)
- City of Tucson — Tucson Fire Overview (FY 2022/23 positions, ISO since 2017, accreditation plans)
- City of Tucson GIS — Fire stations layer (station addresses, retrieved October 13, 2026)
- U.S. Fire Administration — National Fire Department Registry (FDID 11223, Arizona download, retrieved October 12, 2026)
- Pima County DEQ — Open Burning
- Fire Apparatus Magazine — Tucson christens Station 9
- Shive-Hattery — City of Tucson Fire Station 22
- Fire Engineering — Pierce pumpers for Tucson (2011) (founded 1881)
- Wikipedia — Tucson (2020 Census population, land area)