The City and Borough of Yakutat, Alaska (pop. 662) covers about 7,649 square miles of land on the Gulf of Alaska, but organized fire protection is centered on one town. The Yakutat Volunteer Fire Department, run by the borough as its volunteer fire and EMS service, protects Yakutat. The Yakutat Police Department answers around the clock, and Yakutat Airport has aircraft rescue firefighting during airline flights. Icy Bay, Yakataga and other remote areas have no structural fire protection.
Yakutat Police Department / public safety (non-emergency)
(907) 784-3206- City and Borough of Yakutat (borough office): (907) 784-3323
- Yakutat Community Health Center (main): (907) 784-3275
- Yakutat Airport manager: (907) 784-3293
- Yakutat Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 110, Yakutat, AK 99689, USA (mailing)
- yakutatak.us/Fire-Department (City and Borough of Yakutat)
- Police Department, 805 Yakutat Street: 24 hours; office Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00 (AKT)
Who Provides Fire Protection in the City and Borough of Yakutat
- Yakutat Volunteer Fire Department — the borough's own volunteer fire and EMS service, registered with the Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety (FDID 12220) at PO Box 110, Yakutat. The borough says new volunteers are always welcome.
The City and Borough of Yakutat, a home rule borough since 1992, lists police, volunteer fire/EMS, a health clinic and the airport (under a state contract) among its services. The Yakutat Police Department, 805 Yakutat Street, is staffed 24 hours a day and is the only municipal police agency in the borough; its non-emergency line, (907) 784-3206, is also the number the state's February 2026 directory gave for the fire department. Call 911 for any fire or medical emergency. Yakutat Airport, owned by Alaska DOT&PF and 3 miles southeast of town, has FAA aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) at Index B during air-carrier operations; it is not counted as a department here. No fire department is listed for Icy Bay, Yakataga or other places away from town.
Fire Departments in the City and Borough of Yakutat
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yakutat Volunteer Fire Department | Volunteer (fire and EMS) | Yakutat (mail: PO Box 110, Yakutat, AK 99689) | (907) 784-3206 |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For anything urgent, call 911 rather than a station number.
Estimated Response Time
Because the borough is huge and mostly roadless, we estimate only over the department's own area (r ≈ √(area ÷ (stations × π)), using census land area). The Yakutat census-designated place (100.5 square miles of land, one fire department) gives an average distance to the station of roughly 5.7 miles, and volunteers must first reach the station before rolling out. There is no estimate for Icy Bay, Yakataga or the backcountry: remote areas have no structural fire protection.
| Radius | Volunteer departments |
|---|---|
| ≤ 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 12–18 minutes for the first unit in the Yakutat 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 woodland fire | 2–12+ hours |
Yakutat is reached by scheduled flights and the Alaska Marine Highway ferry, and no other fire department is registered in the borough, so extra help would have to come from outside by air or sea; expect the upper end of each range for big fires. In July 2016 a house fire that started at a kitchen stove killed a resident: the police chief went in before firefighters arrived and found heavy smoke and heat, and volunteer firefighters found the victim inside. Police said the smoke alarms were working.
Apparatus & Equipment
Yakutat Airport (state-owned) has aircraft rescue and firefighting (ARFF) cover rated FAA index B. The Yakutat Volunteer Fire Department does not publish a fleet list. The airport's ARFF service is available during air-carrier operations only.
- Structural fire
- EMS
- Airport ARFF
- Volunteer crews
Services & Community Programs
- Volunteering: the borough invites residents to join the Yakutat Fire Department; call the borough office at (907) 784-3323.
- Clinic: Yakutat Community Health Center, 115 Airport Road, (907) 784-3275, Mon–Fri 9:00–17:00, offers primary medical, dental and behavioral health care.
- Police: Yakutat Police Department, 805 Yakutat Street, non-emergency (907) 784-3206.
Ratings & Accreditation
The ISO Public Protection Classification for Yakutat is not published.
Outdoor burning: The Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection requires a burn permit statewide from April 1 to August 31, unless a stricter local or federal permit applies. A small-scale permit covers burn barrels, lawns under 1 acre and brush piles up to 10 feet across and 4 feet high; larger woody-debris burns need a large-scale permit. Campfires under 3 feet need none. Ask the borough office, (907) 784-3323, about local rules.
Neighboring Boroughs
- Chugach Census Area, AK (northwest)
- Copper River Census Area, AK (north)
- Yukon, Canada (north)
- Stikine Region, British Columbia, Canada (northeast and east)
- Hoonah-Angoon Census Area, AK (southeast)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in the City and Borough of Yakutat?
Yakutat Police Department / public safety (non-emergency): (907) 784-3206, the number the state's February 2026 directory listed for the Yakutat Volunteer Fire Department. Borough office: (907) 784-3323. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Which fire departments serve the City and Borough of Yakutat?
One: the Yakutat Volunteer Fire Department, the borough's volunteer fire and EMS service. Yakutat Airport has aircraft rescue firefighting during airline flights. Icy Bay, Yakataga and other remote areas have no structural fire protection.
Who provides the ambulance in Yakutat?
The borough lists its fire service as volunteer fire/EMS, so the Yakutat Volunteer Fire Department answers medical calls. The Yakutat Community Health Center, 115 Airport Road, (907) 784-3275, provides clinic care on weekdays.
How fast does the fire department respond in the City and Borough of Yakutat?
About 12–18 minutes for the first unit in the Yakutat area, because volunteers must first reach the station. There is no estimate for remote areas, which have no structural fire protection.
Do I need a burn permit in the City and Borough of Yakutat?
Yes, from April 1 to August 31, unless a stricter local or federal permit applies. Burn barrels, lawns and small brush piles need a Division of Forestry small-scale permit; larger burns need a large-scale permit. Campfires under 3 feet across need no permit.
Last verified:
- Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety — Fire Department Registration and Directory (Yakutat VFD, FDID, mailing address, phone; February 2026 edition)
- Alaska Division of Fire and Life Safety — Fire Department Directory (September 22, 2026)
- Alaska Municipal League — City and Borough of Yakutat profile (2026) (services, borough phone, incorporation)
- City and Borough of Yakutat — Fire Department (volunteers welcome)
- Alaska Division of Forestry & Fire Protection — Burn Permits
- JEDC — Yakutat Police Department listing (address, phone, 24-hour service)
- JEDC — Yakutat Community Health Center listing
- AirNav — Yakutat Airport (PAYA) (FAA data: ARFF Index B, owner, manager phone, distance)
- Juneau Empire — House fire claims life of Yakutat man (2016)
- Wikipedia — Yakutat, Alaska (2020 population, land area, CDP land area, neighbors, access)