If your question is not answered below, please click on the “Ask the Chief” area of this website, or give us a call at (928) 282-6800. Thank you!
What is a fire district?
A fire district is a political subdivision of the State, formed for the protection of persons and property in an area approved by the counties.
Who is responsible for the operations of a fire district?
The District is governed by a five-member Board elected at large by the voters. Board members are elected to alternating four-year terms so at least two are elected every two years. The Board establishes policy and approves the annual budget.
What services are provided by the District?
The Fire District provides fire and emergency medical services by career firefighters and state certified Emergency Medical technicians and Paramedics, including CPR Community Training, Automatic External Defibrillator Community Program, Ambulance transport services, 12-Lead EKG, Rapid Sequence Intubation program, and Blood Pressure Screenings. The District has a full complement of fire, medical, and rescue equipment. The District also provides Community Risk Management programs, such as: Public Education (“Every 15 Minutes” anti-drinking/driving high school campaign; Bike Rodeos (bike safety program for elementary students); National Fire Prevention Week activities); Fire Investigations; Plan Review; Fire Inspections (Structural, Wildland). Additionally, SFD has an outstanding Technical Rescue Team including Swiftwater Rescue; Confined Space; Building Collapse; Trench Rescue; Tower Rescue; High-Angle (Rock Climbing) Rescue. We provide Hazardous Materials technicians. Also, SFD operates a Regional Dispatching Center providing 9-1-1 services to 11 public safety agencies.
Who pays for the District?
The District is organized under the laws of Arizona as a special district. A majority of its revenue is from a secondary property tax assessed on all real property in the Fire District. Additional revenues are generated by ambulance billing, regional dispatching, telecommunication technology services, and grants.
Who sets the tax rate?
The tax rate is set each June by the Sedona Fire District Governing Board based on the recommendation of the Fire Chief and Staff. The maximum tax rate allowed is $3.25 per $100 secondary assessed value; currently, SFD’s tax rate is $1.75 per $100 secondary assessed valuation, which is the lowest rate in the State for medium-sized fire districts.
How do I pay for the District?
As a special district, the fire district’s taxes are assessed with other property taxes, such as Yavapai College and Sedona-Oak Creek School District taxes. They can either be incorporated into a mortgage payment or paid when billed, with your other taxes.
What if I don't have medical insurance?
Sedona Fire District attempts to recover medical supplies and costs through ambulance billing. The Fire District will bill an individual's medical insurance for cost recovery purposes. If your insurance does not pay or you do not have medical insurance, the Fire District absorbs the loss. You will not be billed for any residual or unpaid amounts. This applies to Fire District residents only.
Does being in a Fire District affect my property insurance rate?
While insurance rates vary, you may realize a decrease in your property insurance premiums when you annex into the District, especially if you currently do not have adequate fire protection.
Are District taxes deductible?
Yes, as part of your property taxes, if you itemize your tax deductions.
How do I contact the District?
In an emergency, the District can be reached by dialing 9-1-1. The Administrative Office phone number is (928) 282-6800. The Fire District business hours are from 8 AM - 5 PM Monday - Friday.
How do I annex into the District?
For an area to annex into the District, a simple majority of the voters, the property owners, and those representing a majority of the property value, must support the annexation. To begin the process, a property owner should contact the Fire District at (928) 282-6800 or info@sedonafire.org, for assistance with the process.
Why does a fire engine respond on medical calls?
The answer to this question is simple – better service. When you or your loved ones are having an emergency, it is important to receive care as quickly as possible. A fire engine responds with additional personnel to assist the paramedics on the ambulance in providing that care. All fire engines are ALS (advanced life support) equipped and capable of providing advanced medical intervention and procedures. This includes pharmacological and cardiac treatment.
Will you help me install my child safety car seat?
SFD Community Risk Management staff has received special training to become Certified Car Safety Seat Technicians. The technicians will be happy to inspect or install your child safety seat at no cost to you. To schedule an appointment, please contact the Administrative Offices at (928) 282-6800.
Do you have T-Shirts available for sale?
SFD T-Shirts featuring a wildland fire suppression theme are available at Station #1 for $15 each in sizes Small through XXL.
Do you trade patches?
The Fire District does not trade patches, but they may be purchased for $5.00 in the Lobby of Station #1, or call (928) 282-6800 to request they be mailed to you.
How do I apply for a position at SFD?
Applications will be accepted only during posted recruitment periods. Please call the Fire District at (928) 282-6800 for more information or you may visit the Human Resources Section of this website for further information on current job openings.
Can I ride along with the emergency crews?
Yes, but you must be at least 18 years of age. You may ride with the fire crew between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM and, typically, only once per year. Contact the Administrative Office at (928) 282-6800 for more information.
Can I tour the District facilities?
Yes, the Fire District offers tours of Stations #1, #3, and #4. To schedule a tour, please contact the Administrative Office at (928) 282-6800.
How do I get a copy of a fire or EMS report?
EMS and Fire reports may be requested through the Fire District's Administrative Office for a small fee. They can be requested in person with a picture ID or in writing.
EMS reports can only be requested by the persons involved in the incident, by the legal guardian (with proof of guardianship), by the parent or legal guardian of a minor, or by subpoena. A signed medical release form (signed by client or guardian) must accompany a written request by an attorney.
Fire reports are public information with some restrictions. They may be requested in writing or in person at the Administrative Office.
Processing time for the above reports is approximately 10 days. Please mail written requests with the appropriate documentation to:
Sedona Fire District
Records Request
2860 Southwest Drive
Sedona, AZ 86336
How do I find my closest fire station?
Contact the Administrative Office at (928) 282-6800.
How do I enroll in a CPR, First-Aid, or AED Class?
The Sedona Fire District provides CPR and AED classes on the fourth Thursday and Friday of each month from 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM for $55 (which includes the textbook). Contact the Administrative Office at (928) 282-6800 to register.
How do I check my smoke detector?
Each smoke detector has a test button, usually in the center of the detector. Protect your ears, as the alarm will be very loud. Press the test button and hold for a few seconds. If it is working correctly, the alarm will sound and will automatically stop after a few more seconds. If you continue to have a problem with your smoke or carbon monoxide (CO) detector, we will come out to assist you in troubleshooting the problem. The most common problems are low battery (we will help you replace the batteries) and units needing to be cleaned (using compressed air to blow the dust out).
Why is SFD buying a 100’ Ladder Truck; we do not have a 10 story building in Sedona?
The current SFD ladder truck is a 1984 model and has a ladder length of 75’. This 23 year-old truck has numerous safety, operational, and maintenance concerns/problems. The new truck will greatly enhance SFD operational effectiveness and safety. Ladder length is not based solely on building height. The length of the ladder comes into play concerning building mass. Please consider some of the numerous large geographic footprint buildings in the Fire District, i.e. – Resorts, Hotels, Supermarkets, Shopping Centers, Galleries, Uptown Sedona, large residential homes, etc.; all of these have a high life safety consideration, as well. One of the primary uses for a piece of equipment, like the newly ordered ladder, is to apply water on a fire from above; an example would include the Lumberman’s Fire in 2005 and a residential fire in the Chapel-area in 2006. The new ladder will also assist with technical rescue and medical response issues.
Why is SFD planning to build a fire station in the Chapel-area?
The Chapel-area is growing and is currently only about 50% built out. SFD’s current response times to the vicinity of the Chapel-area do not meet SFD goals or accepted national standards. This location is perfect for providing emergency back-up coverage to the Village of Oak Creek (VOC) and/or Uptown Sedona. The new roadway, while it may be an improvement to our current Highway 179, will delay emergency vehicles due to our large fire apparatus needing to slow to less than 10 MPH to maneuver through each of the proposed 11 roundabouts. Studies have shown that traffic calming devices, including roundabouts, can delay emergency vehicles and associated response by 7 to 32 seconds per roundabout. Currently, SFD services the Chapel-area from either our VOC or Uptown Fire Stations depending on the location of the emergency and availability of fire apparatus. This proposed fire station will provide for an additional resource to effectively and efficiently manage medical emergencies, accidents, fires (wildland or structural), and natural- or human-caused disasters throughout the greater Sedona area.
What changes have SFD made since the inception of the 2007 SFD Citizens Strategic Planning Task Force?
Answer: The original charter of the SFD Citizens Strategic Planning Task Force was to:
- Provide taxpayer/citizen input to the SFD Strategic and Capital Improvement Plan
- The committee analyzed the projected needs of SFD over the next long-range period and developed a three-tiered, banded list of projects.
- Establish a 5-year prioritization list
- The Priority Band included:
- Development of a Chapel-area Fire Station
- SFD Regional Communications Center
- Relocation of Oak Creek Canyon Fire Station
- Provide capital funding recommendations to the SFD Governing Board
- Avoid pursuing Bonding as a funding mechanism
- Utilize the current tax levy and adopt a “pay as you go” philosophy
- Continue to evaluate current operating philosophies and service offerings.
SFD has adopted the recommendations of the citizen’s committee for all three of the aforementioned charter goals and others, including the following:
- Revamped our capital improvement plan and are solely focusing on the three top issues (planning phase) identified by the citizens’ committee.
- Changing the format of the SFD Strategic Plan.
- Initiated budget preparation discussions two months earlier than previous years.
- Funding strategies – Utilize current funding sources and not pursue bonding as most other similarly-situated fire districts and departments have done.
- Conducted an open Town Hall meeting for improved community communication and plan to hold them twice yearly.
- Moved the location of our formal Board Meetings twice a year to our Village of Oak Creek Fire Station to be more accessible to District residents.
- Incorporated “Frequently Asked Questions” to our website.
- Expanded to incorporate an additional newspaper (Villager) for distribution of fire district information.
- Conducted an internal review of operating processes and core service offerings.
- New Ambulance Billing Rates, which financially impacts visitors more than residents.
- Adoption of the new International Fire code and Wildland Interface Code.
- Movement toward Single Channel Dispatching in Sedona and throughout the Verde Valley.
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