Alaska Professional Fire Fighters Association

05/23/2026

Thank you President Mack for speaking about a topic so important to firefighters! Alaska is the only state who does not provide a Defined Benefit retirement for public safety!

05/03/2026

Over the last few days the Unalaska Firefighters Local 5315 have been working hard on their first full contact. Thank you to David (President) and Karen (VP) and to the City of Unalaska for all their hard work to secure a contract for the Unalaska firefighters!

04/29/2026

Back to back historical days in the Alaskan Legislature as HB 78 has passed the House on a concurrence vote! Thank you to the House members who supported this legislation. Next stop is the governors desk.

04/29/2026

Today the Senate has passed HB-78 and it now moves to the House for a concurrence vote before heading to the Governors desk. Alaskans are now one step closer to a return of a dignified retirement.

04/24/2026

Today, HB-78 (a return to defined benefits) passed the Senate Finance Committee and will be heard on the Senate floor next week. This is the furthest a DB bill has made it since the state changed to a DC plan in 2005. While we are not over the finish line yet, this is another massive step in the right direction. HB-78 is a fiscally responsible way to fix recruitment and retention in Alaska, as well as offer the workers a Dignified Retirement!

04/24/2026

What a great way for our local Alaskan firefighters to get involved in the community!

Down here in Southeast Alaska, we don’t just fight fires—we apparently run the most dangerous vending machine to your wallet.

The Ketchikan Firefighters Union IAFF 2761 vending machine isn’t stocked with chips and mystery meat snacks… it’s loaded with shirts, patches, challenge coins, and just enough local pride to make you spend money you fully intended to save.

You walk up thinking, “I’ll just look…”
Next thing you know—boom—you’ve got a new shirt, two patches, a challenge coin, and zero regrets. It’s basically retail therapy, firefighter edition.

Best part? Every single dollar—100%—goes right back into our community. Not to some big corporation… but right here in Ketchikan. Helping neighbors, supporting local events, and keeping that Southeast “we got you” attitude alive (even if it’s raining sideways… which it is).

So skip the stale granola bar and invest in something better. Look good, support your community, and accidentally become the best-dressed person at the next rainy day gathering.

Ketchikan style: wet, a little salty, and somehow still spending money at a vending machine.

Located at KFD Station 1 - 70 Bawden St, Ketchikan, AK 99901

04/16/2026

Most firefighters in Alaska are working 56 hour work weeks at a minimum and do not receive overtime till hour 54. Long hours, low staffing levels, increasing call volumes state wide and the risks associated with the job are why we are urging the Alaskan Legislature to pass HB-78 and give firefighters a dignified retirement.

04/11/2026

Another great opportunity to work in Alaska!

🚒🔥 KETCHIKAN FIRE DEPARTMENT IS HIRING (TEMP… BUT HEROIC) 🔥🚒

Alright Southeast Alaska… it’s that time again. One of ours decided to go enjoy retirement (we’re happy for him, more information and celebration of a dedicated career to come), which means we need a solid human to jump in and help keep the wheels turning this summer.

👉 We are hiring a Temporary Firefighter/EMT
👉 Open until filled (aka don’t sleep on it)

Why this matters:
Summer in Ketchikan = cruise ships, tourists, chaos, and about a million “I slipped on a wet dock” calls 🌧️🚢
We need help to keep staffing strong and service dialed in for our community.

What you’re signing up for:

Running calls while it’s raining sideways (so… always)
Helping locals and visitors alike
Being part of a crew that works hard and laughs harder
Holding the line until we hire and train the next full-time firefighter (projected early 2027)

Perks include:
✔️ Cool gear
✔️ Great crew
✔️ Stories you probably shouldn’t tell in public
✔️ The satisfaction of keeping Ketchikan running when it gets busy

We’ve already got the long-term hire process coming—but until then, this position is critical to keeping our response levels where they need to be.

📣 WE NEED YOUR HELP:
Even if you’re not applying, PLEASE SHARE THIS POST so we can find the right person. In a small town, that’s how we get things done.

👉 APPLY HERE: https://www.ketchikan.gov/jobs/1503/

If you’ve got the skills (and a good rain jacket), we want to hear from you.







🚒

04/11/2026

The Unalaska Firefighters are looking for their next member!

Did you know that the waters around Unalaska Island are one of the few places in the world to find the rare Whiskered Auklet?

04/11/2026

Appropriate staffing for fire departments across the state is important for both the firefighters and the community members they are serving. Study after study shows that inappropriate staffing levels lead to more injuries, higher costs for the community, and burnout for the members running the calls.

Over the past decade, call volumes have increased by 60%. Staffing levels have not changed, nor has the number of fire engines and ambulances responding to emergencies.