Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department

01/12/2026

We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to our community members and visitors who quickly and safely move out of the way to allow emergency apparatus through when we are assisting with helicopter landing zones or responding to other incidents. Your awareness and cooperation help ensure first responders can do their jobs safely and efficiently when every second counts.

Your support truly makes a difference!

01/09/2026

Please be advised - there are current highway closures for avalanche control.

UPDATE - Caltrans has RE-OPENED SR-88 at the as of 9:45PM on 1/8/26 from previous avalanche control operations.

For winter HWY updates with Caltrans QuickMap app on your mobile device!

Caltrans HQ Kirkwood Mountain Resort CHP - Amador Alpine County Sheriff's Office CAL FIRE Amador-El Dorado Unit Amador County Sheriff's Office

01/04/2026

Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department is currently responding to a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 88 near Carson Spur. Several accidents have been reported along both the east and westbound routes out of Kirkwood. If travel is necessary during this time, please ensure you are prepared for adverse weather and potential delays.

UPDATE: At this time HWY 88 westbound is closed for avalanche control and HWY 88 eastbound is closed due to a mud/dirt/rock slide. Kirkwood Meadows Drive is gridlocked.

Final update: Carson Pass is open this morning, the Spur is still closed. Information retrieved from https://quickmap.dot.ca.gov. Please check CalTrans QuickMap for further updates.

10/29/2025

Happy National First Responders Day! Today we are celebrating our volunteers that give freely of their time and talents to promote everyone’s safety in Kirkwood and the surrounding area.

To all first responders - thank you for your service to your communities!

09/07/2025

Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department was pleased to attend the Alpine County Kid's Fishing Derby at the beautiful Caples Lake Resort this afternoon. Smoky Bear and his good friends with the Forestry were also on site sharing helpful information on everything from fire safety to local plants and animals. It was great to see a few of KVFD's very own out fishing with their families.
Many agencies came together to ensure the success of today's event. Thank you to everyone that donated, contributed, or volunteered in any way - and thank you to the community for coming out to fish with us! 🎣

Our volunteers love community events. If you are interested in joining KVFD, we can always use more volunteers to serve the Kirkwood area. Send us a message for more information.

08/26/2025

UPDATE: HWY 88 is reopened at this time

Highway 88 is currently closed west of Kirkwood over the Spur for several rock and mudslides. Caltrans is addressing the situation - please avoid the area.

Rock slides are common in the Kirkwood area, but especially so during weather patterns like what we are currently experiencing. Please take your time and keep an eye out for road hazards while traveling.

08/26/2025

KVFD was dispatched to a wildland fire in the Red Lakes area earlier today. Resources from several agencies were active on this incident throughout the day. The picture below was taken this morning and shows a single tree on fire, likely as a result of a lightning strike.

We have had a few days back to back of disturbed weather with thunderstorms in and around Kirkwood. Please be vigilant - if you see smoke, call 911.

08/10/2025

At 6:30 am Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department responded to a vehicle rollover blocking both lanes near the Caltrans station on HWY 88. Our volunteers responded quickly, established patient care, and worked with partners to clear the scene. The roadway is fully open.

This morning's call came less than 12 hours after a separate in-valley incident last night.

KVFD has a very small team; our selfless volunteers give up their weekends and family time to serve the Kirkwood community. We need more hands.

Please send us a message if you are interested in learning more about volunteering. We host weekly trainings and would love to have you join us.

07/26/2025

Last night at 8pm, KVFD was called out to a report of a tree on fire due to lightning strike near the CalTrans station on HWY 88. Thanks to a quick response by Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department, Forestry, and CHP - South Lake Tahoe, we were able to establish control and prevent any spread to nearby vegetation. Additional work in the area continued into this morning.

Lightning strikes are occurring within 20 miles of Kirkwood again at this time, and disturbed weather is expected again this afternoon. A fast response can be the difference between a single tree on fire and a fully established wildland fire. If you see smoke or flames, call 911.

07/26/2025

Kirkwood Volunteer Fire Department responded to a vehicle accident along Highway 88 this afternoon. Our volunteers have been busy lately with emergency calls, training, and our annual summer festival. We've recently held a 2 part training series on vehicle stabilization; those skills definitely came in handy today.

We can't thank the community enough for your ongoing support. Donations made during the summer festival and throughout the year help KVFD procure quality training opportunities and personal protection equipment that keeps our volunteers - and you - safe. 🚒

04/08/2025

This evening KVFD responded to a medical emergency at The Cornice.

Please remember when you see first responders on scene, they should always be given room to do their job safely. Our small team is all volunteer and often limited by staffing. We can all help by giving them plenty of space to respond to the emergency at hand. Thank you! 😊

*We do our best to share current media as much as possible, however, this image is from a previous medical emergency at the same location earlier in the season.