Fire Department

Chief Joseph Sanford

Fire Chief

425-587-3650

JSanford@kirklandwa.gov

A Message from the Fire Chief

Washington became a state in 1889. That same year, the Great Seattle Fire destroyed much of the heart of that city and the people of Kirkland watched as smoke rose across Lake Washington for days. One year later, in 1890, the Kirkland Fire Department was formed. The “Fire” Department has evolved since that time, keeping pace with the changing needs of our community. Since those austere beginnings, the department has added Hazardous Materials, Technical Rescue, Emergency Medical Services, Emergency Management and Water Rescue to our list of services. Emergency Medical Services (EMS) now constitute nearly 75% of our calls for service.  The Fire Department is truly an “all hazards” response team. 

Together with our teams in the Fire Prevention Bureau, the Training Division, Emergency Medical Services, Fire Administration, and the Office of Emergency Management, we make up what’s now the Kirkland Fire Department.

The consistent support from our community and City Council has ensured that the dedicated professionals of the Kirkland Fire Department can continue to provide exceptional service. Whether assigned to work in Suppression, Administrative Support, Emergency Medical Services, Training or the Bureau of Fire Prevention; on a fire truck or within the Office of Emergency Management, the dedicated men and women of the Kirkland Fire Department are committed to providing the best services possible, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Chief Joseph Sanford

From its incorporation in 1905 with a population of 400, Kirkland has grown to a population of 92,175 and 18 square miles. The terrain varies from extended waterfront property and parks to wooded areas and steep hillsides with elevations ranging from sea level to 500 feet. The community is a balance of quiet residential neighborhoods, urban retail, commercial zones and industrial areas bordered by freeways and commerce lines.

Kirkland Fire Department employs approximately 109 employees who are involved in a diverse range of activities. The department provides 24-hour coverage for fire suppression, technical rescue, hazardous materials and emergency medical responses. The department also provides fire prevention and education, fire investigations, inspections, code compliance and disaster preparedness services to the population.

The City of Kirkland has six fire stations:

Station 21- Forbes Creek
9816 Forbes Creek Drive

Station 22- Houghton
6602 108th Ave NE

Station 24- North Juanita
NE 132nd St. and 100th Ave NE

Station 25- Juanita
12033 76th Place NE

Station 26- North Rose Hill
9930 124th Ave NE

Station 27- Totem Lake
12127 NE 132nd St.

To learn more about what we do please see our Emergency Response, Fire Prevention, and Emergency Management pages.

Does the Fire Department offer CPR training to the public?

The Kirkland Fire Department (KFD) is partnering with the Medic One Foundation (MOF) to provide free CPR classes beginning in February, 2024.

To learn when CPR classes are scheduled, visit our Public Education page or contact Sue Romero.

Does the Fire Department inspect or install car seats?

The Kirkland Fire Department does not inspect or install car seats. For assistance, please contact King County Public Health Traffic Safety.

I live in the Kirkland city limits, can I burn my leaves and brush?

Outdoor burning of leaves, yard waste or garbage is banned in Kirkland. For air quality questions, call the Puget Sound Air Pollution Control Agency at 206-343-8800. Also for air quality/indoor burning restrictions recording, 1-800-595-4341.

How can I arrange to have my children or school group visit a fire station? 

Please click Request a station tour to be linked to the request form.

Do you have a meeting room available to the public? How do I make reservations? What are the rules?

Due to COVID-19 and the need to protect our first responders and the community station, meeting room use is suspended until further notice.

Can I go on a ride-along with Kirkland Fire Department?

Please click Request a Ride-along to be linked to the request form.

When should I call 9-1-1?

Residents are encouraged to call 9-1-1 anytime there is immediate danger to life or property. Generally, life threatening illness or injuries, smoke or flames that are seen or smelled, and motor vehicle accidents are situations requiring calls to 9-1-1. The public should call 9-1-1 if in doubt of the severity of the situation.

 What should I tell the dispatcher when I call 9-1-1?

The 9-1-1 dispatcher will ask a number of questions when you call 9-1-1. Many times, people feel the questions are delaying notifying the Fire Department. While a caller is answering questions, another dispatcher is notifying the Fire Department of the emergency. The dispatcher will ask questions to confirm your location or address, the type of emergency, your name, and a contact number. Additional questions may be asked based on the emergency.

 Where can I get more information about 9-1-1?

 You can see our dispatch center's website FAQ here: https://www.norcom.org/about-us/911-faq/

What questions will you be asked?

• Location of where help is needed
• What is happening (used to determine if you need police, fire or medical help)
• Time delay (for example: did it occur 5 minutes ago or 1 week ago)
• Any weapons involved (if yes, we will ask what type and where they are located)
• Descriptions of vehicles and people involved
• The phone number you are calling from
• Your name
• During COVID-19 we will also ask if you or anyone at the location has a fever, cough, or difficulty breathing

What if you accidentally dial 9-1-1?

• DO NOT HANG UP! Even if you think you are able to disconnect quickly enough, you aren’t! Your call will still ring into the 9-1-1 center. Call-takers have to call back every hang-up 9-1-1 call. Making these callbacks take up time, causing extra workload and could delay our ability to answer other, emergency calls.
• If you call 9-1-1 on accident, stay on the phone and let the dispatcher know it was an accident and there is no emergency.
• Approximately 32% of all 9-1-1 calls in Washington State are accidental. Click here to learn how you can help prevent accidental calls.

For medical help, we will ask these questions: 

• What is the address/location of the patient
• Is the patient conscious (If the patient is conscious, we will ask to speak to the patient)
• If the patient is not conscious, we will ask if the patient is breathing normally
• How old is the patient
• What is the chief complaint/reason for calling 9-1-1
• Once we identify the chief complaint, a specific list of questions are asked to gather further information for the medical responders

Things to know: 

• We are here to help you – we ask questions that are necessary to determine the appropriate response to your needs.
• You should dial 9-1-1 for the fastest response when police, fire, or medical assistance is needed.
• You can legally call 9-1-1 if you are driving, but be careful!
• You can send a text to 9-1-1 in King, Snohomish, Pierce, and other counties in the state of Washington. Because of the time it takes to text back and forth, we ask that you call 9-1-1 if you can, text if you cannot. Click here for further information.
• All 9-1-1 centers have access to language line services for those who either do not speak English or feel more comfortable speaking another language. Let the dispatcher know which language you speak and they will connect you with an interpreter on the phone.
• You might get transferred. The routing system is complex when calling from a cell phone. Stay on the line and we will ensure you get to the right people who can send help.

THINGS TO TRY IF YOUR CALL TO 9-1-1 ISN’T WORKING:

• Try calling from another phone that uses a different carrier or different technology.
• If your wireline isn’t working, try using a cell phone and vice versa.
• If your cell phone isn’t working and you don’t have a wireline, try another cell phone on a different network.
• Try calling the 10-digit emergency number for NORCOM at 425-577-5656.
• Try texting to 9-1-1 from a cell phone device.