Allentown Fire Department

The Allentown Fire Department (AFD) consists of one hundred and forty (140) firefighters manning six (6) fire stations with seven (7) engines and two (2) ladder trucks. In 2006, the AFD responded to over 6,000 calls for assistance in the City of Allentown. Special Teams include Hazardous Materials, Bomb Squad, Underwater Recovery and Technical Rescue. All Department members train extensively to insure that our citizens have a safe place to live and work.


Allentown Fire Chief / EMC

Under the direction of the Fire Chief, The Fire Administration Office is responsible for the overall coordination and direction of the Department. The Fire Chief works with Local, State and Federal agencies to accomplish the mission of the Allentown Fire Department; Supervises an administrative staff, composed of the Deputy Fire Chief of Operations, Deputy Fire Chief of Administration, Assistant Fire Chief of Fire Prevention, Assistant Fire Chief of Education Training, and Captain of Public Affairs. The Fire Chief is also the Emergency Management Coordinator and acts as the liaison to the County Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security.


Deputy Fire Chief of Operations

Oversees the operational activities of the Department, which includes operational training, staffing, dispatch/deployment, procurement, and liaison to the communications center, fleet management and labor management. In the absence of the Fire Chief, takes overall charge of the Department. The Deputy Chief is responsible for command staff and suppression activities for four (4) platoons. Each platoon is comprised of one (1) Battalion Chief who, in turn, commands one (1) Captain, one (1) Fire Marshal, seven (7) Lieutenants and twenty-three Firefighters.


Deputy Fire Chief of Administration

Oversees the Fire Prevention and Training Divisions. Responsible for grant management and back-up administrator for fire payroll; disseminates all personnel policies and procedures to command staff and platoon personnel. The Deputy Chief is responsible for planning, inter-departmental communications, special projects, and labor management, personnel related issues and employee benefits; Serves as a Deputy to the Emergency Management Coordinator for Homeland Security.


Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention

Manages all fire code enforcement and fire inspections and records management; Performs fire protection system plan review. Coordinates with the building, mechanical and electrical inspectors to ensure safe buildings. Performs certificate of occupancy inspections and controls the Knox Box rapid-entry program. The Assistant Chief of Fire Prevention supervises the Captain of Public Affairs and four (4) Fire Marshals; Serves as the liaison to the State Fire Marshal for the jurisdiction of Allentown and is a Deputy to the Emergency Management Coordinator for Homeland Security.

Assistant Chief of Education/Training

The Assistant Chief of Education/Training serves as the Director of the Fire Academy; Responsible for associated budgets and programs. Coordinates all training of all fire personnel and City-wide emergency management resources; Serves as the Allentown Fire Department Safety Officer for incident safety and health and safety of every Firefighter. As Assistant Chief of Education/Training serves as liaison to local colleges, Fire Departments and businesses to provide interoperability and education.

Captain of Public Affairs

Coordinates all community events in relation to the Fire Department. Supervises all fire safety programs, open houses, extinguisher training and school visitations; Provides lectures for various organizations to promote fire safe residences and workplaces. The Captain of Public Affairs acts as the Information Officer for all emergency operations and public education. Inspects all health care facilities and high-rise buildings within the City to ensure a fire safe environment.