The Department

Fridley’s fire department was organized in 1951 and staffed by volunteer firefighters until the 1960’s when a full time Chief, Assistant Chief and three paid firefighters were added. Today, the department is staffed by 29 paid on call firefighters, a Chief, Assistant Chief-Operations, Fire Marshal, Rental Property Division Administrator, Administrative Assistant, and four full time firefighters.

The main station is centrally located at University Avenue and Mississippi Street and is staffed 24 hours per day by fulltime and paid on call firefighters. There are two “neighborhood” or satellite fire stations, each with two truck bays and dormitory/living quarters, and a main station which has five truck bays, offices, and meeting rooms.

The equipment roster includes three engine companies, a 100 foot platform aerial, one medium duty and four light duty rescue trucks, an extended cab pickup, and a staff car. The department also has a Zodiac rescue boat and hazardous materials response trailers. The department services over 2,500 calls per year. Approximately 1600 are medicals.

Emergency Response

Response times average 4 to 5 minutes for medical emergencies, and 5 to 7 minutes for fires. All areas of the City have hydrants and are supplied by an excellent reservoir and distribution system. Because a significant portion of the community is industrial and commercial, the department maintains one of the stronger hazardous materials response services in the County. The department has maintained an I.S.O. Class 3 rating since 1991. Its last survey was in 2002.

Inter-Agency Cooperation

Relationships with other agencies include:

• Joint powers ownership and operation of a Fire Training Center located in the City.
• Joint ownership of a hazardous materials decontamination trailer.
• Membership in the Anoka County Fire Protection Council.
• Staffing of the North Metro Chemical Assessment Team with neighboring Coon Rapids and Spring Lake Park/Blaine/Mounds View fire departments.
• Membership in the North Suburban Regional Mutual Aid Association.
• Automatic aid response with three other communities to structure fires in any of the four communities.
• North Metro Specialized Rescue Team (NMSRT)

Community Support Programs

Community Support programs include participation in National Night Out, Safety Camp, blood pressure testing, in school education programs, fire station tours, providing a fire vehicle and personnel at local businesses having “community safety” events, a “Ride Along” program for residents, Fire Prevention Week open house, a Firefighter Explorer program, a smoke detector installation service for qualified residents, home fire safety counseling, and providing speakers to schools and community service organizations.

Inter-Departmental Cooperation

The fire department enjoys a very strong working relationship with the Fridley Police Department, as well as the other City departments. Joint response with the police is common for most fire department emergency service calls. The police department’s Public Safety Director serves as the City’s Emergency Management Director.

Permits for Commercial and Residential Rental Properties

For information on permits for all commercial property fire alarms, sprinkler systems, lock boxes please contact the Fire Marshal. 

For information on permits for residential rental properties,multiple family dwellings, etc. please contact the Assistant Fire Chief.

Follow this link to downdoad a copy of the Minnesota State Fire Code Construction Application for Permit.

Link to fee table for permit

Fire Department History

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