County profile
Polk County, IA 22 departments
985 HIFLD personnel across 22 departments in Polk County · #1 of 99 in-state.
Polk County, IA carries a heavy HIFLD roster (985 personnel across 22 departments) - #1 of 99 in-state; mix 2/14/0 career/volunteer/combination.
- Personnel rank #1 of 99 in Iowa
- 3.05 stations per 100 personnel
- 31% of roster in Des Moines Fire and Rescue Department
- 19 of 22 depts provide EMS
- 22 of 810 Iowa departments statewide
Fire Departments in Polk County
Coverage desk
Roster-weight lane (985 personnel) - station density and largest-book share from HIFLD.
Staffing mix: 2 career, 14 volunteer, 0 combination (64% volunteer).
3.05 stations per 100 HIFLD personnel (30 stations / 985 roster).
Largest book: Des Moines Fire and Rescue Department holds 31% of county personnel (310 of 985).
Photo-finish peer: St Clair County, IL (+0 personnel).
FAQ
How many firefighters serve Polk County? ▼
Polk County has 985 total fire department personnel across 22 departments. The average per department is 45, which is 125% above the Iowa average.
How many fire departments are in Polk County, IA? ▼
Polk County, IA has 22 fire departments with available federal data. 2 career, 14 volunteer, By total reported personnel it ranks #1 of 99 among Iowa counties with at least one listed department.
Are Polk County fire departments mostly volunteer? ▼
Yes, 14 of 22 departments (64%) in Polk County are volunteer.
Does Polk County have EMS coverage? ▼
Yes - 20 departments in Polk County provide EMS services.
Nationwide counties with similar fire coverage
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, National Fire Department Registry NFDR (National Fire Department Registry) · 2024 Personnel totals for Polk County sum HIFLD roster fields (career + volunteer) where reported.