ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED
Bryson City, NC · Swain County
ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED is a Volunteer department serving Bryson City, NC (Swain County), with 1 station and 21 total personnel. Full equipment, coverage, and staffing data from HIFLD are below.
- 21
- Total personnel
- 1
- Stations
- —
- Fire trucks
- No
- EMS service
(26/dept)
of 953 NC depts
staffing density
AFG / SAFER
Department Profile
- Type
- VOLUNTEER
- Location
- Bryson City, NC
- County
- Swain County
- FDID
- 08704
FEMA Grant History
| Year | Award | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | EMW2010FF00592 | $-2,795 |
Source: USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER) USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER)
Staffing vs the North Carolina average
How ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED's personnel count compares to the typical department in North Carolina. It is larger than 4% of the 953 reporting departments statewide.
- Stations
- 1
- State fire deaths/yr
- 131
- NC departments
- 1,534
What This Data Tells You About ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED
ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED operates as a Volunteer department in Bryson City, within Swain County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 21 total personnel, 1 station, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as not provided, which directly affects how medical calls in the service area are routed and how quickly an advanced life support unit can reach a patient. Department type matters because career, volunteer, and combination organizations carry very different response-time profiles and funding sources.
Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. North Carolina has 1,534 registered fire departments and 40,350 total personnel, averaging roughly 26 staff per department. ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED runs 19% below that state average, signalling a leaner crew typical of smaller jurisdictions or heavily volunteer-staffed areas. The state records about 62,800 fires, 131 fire deaths, and 57% volunteer coverage each year, which shapes training, funding priorities, and mutual-aid patterns felt at every department in the state.
Federal investment further defines this department's trajectory: ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $-2,795 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff. Residents, insurers, and mutual-aid partners use these data points to judge whether coverage is adequate for the built environment, whether ISO ratings are defensible, and where future capital investment should flow. All figures on this page come from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) public dataset, USFA published statistics, and USAspending.gov, and are presented without editing so the underlying federal record remains transparent and verifiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many firefighters does ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED have? ▼
ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED has 21 total personnel according to HIFLD data. This is 19% below the North Carolina average of 26 per department.
Does ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED provide EMS services? ▼
ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED does not provide EMS. A separate EMS agency likely covers this area.
How many fire stations does ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED operate? ▼
ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED operates 1 fire station.
What type of fire department is ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED? ▼
ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED is a Volunteer department serving Swain County, NC. Volunteer departments rely on community members who serve without full-time compensation.
Has ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED received federal grants? ▼
Yes, ALARKA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT INCORPORATED has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $-2,795 through the AFG and SAFER programs. The most recent grant was in fiscal year 2011.
How many fire departments are in North Carolina? ▼
North Carolina has 1,534 fire departments with 40,350 total personnel. 57% are volunteer departments.
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Related Fire Data
Data from HIFLD Open Data (FEMA/DHS). Not all departments report equally.
Nearby Departments
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Related
Federal data sources
- HIFLD Fire Stations (DHS/CISA) — station inventory, personnel, and apparatus counts.
- USFA National Fire Department Registry (FEMA) — department-type classification and federal registration.
- FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants — federal grant award history.
- NFPA 1710 / NFPA 1720 — career and volunteer response benchmarks.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from FEMA/DHS HIFLD Open Data. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.