Altoona City Fire Department

What This Data Tells You About Altoona City Fire Department

Altoona City Fire Department operates as a Volunteer department in Altoona, within Polk County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 38 total personnel, 1 station, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as active.

Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. Iowa has 810 registered fire departments and 16,337 total personnel, averaging roughly 20 staff per department. Altoona City Fire Department runs 90% above that state average, signalling a larger-than-typical crew likely tied to denser population or higher call volume. The state records about 22,700 fires, 39 fire deaths, and 70% 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: Altoona City Fire Department has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $709,129.62 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff.