Chelsea Area Fire Authority

What This Data Tells You About Chelsea Area Fire Authority

Chelsea Area Fire Authority operates as a Volunteer department in Chelsea, within Washtenaw County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 32 total personnel, 1 station, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as active.

Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. Michigan has 1,274 registered fire departments and 28,594 total personnel, averaging roughly 22 staff per department. Chelsea Area Fire Authority runs 45% above that state average, signalling a larger-than-typical crew likely tied to denser population or higher call volume. The state records about 54,500 fires, 112 fire deaths, and 61% 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: Chelsea Area Fire Authority has received 2 FEMA grants totaling $713,300 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff.