Minnesota's fire service is a patchwork of full-time city departments, paid-on-call crews, and all-volunteer companies. One truck might cover a downtown Minneapolis high-rise, while another covers logging roads in the Arrowhead. Which department answers your call depends on your address, not on a statewide map. This page explains how the system fits together, who regulates what, and how to reach the right station for everyday business such as burn permits, inspections, and smoke alarm help. For an emergency, always call 911 first.

Our database lists 1,311 fire-related offices across the state, from Station 4 in Duluth to the Odin Fire Department in Watonwan County. Treat each listing as a starting point. Staffing, phone lines, and office hours change often, especially in small towns where the "office" may be a single apparatus bay.

Who Runs and Funds Fire Protection Across Minnesota

Minnesota has no statewide fire department. Fire protection is a local responsibility, and the state sets rules rather than sending trucks. Cities, townships, and joint powers boards create departments, and local budgets pay for them, mainly through property taxes. Neighboring communities often share costs. A township might contract with a nearby city, or several townships might form a fire district with its own board.

The state's role sits mostly with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Its State Fire Marshal Division administers the Minnesota State Fire Code, investigates serious or suspicious fires, and inspects certain facilities such as schools and licensed care homes. Departments also report their incidents to the state through a standard reporting system, which is how Minnesota tracks fire trends. Training and certification standards for firefighters are supported by the Minnesota Board of Firefighter Training and Education.

Many volunteer departments also have a separate firefighter relief association. This is a nonprofit that manages retirement-style benefits for volunteers. It is distinct from the city or township, so you may see two names tied to one station. For a resident, the practical point is simple: the city clerk or township clerk is the right contact for questions about service contracts, fire fees, and which department is "first due" at your address.

Insurance companies also rate local fire protection, using a class scale from 1 to 10 set by the Insurance Services Office. Distance to the nearest station and access to water can affect the class your home falls into, and that can affect premiums. If you are buying in a rural area, ask your insurance agent which station is responsible and what class applies.

Metro Career Departments and Rural Volunteer Crews in Minnesota

The Twin Cities core is served by full-time career departments in Minneapolis and Saint Paul. Our database holds 47 listings under Minneapolis alone, mostly stations and related offices, plus 27 under St. Paul. Suburbs ring the core with their own departments. Eagan's headquarters at 3795 Pilot Knob Road, Apple Valley Station 2, and Farmington Station 1 all sit in Dakota County. Maple Grove Station 3 is in Hennepin County, and Andover Station 2 is in Anoka County. Many suburban departments blend career staff with paid-on-call firefighters, so staffing differs from station to station.

Greater Minnesota looks different. In most small cities and townships, firefighters are volunteers or paid-on-call members who carry pagers and respond from home or work. Examples in our listings include the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department near Winona, the Ellsburg Volunteer Fire Department in Cotton, and the Colvill Area Volunteer Fire Department on Highway 61 in Cook County. Their phones may ring to a cell phone or a municipal office, and nobody may be at the station during the day. Leave a message for routine matters and rely on 911 for anything urgent.

St. Louis County stretches from Duluth to the Canadian border and has more listings than any other county because it holds so many small communities. Duluth runs a career department, while Ely, Cotton, and many Iron Range towns are served by smaller crews. Specialized entries appear too, such as the Chisholm-Hibbing Airport Fire Department, listed at the airfield on Minnesota 37, which exists for aircraft rescue rather than neighborhood calls. The Bovey Fire Department in Itasca County is another small-town department covering a wide rural area.

Our listings use the postal city, so a station can appear under a neighboring name. Coon Rapids Fire Department Station 1 is listed under Minneapolis, Mendota Heights Fire Department shows a St. Paul mailing city, and Amboy Volunteer Fire Department appears under Mankato. A few entries also carry phone numbers with out-of-state area codes. If a number does not connect, check the city or county website before assuming the department has closed.

Minnesota Rules on Smoke Alarms, Open Burning, and Fireworks

Several state rules come up in everyday calls to the fire station. Minnesota law requires working smoke alarms in homes and carbon monoxide alarms near sleeping areas. In rentals, landlords are generally responsible for supplying the alarms, while tenants are expected to keep them working and report problems. Many stations will answer questions about placement, and some help residents who cannot reach the ceiling or afford a new unit. Call ahead, since programs vary by department.

Open burning is the other big topic. In many parts of the state, brush burning needs a permit whenever snow is not covering the ground. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources handles permits in much of the rural and forested north, and some cities and townships issue their own through a fire chief or fire warden. Burn restrictions tighten during dry spells, and spring is the highest-risk season for grass and wildfire. Never assume yesterday's permit is still valid. Check restrictions the same morning. Backyard recreational fires are usually treated differently from brush piles, and city ordinances set size and distance limits.

Fireworks are limited. Minnesota allows certain ground-based, non-explosive items such as sparklers and fountains, but aerial devices, firecrackers, and bottle rockets are not legal for consumers. Cities and parks can add rules of their own. Public displays call for professional operators and local approval, usually coordinated with the fire department.

How to Reach the Right Minnesota Station for Non-Emergency Needs

Start with your address. Dispatch in Minnesota runs through county or regional 911 centers, which assign each property to a station. If you are unsure which department covers you, ask your city or township clerk, or call the county sheriff's non-emergency line. Then match the task to the office:

Many volunteer stations are unstaffed, so showing up unannounced can mean a locked door. Call first, leave your name and number, and give a nearest cross road if you have a rural address. For in-person visits, bring photo ID, your address, and any permit number or incident date.

To narrow your search, browse by county. St. Louis County has the widest spread, from Duluth to Ely. Hennepin County covers Minneapolis and western suburbs such as Maple Grove. Dakota County includes Eagan, Apple Valley, Farmington, and Mendota Heights, and Itasca County includes Bovey and the Grand Rapids area.

Fire departments across Minnesota range from large career departments in major cities to volunteer departments serving small rural communities, all operating under state fire codes and local ordinances to protect residents from fire and emergency hazards.

Fire Departments locations are available in 708 cities across Minnesota. They are spread across 87 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Minneapolis, Duluth, St. Paul, which have multiple fire stations strategically located to maintain rapid response times for their dense populations.

Residents of Minnesota should know your local fire department's non-emergency phone number so you can request burn permits, safety inspections, and community programs without tying up the 911 emergency line.

Fire Departments by Counties

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Residents of Minnesota planning any outdoor burning should contact their local fire department for open burning regulations and permit requirements, which can vary significantly by county and season due to drought conditions and fire danger ratings.

Browse Fire Departments by county across Minnesota to find the nearest location.

Seasonal Fire Risks Across Minnesota, From the Arrowhead to the Twin Cities

Minnesota's weather drives its fire calls. Winter brings heating fires from space heaters, chimneys, and overloaded extension cords, and deep snow can bury hydrants. Many departments ask neighbors to shovel out the nearest hydrant. Ice-fishing houses with portable heaters add another cold-season hazard on the state's lakes.

Spring is the busiest wildfire season. Once the snow melts and before the grass greens up, dry fuel ignites easily in the northern forests and across western farmland. Local departments work alongside DNR Forestry crews on larger fires, and the 2021 Greenwood Fire in northeastern Minnesota was a recent reminder of how far a forest fire can spread. History offers harder lessons. Carlton County is where the 1918 Cloquet fire killed hundreds, and today the Scanlon Volunteer Fire Department on Dewey Avenue is one of the crews listed for the Cloquet area.

Summer and fall bring lightning strikes, grill fires, and cabin and campfire incidents near the lakes. In the suburbs, growth is the story. Anoka County departments in Coon Rapids and Andover serve dense neighborhoods, where response times depend on short distances between stations and clear address signage. Whatever the season, a working alarm, a plowed driveway, and a visible house number help crews reach you quickly.

Fire Department Questions Minnesota Residents Ask

Start with the city or township clerk, who knows which department or fire district serves your property. If you live in an unincorporated area, call your county's non-emergency dispatch line or the sheriff's office, since county 911 centers assign every address to a station. Real estate paperwork and insurance documents may also name the responding department. Because some stations are listed under a postal city, a department can look like it belongs to a neighboring town, so confirm by phone. In rural areas, post a clear 911 address number at the driveway so crews can find you.

In many parts of the state, yes, whenever snow is not covering the ground. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources issues permits across much of rural and forested Minnesota, and some cities and townships rely on a local fire chief or fire warden instead. Many cities prohibit brush burning altogether and allow only small recreational fires in a ring. During dry weather, restrictions can tighten and permits can be suspended. Before you light anything, check with your local department and review current DNR restrictions. If a fire escapes, you may be held liable for suppression costs and damage.

Both. Large cities such as Minneapolis, Saint Paul, Duluth, and Rochester operate career departments with full-time crews. Many suburbs, including several in Dakota and Anoka counties, combine career and paid-on-call staff. Across greater Minnesota, most departments rely on volunteers or paid-on-call members who respond by pager from home or work. Listings like the Scanlon Volunteer Fire Department near Cloquet and the Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department near Winona reflect that model. For you, the difference mostly affects who answers the phone and when. Emergency response through 911 works the same way regardless of how a department is staffed.

State law calls for working smoke alarms on each level of a home and near sleeping areas, plus carbon monoxide alarms within 10 feet of bedrooms. Landlords generally must supply the alarms, and tenants should test them and tell the landlord promptly if one fails. Battery-only smoke alarms sold for homes are typically sealed 10-year units. Alarms wear out, so replace them according to the date printed on the label. Your local fire department can often answer placement questions, and some stations offer help with installation. Call the non-emergency number to ask what your department offers.

Contact the department that responded, or the city or township clerk if the department has no records office. Fire reports are generally handled under the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, which makes many records public but protects some details, such as certain medical or personal information. Be ready to give the address, the date, and your connection to the incident. Insurance adjusters often request reports directly, so ask what they need. For major fires investigated by the State Fire Marshal Division, that office may hold separate records. Small volunteer departments may route requests through city hall.

Minnesota permits a limited set of ground-based, non-explosive consumer items, such as sparklers and fountains. Aerial devices, firecrackers, and bottle rockets are not legal for consumers. Cities, parks, and campgrounds can add their own restrictions, and burn bans during dry periods may apply as well. Always keep water or a hose nearby, and never relight a dud. Public displays are a different matter, since they require professional operators and local approval, typically coordinated with the fire department or city. If you are unsure about a particular product, ask your local station before the holiday rather than after.

Small departments sometimes change phone lines when a chief or clerk changes, and a few directory entries use postal cities or out-of-state area codes. Check the city, township, or county website, or call the county sheriff's non-emergency line to ask who provides fire protection in that area. You can also contact the clerk at city hall. If you need help right now, dial 911 and do not wait on a callback. Once you find a working number, save it with your emergency contacts.