Seward residents can rest easy knowing our fire departments are always on the job. Whether it’s a house fire, a marine emergency, or helping train new volunteers, the teams at Seward, Lowell Point, and Bear Creek are ready to respond — day or night.

Seward may be a small town, but it’s served by three reliable fire departments: one right in downtown, another at Lowell Point, and a third at Bear Creek along the Seward Highway. Each department has its own area: Bear Creek covers the flood zone, Lowell Point looks after that community, and Seward Fire Department handles calls within city limits. That said, these teams often work together. For any structural or marine fire, all three departments — and the Seward Volunteer Ambulance Corps — are automatically dispatched. They also join forces for training exercises to keep skills sharp.

Lately, all three departments have responded to several major calls. On April 22, just after 4 a.m., an automatic dispatch sent all four agencies to a fire at Bear Lake. The building was empty, and thanks to Seward Fire Department’s 24-hour staffing, help arrived fast.

A few days later, on May 2 at 12:26 a.m., another automatic dispatch came in from the Seward Marine Industrial Center (SMIC), with reports that two people might be trapped on a ship hauled out for repairs. Firefighters from Seward and Bear Creek split up to search the boat, eventually finding a frightened woman in the stairwell; she was taken to the hospital by the ambulance crew. The fire was extinguished with help from the Lowell Point tanker.

The departments also responded to a fire at SMIC caused by a battery charger. Luckily, the owner was nearby and put the fire out before it spread. And just last week, an automatic dispatch sent crews to Seward Harbor after a Good Samaritan reported thick black smoke — turns out it was just a cold engine start on a day boat, but it’s a reminder to boat owners to keep both carbon dioxide and smoke detectors on board, as Chief Crites recommends.

Along with emergency calls, the fire departments are busy training volunteers. Eight people recently completed the Firefighter I course, and 12 finished training on driving and operating fire trucks and pumps. They practiced moving water from tanks, pumps, and even ponds. Working with Providence Seward Medical Center, the departments also held a Hazardous Materials Decontamination class to help prepare for chemical exposures — from fuel spills to pepper spray — before patients are moved to hospital decontamination tents. More training is coming this fall, including advanced EMT, fire instructor, and officer classes.

Is this pace normal? Not at all. Chief Crites says call numbers are way up — 213 so far this year, compared to the usual low 100s. He points to the rise in tourism, noting that cruise ship calls alone add another 70 to 75 emergencies each summer.

Bottom line: Sewardites are in good hands. Our fire departments are dedicated, well-trained, and always ready to protect the community.

Photos by Chief Crites. Driver Pumper Training / HazMat Training