By Thomas O'Donohue
Special to Independent Newsmedia

The North County Fire & Medical District provides state-of-the-art fire/rescue protection and emergency medical services, including ambulance transportation.

NCFMD was formed in 1981 serving 50,000 residents. The current Insurance Services Office Property Protection Rating for the district is Class 1, which is the best any fire agency can receive, which places NCFMD in the top 1 percent of the more than 49,000 fire departments nationally and the first and only fire department in Arizona to have achieved this prestigious classification.

NCFMD has also achieved Accredited Agency status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and is a Premier EMS Agency and a Heart Safe Community. Sun City West and surrounding area residents are served by five strategically placed fire stations designed to keep response times as short as possible.

However, NCFMD is so much more than just emergency services. The agency’s personnel provide community outreach, education and prevention. Programs include CPR, child safety seat installation and loaner program, community education and prevention programs, residential emergency lockbox program, smoke alarm inspection program and more.

Visit www.ncfmd.az.gov, call 623-544-5400 and follow the district on social media.

Editor’s Note: Mr. O’Donohue is NCFMD division chief and fire marshal.