The Augusta Department of Public Safety (ADPS) Fire Division is made up of six full-time Safety Officers, which consists of a Major, who is the division commander and a Sergeant who assists with keeping the division running properly. In addition, the division is supplemented by approximately 30 volunteer firefighters and a compliment of Junior Firefighters.

The Fire Division Officers work 12 hour shifts (7 am to 7 pm and 7pm to 7am) with the exception of the Fire Division Major and the Fire Division Sergeant who are assigned to 8 hour shifts. There are two ten hour shifts mixed in each pay period so that the total hours worked for the pay period (two weeks) does not exceed 80 scheduled hours of work.

The ADPS Fire Division is responsible for Fire Protection for 144 square miles of Southern Butler County. Integrated into this area is the City of Augusta. In addition to being a Safety Department, we cover both a City fire district and a County Fire District, which is Butler County Fire District #2. The Fire Division also is part of the Butler County Rescue Squad and we serve the southeastern 1/3 of the County for Rescue Services.

The Fire Division houses apparatus owned by both the City of Augusta and Butler County Fire District #2. The city owns two Engines and a 55-foot Aerial. The fire district owns 4 pickups (grass fire rigs), 1 multi-purpose pickup, two Engines, a Tanker, and a Rescue truck that is funded by the County Rescue Squad. A command bus is jointly owned by the City and the County.

The Fire Division responds to just over 400 alarms per year. These alarms consist of fire calls, rescue calls, and service calls.

The Firefighters also train at least once per month. During this training, both the paid officers and the volunteers get together for training on all aspects of firefighting and emergency services.

The Fire Division also gives fire prevention programs and station tours to schools, day cares, businesses, and other groups who request information. For more information, call 775-4500.