Authority Member Agency Profiles
In February 2017, the Governing Boards of North County Fire & Medical District (formerly Fire District of Sun City West and Wittmann Fire District) and South County Fire & Medical District (formerly the Sun Lakes and Tonopah Fire Districts) approved the adoption of an Intergovernmental Agreement forming the first Fire & Medical Authority in Maricopa County, Arizona. The Arizona Fire & Medical Authority (AFMA) was established pursuant to Arizona Revised Statutes governing a Joint Powers Authority (JPA). In 2023, Buckeye Valley Fire District became a third partner agency under the Authority. Under this model, the districts retain local control over their budgets and services provided while maintaining separate tax rates. However, the personnel, equipment, facilities and daily operations of the combined districts are governed by a JPA or Authority Governing Board. The Authority Governing Board is comprised of seven governing board members who are appointed from each partner agency in the JPA with the goal of providing equitable representation. Two board members are appointed by each partner agency with a seventh board member appointed by the AFMA Governing Board.
The Buckeye Valley Fire District (AFMA Battalion 321) became a third partner member under the Authority in 2023. The District includes the communities of Arlington, Arco, Buckeye Valley, Camelback Garden Farms, Hopeville, Liberty, Litchfield Farms, Palo Verde, Rainbow Valley, Savannah, Sunora, Sweetwater, and Valencia. The District protects 28,300 residents over a 134 square mile coverage area.
The Buckeye Valley Fire District also provides Ambulance Transport Services to 202,600 residents in surrounding areas covering 2,519 square miles.
North County Fire & Medical District
The North County Fire & Medical District (AFMA Battalion 331) was formed in 1981. The District includes the communities of Coldwater Ranch, Corte Bella, Cross River, Dos Rios, Pinnacle Peak County Island, Rancho Cabrillo, Rancho Silverado, Rio Sierra, Sun City West, Wittmann, and other areas in the northern portions of Maricopa County. Since the formation of the District, it has grown to protect 49,800 residents within a 73 square mile coverage area.
The current Insurance Services Office (ISO) Property Protection Rating for the District is Class 1*.
South County Fire & Medical District
The South County Fire & Medical District (AFMA Battalion 341) was formed in January 2019 through the merger of the Sun Lakes and Tonopah Valley Fire Districts. The Sun Lakes area protects 15,600 residents across a six square mile coverage area. The Tonopah areas now protects 3,000 residents over a 66 square mile area.
The current Insurance Services Office (ISO) Property Protection Rating for the Sun Lakes community is Class 1* and Class 4Y* in the Tonopah area.
*(1 = superior / 10 = does not meet minimum criteria), which places the District in the top 1% of more than 49,000 fire departments nationally and the first department in Arizona to ever have achieved this prestigious classification. The North County Fire & Medical District has also achieved Accredited Agency status by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI).