The Williams Fire Department has 24-hour staffing for the first time in its 100-year history

WILLIAMS, AZ (AZFamily) – For over 100 years, the Williams Fire Department has relied on volunteers but is not staffed 24 hours a day. This has now changed for the first time since the department was founded.

“This is a great opportunity to give back to the community,” said Chase Pearson, who has volunteered with his hometown fire department since 1999. “I love it, I love my job.” I know many of the volunteers who help love their work too.”

A few years ago, he received the department’s first full-time chief position, but the rest of the station remained entirely volunteer.

Pearson says the volunteers are incredible, but because they don’t have a full staff, that can impact response time.

“All the volunteers have full-time jobs elsewhere,” he said. “So if they can’t turn in their tools or are out of town, we can’t respond as quickly as a full-time fire department.”

This year, after more than a century, they hired three full-time captains to have someone on station 24 hours a day to help supervise volunteers.

“These are historic changes,” Pearson said. “My starting position was a big change for Williams.”

Pearson said increased tourism when fire danger is high is the main reason for the additional positions.

“In recent years we have seen a huge influx of tourists, especially in summer,” he said. “Then we have the greatest risk of fire.”

Tourism tax money also helps finance the new positions.

“The people who have always lived here have tried to shift the tax burden onto the tourist population, which has actually led to the increased requests for service,” Pearson said.

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