About Fire / EMS
Jackson Hole Fire/EMS is a full service emergency response organization which manages the fire protection and emergency medical services system for the Town of Jackson and Teton County, Wyoming. This combination department was organized through a 2004 Joint Powers Agreement between the Town of Jackson and Teton County.
Description of Services Provided
Jackson Hole Fire/EMS provides comprehensive emergency response services, including responses to medical emergencies, structure fires, wildland fires, and hazardous incidents. The organization also engages in emergency management, fire prevention, code enforcement, electrical safety inspection, public education, and training. JHFEMS boasts a robust team of 114 members, consisting of 46 career staff and 68 volunteers.
JHFEMS operates out of six stations, two of which are staffed by career personnel. Each station has a Type 1 engine, a tender with a 3,000-gallon capacity, and various wildland units (Types 3 and 6). JHFEMS also operates rescue trucks and five transport ambulances offering advanced life support. Additional resources include a 100-foot aerial, hazmat units, mass casualty trailers equipped for 50 patients, and a tactical EMS (TEMS) team that ensures 24/7 emergency response.
Station 1 (Jackson) is equipped with Engine 11 and Medic 10 and staffed by a three-person crew, while Station 6 (Moose-Wilson Road) is equipped with Engine 61 and Medic 60 and is staffed by a three-person crew. Both stations operate with A-B-C shifts on a 48/96 schedule at the paramedic level. The operations staff in fire stations are supervised by company officers and a battalion chief.
The Prevention Division is active in reviewing plans for new construction projects and conducting electrical permits, plan reviews, and inspections (over 2,000 annually). They also review wildland-urban interface areas and fire systems, including fire sprinklers, fire alarms, and commercial cooking systems. Annual maintenance inspections are prioritized based on risk, and the division also handles fire investigations and car seat inspections. Public education and school programs are key components of their prevention strategy.
The Training Division is responsible for overseeing a comprehensive training program tailored to fire and EMS education, as well as professional development. This division manages certifications for EMR, EMT, EMT-I, paramedics, firefighters, apparatus operators, and fire officers, as well as commercial driver's licenses. Training also handles specialty certifications such as hazmat technician, swift water rescue technician, and rope rescue certification.
Additionally, the Training Division maintains thorough records on all certifications, training sessions, and physical fitness evaluations. It is responsible for the oversight of the training facility and the development of training programs. This division is managed by one captain who coordinates training efforts and utilizes expertise from available operations personnel to address any instructional needs that arise.
Teton County Emergency Management (TCEM) operates as a division of Jackson Hole Fire/EMS. The responsibilities of TCEM encompass all phases of emergency management, including preparedness, response, recovery, and mitigation, specifically for Teton County. Additionally, TCEM extends these services to the Town of Jackson through an emergency management resolution. The division collaborates with local, state, and federal agencies, as well as non-governmental organizations, to develop, maintain, and implement a range of emergency plans. Furthermore, TCEM provides training and develops emergency exercises for both citizens and first responders. The division is staffed by two full-time employees: the emergency management manager, who is nominated by the Board of County Commissioners and appointed by the governor in accordance with state statute; and an emergency management program coordinator.
JHFEMS collaborates with multiple entities, including the National Park Service, the United States Forest Service, Wyoming State Forestry, Teton Village Fire District, Jackson Hole Airport Fire Department, Teton County (Idaho) Fire Protection District, St. John’s Health, the Teton Conservation District, non-profits, industry partners, and individual landowners.
Areas of Operation
The department operates in the areas of:
- Code enforcement
- Electrical safety
- Emergency response to fires, medical emergencies, and hazardous incidents
- Fire prevention
- General administration
- Public education
- Training
- Wildfire mitigation
Strategic Plan
Jackson Hole Fire EMS Strategic Plan 2025
Standards of Cover
Service Area Population and Demographics
The Jackson Hole Fire/EMS response area and defined boundaries are not straightforward. JHFEMS works closely with the National Park Service, United States Forest Service, Wyoming State Forestry, Teton Village Fire District, Jackson Hole Airport Fire Department, and Teton County (Idaho) to provide first-due response, mutual aid, and automatic aid to Teton County, WY. Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park provide EMS, wildland, and structure fire response. Within the National Forest, the USFS provides only wildland fire response, while Jackson Hole Fire/EMS handles all EMS and structure fire response.
Funding
Jackson Hole Fire/EMS Department (JHFEMS) is an organization that is jointly managed and funded by two separate governmental organizations, Teton County, and the Town of Jackson. Formal joint governance of the organization is outlined in a Joint Power Agreement (JPA). Funding is provided on a 44%/56% basis from the Town of Jackson and Teton County.
For administrative purposes, the department is considered a division of the Teton County government. Department members are employees or volunteers for the county, and all department finances are handled through the county’s finance processes with the fire department finances managed through a separate special governmental fund.
Procedurally, the JHFEMS budget is approved as a part of the county’s budgeting processes. However, the department’s budget must be approved by both the County and the Town. Budgeted funds from both entities end up through transfers into the county’s Fire/EMS fund where all fire department finances are managed including capital expenditures.