South Bend Fire Dept
The South Bend Fire Department is a municipal, ISO Class 1 all-hazards emergency response agency employing 256 full-time firefighters across four divisions. It serves approximately 103,000 residents of South Bend, Indiana across 42+ square miles, answering about 24,000 calls per year.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1853
- HeadquartersSouth Bend, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What South Bend Fire Dept does
The South Bend Fire Department (SBFD) is a municipal government entity and career-oriented, all-hazards emergency response agency serving the City of South Bend, Indiana. Founded on January 29, 1853 as an unpaid volunteer force, it became a full-time paid department in 1887 and today employs 256 full-time firefighters organized across four divisions: Training, Fire Prevention & Community Risk Reduction (CRR), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and Services. The department is led by Fire Chief Carl R. Buchanon, who joined in 1986 and commands a specialized leadership team of five Assistant Chiefs and six Battalion Chiefs covering three shifts.
The department's service portfolio spans fire suppression, emergency medical services, water rescue, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, fire investigation, commercial building inspection, public education, and community paramedicine. It answers approximately 24,000 calls annually across a service area of more than 42 square miles, serving a population of just over 103,000 residents and businesses. The department holds the ISO Class 1 rating, the highest classification issued by the Insurance Services Office for fire suppression capabilities.
As a division of the City of South Bend government, SBFD is funded through municipal tax revenues and city budget allocations rather than direct user fees. Services are accessed through 911 for emergencies and the 311 Service Portal for non-emergency requests (fire reports, ambulance patient care reports, commercial inspections, Free Smoke Alarm Program). The department's headquarters is at 1222 South Michigan Street, with fire stations strategically distributed throughout the service area.
South Bend Fire Dept firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- South Bend Fire Dept
- Legal name
- South Bend Fire Department
- Website
- https://joinsbfd.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1853
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- The South Bend Fire Department is a municipal, ISO Class 1 all-hazards emergency response agency employing 256 full-time firefighters across four divisions. It serves approximately 103,000 residents of South Bend, Indiana across 42+ square miles, answering about 24,000 calls per year.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
South Bend Fire Dept industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Fire and Emergency Services
- NAICS
- Fire Protection (92216), Ambulance Services (62191)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue) (BPAIAGAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Fire Prevention, Inspection & Code Enforcement (Life Safety) (BPAIAGAL), Community Safety Administration (Fire/EMS, Emergency Management) (BPAIACAL)
Keywords
Where South Bend Fire Dept is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- South Bend
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
South Bend Fire Dept business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Municipal Tax Funding: As a City of South Bend government department, the South Bend Fire Department is funded through municipal tax revenues and city budget allocations. Services are provided to residents as public safety services without direct charges.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels3 records
South Bend Fire Dept product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The South Bend Fire Department is a career-oriented, all-hazards municipal emergency response agency providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, water rescue, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, fire investigation, building inspection, public education, and community paramedicine to the residents and businesses of South Bend, Indiana. The department employs 256 full-time firefighters organized in four divisions and answers approximately 24,000 calls annually across more than 42 square miles. Services are funded through municipal taxes and accessed via 911 for emergencies and the 311 city services portal for non-emergency requests.
Product overview
The South Bend Fire Department is a career-oriented, all-hazard emergency response agency that provides a comprehensive portfolio of public safety services. The department operates as a unified emergency services organization offering fire suppression, emergency medical services (EMS), specialized rescue operations (water rescue, hazardous materials, technical rescue), fire investigation, building inspection, public education, and community paramedicine. The department is organized into four main divisions: Training Division, Fire Prevention & Community Risk Reduction (CRR) Division, Emergency Medical Services Division, and Services Division. Key administrative services include commercial fire inspections, fire report requests, ambulance patient care report requests, and the Free Smoke Alarm Program. The department employs 256 full-time firefighters and answers approximately 24,000 calls annually across 42 square miles serving a population of just over 103,000.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Fire Suppression Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Approximately 24,000 calls answered annually
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use South Bend Fire Dept
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
South Bend Fire Dept technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
South Bend Fire Dept partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators5 records
Recent moves3 records
Expansion highlights3 records
South Bend Fire Dept competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Evansville Fire Department: Indiana municipal fire department providing fire suppression, EMS, hazmat, fire investigation, and prevention services. Comparable peer operating under the same state regulatory framework with similar all-hazards delivery model.
- Rockford Fire Department: Illinois municipal fire department serving a similar population size with fire suppression, EMS, hazmat, technical rescue, and community risk reduction. Comparable Midwestern all-hazards operation.
- Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety: Michigan municipal public safety agency providing fire suppression, EMS, and rescue services to a similar population. Comparable in service delivery model and scale.
- Dayton Fire Department: Ohio municipal fire department providing fire suppression, EMS, technical rescue, hazmat, and community risk reduction services to a comparable urban population. Directly comparable operational profile.
- Indianapolis Fire Department: Indiana's largest municipal fire department providing all-hazards emergency response including fire suppression, EMS, hazmat, technical rescue, and community risk reduction. Most directly comparable peer given shared state regulatory environment and overlapping service categories.
- Lansing Fire Department: Michigan municipal fire department providing comprehensive emergency services to a comparable state-capital-adjacent population. Comparable in scope and tax-funded municipal structure.
- Fort Wayne Fire Department: Indiana municipal fire department serving a similar Midwestern population (~265,000) with all-hazards response. Directly comparable in service mix, jurisdictional model, and operational structure to SBFD.
- Toledo Department of Fire and Rescue: Midwestern municipal fire department serving a similar population size with all-hazards emergency response. Comparable in scope, training structure, and community risk reduction focus.
- Akron Fire Department: Midwestern municipal fire department delivering all-hazards response across fire, EMS, and specialized rescue services. Comparable in service breadth and tax-funded municipal delivery model.
Regional players
- South Bend Township Fire Department: Adjacent fire protection entity serving the township surrounding South Bend. Comparable in service categories but operates in a different geographic jurisdiction, making it a regional rather than direct municipal peer.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
South Bend Fire Dept social profiles
Digital presenceSouth Bend Fire Dept financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
South Bend Fire Dept leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
South Bend Fire Dept funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
South Bend Fire Dept M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about South Bend Fire Dept
What does South Bend Fire Dept do?
The South Bend Fire Department is a career-oriented, all-hazards municipal emergency response agency providing fire suppression, emergency medical services, water rescue, hazardous materials response, technical rescue, fire investigation, building inspection, public education, and community paramedicine to the residents and businesses of South Bend, Indiana. The department employs 256 full-time firefighters organized in four divisions and answers approximately 24,000 calls annually across more than 42 square miles. Services are funded through municipal taxes and accessed via 911 for emergencies and the 311 city services portal for non-emergency requests.
Is South Bend Fire Dept a public or private company?
South Bend Fire Dept is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was South Bend Fire Dept founded?
South Bend Fire Dept was founded in 1853. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is South Bend Fire Dept based?
South Bend Fire Dept is headquartered in South Bend, United States, in the North America region.
How does South Bend Fire Dept make money?
One revenue line is on record: municipal Tax Funding.
Who are South Bend Fire Dept's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Evansville Fire Department, Rockford Fire Department, Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety, Dayton Fire Department, Indianapolis Fire Department, Lansing Fire Department, Fort Wayne Fire Department, Toledo Department of Fire and Rescue and Akron Fire Department. South Bend Township Fire Department is listed as a regional player.
Does South Bend Fire Dept have an API?
No public API is recorded for South Bend Fire Dept.
What industry is South Bend Fire Dept in?
South Bend Fire Dept's product category is Fire and Emergency Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAIAGAB, Fire & Rescue Services (Fire Suppression, Rescue), with a secondary code of BPAIAGAL, Fire Prevention, Inspection & Code Enforcement (Life Safety). Its NAICS code is 92216.