Our Story — Pima County Fire
Rural Metro Fire — Our Story

Protecting Pima County since 1962

More than 50 years of showing up — built on a belief that every family deserves protection, regardless of where their property line falls.

Lou Witzeman — founding of Rural Metro Fire
1948 — The Idea

Born from a Belief That Every Family Deserves Protection

In 1948, a 22-year-old Arizona journalist named Lou Witzeman watched his neighbor's home burn to ash while no fire department came — because the house sat just outside city limits and beyond the reach of municipal protection.

Driven by the belief that every family deserves protection regardless of where their property line falls, Lou set out to change that. He was the first to build a private fire company that could operate across multiple communities, and he pioneered the idea of contracting directly with municipalities to get it done.

"It takes hard work, brains, and luck to make it in the world of privately operated fire service."

The history of Rural Metro in Arizona is proof of exactly that.

Rural Metro In Pima County
Passing the Torch
1962 - Pima County

Rural Metro Expands Into Pima County

In 1962, Rural Metro Fire expanded into Pima County, bringing professional private fire protection to the unincorporated communities north and east of Tucson that had been left underserved outside city limits. The Tucson Fire Department served those within the city, but residents in the outlying areas had no organized fire protection to call their own.

Building on a proven model of subscription-based fire service established in the Scottsdale area in 1948, our arrival in Pima County was a natural next step — the same gap that inspired our founding existed here too. Rural Metro replaced the local Catalina Fire Department, bringing a more professional and reliable alternative to communities that needed it most. Areas like the Catalina Foothills, Tanque Verde, and Sabino Canyon finally had organized, dependable fire protection.

That foothold quickly grew. As Pima County's unincorporated communities expanded through the 1960s and 1970s, so did Rural Metro's presence — adding stations, personnel, and capabilities to meet the demand. What started as fire suppression evolved to include emergency medical services, laying the groundwork for the full-service operation the department represents today.

From that foundation, Rural Metro Fire has served Pima County for more than 60 years — earning the trust of the communities it protects, one call at a time.

Pima Future
RURAL METRO PIMA TODAY

Positioned to Serve Our Community Into the Future

What began with a single station and a handful of unincorporated communities in 1962 has grown into a substantial operation. Rural Metro Fire Department today serves Pima County from six fire stations — including our newest, added in 2026 following a long-term contract with the City of South Tucson.

Today, Rural Metro Fire – Pima County responds to approximately 63,000 calls for service annually, more than 70% of which are medical emergencies. Our six stations serve unincorporated areas including the Catalina Foothills, Sabino Canyon, and Tanque Verde, as well as four fire districts — Hidden Valley, Sabino Vista, Tucson Country Club, and Tanque Verde Valley. The department provides structural and wildland fire suppression, Advanced Life Support (ALS), emergency medical services, hazardous materials response, and technical rescue. Mutual aid agreements with neighboring departments, including the Tucson Fire Department, Golder Ranch Fire District, and Northwest Fire Rescue District, ensure that Pima County residents are backed by a regional network of first responders.

In 2024, Rural Metro Fire was acquired by Brindlee Fire Services, a powerhouse in the fire service industry. Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus, its flagship operation, stands as the largest buyer, seller, and servicer of fire apparatus in the Western Hemisphere — maintaining the nation's largest on-site inventory of fire trucks, aerial units, and rescue apparatus. For Pima County residents, nothing changes except what's behind it. The same excellent service, now supported by an organization whose entire mission is built around the fire service.

Today — Still Here. Still Protecting.

From One Station in 1962 to Six Stations Across Pima County

Rural Metro Fire has been a constant in Pima County for more than 60 years. Our mission has never changed: professional, reliable fire protection built on a direct commitment to the families and communities we serve — ensuring that no corner of this county is ever left without someone to call.