Photos: South Tucson has full time fire coverage again
A recent contract with Rural Metro has given South Tucson, Ariz., full time fire coverage (and a new truck) for the first time in years.
Firefighter Heather Sanchez puts on her helmet on her way to help with the inventory of hoses at the fire station on Feb. 11 in South Tucson. The city of South Tucson has a contract with Rural Metro Fire to provide 24-hour fire coverage after years without.
Firefighter Geraldo Pelayo helps check the hoses on one of the department’s old trucks at the South Tucson Fire station on Feb. 11.
A shelf of hoses being inventoried at the South Tucson Fire station, February 11, 2026, South Tucson. The new crews are going through the staton getting it cleaned up and re-organized.
Firefighter Heather Sanchez drags a hose as a crew inventories the gear at the fire station in South Tucson.
Engineer Jerry Parks hauls out some extraneous gear past a training dummy while cleaning things up at the fire station in South Tucson.
Firefighter Geraldo Pelayo works out on a new ladder with FF Heather Sanchez at the fire station familiarizing themselves with the gear on the department’s new truck, February 11, 2026, South Tucson, Ariz.
Firefighters Heather Sanchez, left, and Geraldo Pelayo take a break on the new truck at the fire station, February 11, 2026, South Tucson, Ariz.
Firefighters Heather Sanchez, left, and Geraldo Pelayo hose down a the remains of a small trash fire outside the El Camino Motel, February 11, 2026, South Tucson, Ariz.
Captan Tim Higginbottom directs engineer Jerry Parks into the bays at a QuikTrip on South Park Avenue to fuel up following their response to a small trash fire, February 11, 2026, South Tucson, Ariz.
Firefighter Gerald Pelayo gets a burst of flames, watering down the gas grill while cleaning it in preparation of cooking up the evening meal at the fire South Tucson Fire station, February 11, 2026, South Tucson, Ariz.
Kelly Presnell
Photojournalist
After years of staffing shortages and budget woes, South Tucson is officially outsourcing its fire services. The new partnership with Rural Metro aims to improve response times and provide much-needed equipment upgrades for the city.