Since the City of Alabaster was incorporated in 1952, its residents have been protected by the Alabaster Fire Department. The Department, now known as the Alabaster Fire and Rescue Service, started as a volunteer unit and continued in that capacity until 1974 when the City employed its first paid fire fighter, John Cochran. Cochran served as Alabaster’s Fire Chief until he retired in October 2003. Chief Frank Matherson was appointed as the new Fire Chief in February 2004. 

The Department has experienced tremendous growth under Chief Matherson's leadership. 15 full-time firefighters have been added since 2004, in addition to a full-time Fire Inspector, Fire Marshal and a Public Education Officer. The Department also filled the position of Deputy Fire Chief and three Battalion Chiefs.

Presently the Department is serving over 30 square miles of territory out of three fire stations. The Alabaster Fire & Rescue Service is staffed with 57 full-time personnel. AFRS is one of a few fire departments in the state of Alabama whose minimum staffing on each apparatus is four personnel. This high number of personnel allows the Department to deliver high quality service in emergency situations.