Department Overview

The Stafford County Fire and Rescue Department, established September 20, 2005, is an all-hazards response agency.

The combination career and volunteer department provides emergency response and mitigation to all fire, rescue, emergency medical and hazardous materials incidents. Additionally, the department is the lead agency for emergency management and oversees, building plan review and fire code enforcement, fire and environmental crime investigation, and public fire and life safety education and preparedness.

The department is headquartered at the Public Safety Center in Stafford, VA and responds to emergencies from 15 fire and EMS stations.  The county is divided into 2 battalions operating 18 engines, 3 aerial apparatus, 2 heavy rescues, 20 ambulances, 3 fire-rescue boats and various other support equipment and answers 17,000 calls annually. Daily career staffing includes one Operations Deputy Chief, two Battalion Chiefs, eight fire suppression apparatus and eight transport units.

The diversity of Stafford County and its location in the Washington, DC metro area present many challenges and opportunities for the department. Over 32 languages are spoken and the county is one of the fastest growing in Virginia. 

In addition to the customary hazards associated with robust residential and commercial development, Stafford County is traversed by one of the nation’s most traveled interstate highways, I-95. The jurisdiction is served by rail including AMTRAK and Virginia Railway Express commuter service, which operates two commuter stations in the county. The Potomac and Rappahannock rivers and their tributaries, present  challenges ranging from swift water to watercraft firefighting and hazardous materials containment.

Other special hazards include Stafford Regional Airport, three correctional facilities and major petroleum and natural gas pipelines. Stafford County is home to numerous major historical properties related to our Nation’s founding and the Civil War including George Washington's boyhood home. These historical properties present unique challenges to fire protection and prevention efforts.