About the Department

The District 8 Volunteer Fire Department is the County’s newest Fire District and it was established as a County Volunteer Fire Department in 1996. It is the only Chaves County Volunteer Fire Department located on a State Correctional Facility. The original fire station was in a bay that was allocated for fire protection in the Facility Shop building. Since then, it has built a large 4 bay station that sits just outside of the main facility grounds.

This department currently has 15 personnel.

Fire Apparatus

• Pumper 1
  2010 Freightliner with a 1,500 GPM pump and a 1,000-gallon tank
• Pumper 2
  1983 GMC 7,000 Pumper with a 1,000 GPM pump and a 750-gallon tank
• Tanker 1
  2004 Freightliner Tanker with a 500 GPM pump and a 2,200-gallon tank
• Urban-Interface Attack Vehicle 1
  2011 Dodge 5500 with a 500 GPM pump and a 500-gallon tank
• Urban-Interface Attack Vehicle 2
  2001 Ford F550 with a 300 GPM pump and a 500-gallon tank
• Urban-Interface Attack Vehicle 3
  1995 Ford F350 with a 60 GPM pump and a 375-gallon tank
• Parade/Community Outreach Vehicle
  1961 International B-160
• Command Unit
  2004 Chevrolet Tahoe Command/EMT Vehicle
• Supply Truck
  1985 Ford F350 with a 100 GPM pump and a 225-gallon tank

ISO Rating & Funding

The inmates that volunteer for this department go through a very rigorous screening process that can last up to a year. The ones that are approved for the department can respond outside of their facility to provide protection for their district and assist the surrounding districts with additional manpower as needed. They are accompanied by Corrections Officers that also volunteer for District 8 Fire Department.

This department has an ISO rating of 6/9 and will receive $58,584 for their base FY2013 Fire Fund Act Allocation.

The Fire Chief for this department is Chief Barry Wilkinson, who was a Volunteer Firefighter for the Midway Volunteer Fire Department before he took over as Chief at District 8.