The Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Department provides emergency service to the community of Blue Ridge, Virginia and to the surrounding areas of Botetourt County, Bedford County and Roanoke County.  We are an all volunteer fire department with about 20 to 25 dedicated members providing 24/7 emergency coverage.  We run approximately 175 to 200 emergency calls per year and are supported by community donations, fundraisers and some county funds.

Blue Ridge, Virginia is located in the southeastern corner of Botetourt County and is a community of about 6,000 residents.  Blue Ridge could be described as a “bedroom community” for the Roanoke Valley since most residents work in the Roanoke/Salem metropolitan area.  There are many housing developments in our community with some of the first built in the early 1970’s and newer ones being built all the time as our community continues to grow and draw new residents everyday.

Our coverage area extends from the Bedford County line to the east to the Roanoke County line to the south to the mountain ridges to the west and north.  Our first due coverage includes many housing developments, an elementary school, a number of churches, two major mining/manufacturing operations, US Highway 460, a main NS rail line, the Blue Ridge Parkway, as well as many acres of National Forest and woodland interface.  We also provide Air Truck service to all of Botetourt County as well as portions of Roanoke County and Bedford County.

Our members are dedicated volunteers who strive to provide the best emergency service possible.  They spend many hours in training learning the skills needed to fight fires, extricate victims from vehicle accidents, and handle hazardous material situations.  Our members undergo the Virginia Department of Fire Programs training courses such as Firefighter I & II, HazMat Operations, Emergency Vehicle Operator Course, and Officer Operations.

We share our building with the Blue Ridge Volunteer Rescue Squad as we team together to provide all phases of emergency service to the community.  We have 5 major pieces of firefighting equipment:  Engine 1 is a pumper with a 6 man enclosed cab, a 1250 GPM capacity pump and 1000 gallon water supply with 30 gallons of foam; Wagon 1 is a pumper/tanker with a 6 man enclosed cab, a 1500 GPM capacity pump and 1760 gallon water supply with 40 gallons of foam and a quick dump; Brush 1 is a 4WD brush truck with a 5 man enclosed cab, a skid type pump and tank with a 250 GPM capacity pump and 225 gallon water supply with 10 gallons of foam; Squad 1 is a 4WD light duty rescue truck with a 2 man cab; and Air 1 is a breathing air supply truck with a 2 man cab plus 2  rear operator positions and is capable of filling SCBA bottles from an onboard certified compressor or cascade system.

           Current Chief Mike Durham