The Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Department provides emergency services 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 approximately 20 active members providing around the clock emergency coverage. The department is dispatched to an average of 150 emergency calls per year and is supported by community donations, fundraisers, and county funds. The department currently holds a 6/6Y classification (formerly known as 6/8B) from the Insurance Services Office (ISO) based on a 2014 analysis of structural fire suppression capability. This split classification means that properties located within 5 miles of the fire station and within 1,000 feet of a credible water supply source (fire hydrant, etc.) are rated as a 6, while properties that are within 5 miles, but are greater than 1,000 feet from a water source are rated as 6Y.
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, library, a number of churches and small businesses, an industrial park, two major mining/manufacturing operations, US Highway 460, a main Norfolk Southern 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 and are occasionally sent to assist 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 Operations, Rural Water Supply, and Basic Pump 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 seven pieces of apparatus including: a pumper, pumper tanker, air supply truck, light duty rescue truck, brush truck, response vehicle, and 4x4 ATV.