Baldwin County, Alabama (pop. 231,767) covers 1,590 square miles of land between Mobile Bay and the Florida line. Fire protection is a mix of city departments, led by Gulf Shores Fire Rescue (ISO Class 1), Daphne, Orange Beach, Foley, Spanish Fort and Bay Minette, and about 29 volunteer fire departments that cover the unincorporated county. All fire and medical calls are dispatched by the county 911 center in Robertsdale.
Non-emergency (Baldwin County Sheriff's Office)
(251) 937-0202- Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency: (251) 972-6807
- Baldwin County 911 Emergency Communication District (office): (251) 947-3911
- Gulf Shores Fire Rescue (non-emergency): (251) 968-7422
- Orange Beach Fire Department: (251) 981-6166
- Foley Fire Department: (251) 943-1266
- Baldwin County EMA, 23100 McAuliffe Drive, Robertsdale, AL 36567, USA
- baldwincountyal.gov — Emergency Management
- Foley FD office: Mon–Fri 7:00–16:00 (CT)
Who Provides Fire Protection in Baldwin County
Baldwin County has no single county fire department. Protection comes from city departments in the larger towns and from volunteer departments everywhere else:
- Beach cities — Gulf Shores Fire Rescue and Orange Beach Fire & Rescue are career departments. Gulf Shores runs four fire stations plus a Beach Safety headquarters and holds an ISO Class 1 rating. Orange Beach also runs EMS transport.
- Eastern Shore — the City of Daphne runs five fire stations. Spanish Fort Fire Rescue (founded 1962) operates three stations and is described by the city as mostly volunteer. The Fairhope Volunteer Fire Department, in service since 1936, covers more than 48 square miles from four stations.
- Foley and Bay Minette — combination departments with career and volunteer staff. Foley runs three stations; Bay Minette has 15 career firefighters serving about 15,000 residents.
- About 29 volunteer fire departments — from Little River and Tensaw in the north to Fort Morgan, Bon Secour and Perdido Beach on the coast. Many also run first-responder EMS.
You do not need to know which department covers you: the Baldwin County 911 center in Robertsdale dispatches every fire and medical call based on your address.
Fire Departments in Baldwin County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gulf Shores Fire Rescue | Career (4 stations) | 1921 West 1st St, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 | (251) 968-7422 |
| Orange Beach Fire & Rescue | Career | 25855 John M. Snook Dr, Orange Beach, AL 36561 (administration) | (251) 981-6166 |
| Daphne Fire Department | City (5 stations) | 25250 Bailey Yelding Jr. Dr, Daphne, AL 36526 (Station 1) | (251) 620-0701 |
| Foley Fire Department | Combination (3 stations) | 120 W Verbena Ave, Foley, AL 36535 | (251) 943-1266 |
| Spanish Fort Fire Rescue | City, mostly volunteer (3 stations) | 7580 Spanish Fort Blvd, Spanish Fort, AL 36527 | (251) 626-8876 (public education) |
| Fairhope VFD | Volunteer (4 stations) | 198 S Ingleside St, Fairhope, AL 36532 | (251) 928-2371 |
| Bay Minette Fire-Rescue | Combination | 608 D'Olive St, Bay Minette, AL 36507 | Not published |
| Barnwell VFD | Volunteer | Not published | (251) 928-9732 |
| Belforest VFD | Volunteer | 25490 County Rd 54 W, Daphne, AL | (251) 626-8020 |
| Bon Secour VFD | Volunteer | 7392 County Rd 65, Foley, AL 36535 | Not published |
| Crossroads VFD & EMS | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Elberta VFD | Volunteer (3 stations) | 13120 Illinois St, Elberta, AL 36530 | Not published |
| Elsanor VFD | Volunteer | 25940 Brewer Rd, Robertsdale, AL 36567 | Not published |
| Fish River–Marlow VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Fort Morgan VFD & EMS | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Gateswood VFD & EMS | Volunteer | 33066 County Rd 112, Robertsdale, AL 36567 | Not published |
| Josephine VFD | Volunteer | 6824 County Rd 95, Elberta, AL 36530 | Not published |
| Lillian VFD & EMS | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Little River VFD | Volunteer | 71250 State Hwy 59, Little River, AL 36550 | Not published |
| Lottie VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Loxley VFD | Volunteer (2 stations) | 1051 Railroad St, Loxley, AL 36551 | Not published |
| Magnolia Springs VFD | Volunteer | 14809 Gates Ave, Magnolia Springs, AL 36555 | Not published |
| Oyster Bay VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Perdido Beach VFD & EMS | Volunteer (2 stations) | 8450 Escambia Ave, Elberta, AL 36530 | Not published |
| Pine Grove VFD & EMS | Volunteer | 42245 Pine Grove Rd, Bay Minette, AL 36507 (Station 1) | Not published |
| Rabun VFD & EMS | Volunteer | 53980 Rabun Rd, Bay Minette, AL 36507 | Not published |
| Robertsdale VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Rosinton VFD & EMS | Volunteer | 20300 County Rd 64, Robertsdale, AL 36567 | Not published |
| Seminole VFD & EMS | Volunteer | 33723 Lost River Rd, Seminole, AL 36574 | Not published |
| Silverhill VFD | Volunteer | 22031 6th St, Silverhill, AL 36576 | Not published |
| Stapleton VFD & EMS | Volunteer | 36276 State Hwy 59, Stapleton, AL 36578 | Not published |
| Stockton VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Styx River VFD & EMS | Volunteer | 29680 County Rd 68 Ext, Robertsdale, AL 36567 | Not published |
| Summerdale VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Tensaw VFD | Volunteer | 65123 State Hwy 59, Stockton, AL 36579 | Not published |
| White House Fork VFD & EMS | Volunteer | 11014 White House Fork Rd Ext, Bay Minette, AL 36507 | Not published |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For anything urgent, call 911. For non-emergency matters, call the Sheriff's Office at (251) 937-0202 or the city fire department's office line rather than a station number.
Gulf Shores and Daphne Fire Stations
| Station | Address |
|---|---|
| Gulf Shores Station 1 (Joseph L. McClusky) | 1921 West 1st St, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 |
| Gulf Shores Station 2 | 105 West 11th St, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 |
| Gulf Shores Station 3 | 18069 State Hwy 180, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 |
| Gulf Shores Station 4 | 19290 Oak Road West, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 |
| Gulf Shores Beach Safety HQ | 245 West Beach Blvd, Gulf Shores, AL 36542 (non-emergency (251) 968-9828) |
| Daphne Station 1 | 25250 Bailey Yelding Jr. Dr, Daphne, AL 36526 |
| Daphne Station 2 | 28280 N Main St, Daphne, AL 36526 |
| Daphne Station 3 | 8945 Lawson Rd, Daphne, AL |
| Daphne Station 4 | 30150 Green Ct, Daphne, AL 36527 |
| Daphne Station 5 | 9909 Milton Jones Rd, Daphne, AL |
Estimated Response Time
Baldwin County is large, and stations are concentrated along the Eastern Shore and the coast. Countywide, about 54 known stations share 1,590 square miles of land (about 146 residents per square mile), an average radius of roughly 3.1 miles per station. In the cities the spacing is much tighter: the Fairhope Volunteer Fire Department, for example, covers about 48 square miles from four stations, a radius of about 1.9 miles. The roughly 33 volunteer stations in the unincorporated county cover most of the remaining land, a radius of up to about 3.9 miles, and volunteer crews also need time to reach the station before rolling out.
| Radius | Career cities | Eastern Shore (combination) | Rural county (volunteer) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 4–6 min | 5–8 min | 8–12 min |
| 1.5–3 mi | 6–8 min | 7–10 min | 10–14 min |
| 3–6 mi | 8–11 min | 9–13 min | 12–18 min |
| > 6 mi | 11+ min | 13+ min | 18+ min |
Typical expectation: about 4–8 minutes in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Daphne; about 7–10 minutes in Fairhope, Spanish Fort and Foley; and about 12–18 minutes in most of the rural county, especially in the north around Stapleton, Little River and Tensaw. Summer beach traffic can slow responses on the coast.
Estimated Fire Control Time
| Fire size | Example | Indicative time |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Grass patch, dumpster, small vehicle | 5–20 min |
| Medium | Room-and-contents, car fully involved | 15–45 min |
| Large | Whole house, commercial unit | 45–120 min |
| Major | Multi-alarm, high-rise condo, large woodland fire | 2–12+ hours |
The beach cities have hydrant systems, but fires in tall condominium buildings need more crews and time. In the rural north and east, many roads have no hydrants, so water is shuttled in by tanker trucks and neighboring volunteer departments are called in to help; expect times toward the upper end of each range there. Woodland fires are handled together with the Alabama Forestry Commission.
Apparatus & Equipment
Baldwin County departments do not publish a combined fleet list, and the city departments do not list their apparatus on their websites. Known capabilities include Gulf Shores' Beach Safety division on the beachfront and Orange Beach's EMS transport service. Many volunteer departments also run first-responder EMS ("VFD & EMS").
- Beach safety
- Water rescue
- EMS transport (Orange Beach)
- First-responder EMS
- Wildland fire
Services & Community Programs
- Gulf Shores Fire Rescue non-emergency line: (251) 968-7422; Beach Safety: (251) 968-9828.
- Orange Beach Fire Department, including the Fire Marshal's Office and EMS transport: (251) 981-6166.
- Foley Fire Department office: (251) 943-1266, Mon–Fri 7:00–16:00.
- Spanish Fort Fire Rescue public education officer: (251) 626-8876.
- Hurricane and disaster preparedness: Baldwin County EMA, (251) 972-6807.
- Volunteer firefighting: most of the county is protected by volunteers. Contact your local VFD to join.
Ratings & Accreditation
Gulf Shores Fire Rescue: ISO PPC Class 1. Fairhope Volunteer Fire Department: reported ISO Class 4. Ratings for other departments are not published.
Outdoor burning and storms: Outside city limits, a permit from the Alabama Forestry Commission, (800) 392-5679, is required for burns larger than ¼ acre. Cities may have their own rules, so check with your city fire department first. Statewide no-burn orders can apply during droughts. Baldwin County is on the Gulf coast: during hurricanes, follow evacuation orders from the county EMA, as fire and EMS units may not be able to respond during peak winds.
Neighboring Counties
- Clarke County, AL (north)
- Monroe County, AL (northeast)
- Escambia County, AL (east)
- Escambia County, FL (east)
- Mobile County, AL (west)
- Washington County, AL (northwest)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Baldwin County?
For non-emergency matters, call the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office at (251) 937-0202 or your city fire department's office line, such as Gulf Shores (251) 968-7422, Orange Beach (251) 981-6166 or Foley (251) 943-1266. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Does Baldwin County have a county fire department?
No. Fire protection comes from city departments such as Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Daphne, Foley, Spanish Fort and Bay Minette, and from about 29 volunteer fire departments that cover the unincorporated county. The county 911 center in Robertsdale dispatches all of them.
What ISO rating does Gulf Shores have?
Gulf Shores Fire Rescue holds an ISO Public Protection Classification of Class 1, the highest possible rating.
How fast does the fire department respond in Baldwin County?
In the career beach cities and Daphne, the first unit usually arrives in about 4–8 minutes, and in Fairhope, Spanish Fort and Foley in about 7–10 minutes. In rural parts of the county, about 12–18 minutes is typical, depending on distance from the nearest volunteer station.
Do I need a burn permit in Baldwin County?
Outside city limits, burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679. Inside a city, check with that city's fire department first.
Last verified:
- Baldwin County — Emergency Management Agency, Contact Us (EMA phone and address)
- Baldwin County Sheriff's Office — Contact (non-emergency number)
- Baldwin County — Emergency Communication District (911 Board) (911 district office)
- City of Gulf Shores — Fire Rescue Stations and ISO Information (stations, phones, ISO Class 1)
- City of Orange Beach — Fire Department (address, phone, EMS transport)
- City of Foley — Fire Department (address, phone, office hours)
- Other city pages: Bay Minette Fire (career staff, population served), Spanish Fort Fire Rescue (stations, phone), Loxley VFD, Magnolia Springs (station addresses)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- U.S. Census Bureau — Baldwin County QuickFacts (population, area, density)
- NERIS national fire department registry (station addresses, staffing type, station counts)
- Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce — Contacts & Resources (Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort, Barnwell, Belforest phones)
- Community lists: RadioReference — Baldwin County (AL) (department list, 911 dispatch), Baldwin County polling places list (VFD addresses), Fairhope Single Tax newsletter, June 2025 (Fairhope VFD area, ISO 4)