Choctaw County, Alabama (pop. 12,665) has no career fire department. Fire protection across its 913 square miles of land is provided by 14 volunteer fire departments, from Butler, the county seat, to Gilbertown, Silas, Pennington and Toxey. With fewer than 14 residents per square mile and heavy timber cover, most calls are answered by volunteers responding from home. All fire and medical emergencies are dispatched by the Choctaw County 911 district in Butler.
Choctaw County 911 district (non-emergency)
(205) 459-5911- Choctaw County Emergency Management Agency: (205) 459-2153
- Choctaw County EMA, 117 South Mulberry Avenue, Butler, AL 36904, USA
- choctawcountyal.org/fire-services
- EMA office: Mon–Fri 8:00–16:30 (CT)
Who Provides Fire Protection in Choctaw County
According to Choctaw County, fire response is provided entirely by volunteers in 14 departments: Butler, Pennington, Gilbertown, Silas, Toxey, Needham/Land, Melvin, Lusk, Pleasant Hill, Cromwell-Halsell, Yantley, New Hope, Lisman and Scott Mountain. Besides fires, they assist at other emergencies and set up landing zones for medical helicopters. Departments in neighboring Washington County, such as Millry Fire Rescue, also respond into south Choctaw County. You do not need to know which department covers you: 911 dispatches by address.
Fire Departments in Choctaw County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butler VFD | Volunteer | 213 N Hamburg Ave, Butler, AL 36904 | Not published |
| Cromwell-Halsell VFD | Volunteer | 2872 County Rd 7, Lisman, AL 36912 | Not published |
| Gilbertown VFD | Volunteer | 243 College St, Gilbertown, AL 36908 | (251) 843-3198 |
| Lisman VFD | Volunteer | Lisman, AL 36912 | Not published |
| Lusk VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Melvin VFD | Volunteer | 9787 Melvin Rd, Melvin, AL 36913 | Not published |
| Needham/Land VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| New Hope VFD | Volunteer | 2887 New Hope Rd, Needham, AL 36915 | Not published |
| Pennington VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Pleasant Hill VFD | Volunteer | 5930 Pleasant Hill Rd, Gilbertown, AL 36908 | Not published |
| Scott Mountain VFD | Volunteer | 360 County Rd 20, Butler, AL 36904 | Not published |
| Silas VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
| Toxey VFD | Volunteer | 158 Broad St, Toxey, AL 36921 | Not published |
| Yantley VFD | Volunteer | Not published | Not published |
Volunteer stations are usually unstaffed. For anything urgent, call 911 or the 911 district line (205) 459-5911 rather than a station number.
Estimated Response Time
With 14 or more volunteer stations sharing 913 square miles, the average distance to the nearest station is roughly 4.6 miles (√(913 ÷ (14 × π))). Population density is only about 14 residents per square mile, so the whole county falls in the rural class. Addresses inside Butler, Gilbertown, Silas or Pennington are often within 1.5–3 miles of a station; outlying timberland can be more than 6 miles away. Volunteers must first reach the station before rolling out.
| Radius | Volunteer | Typical in Choctaw County |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 8–12 min | Town centers near a station |
| 1.5–3 mi | 10–14 min | Edges of towns |
| 3–6 mi | 12–18 min | Most rural addresses (avg. 4.6 mi) |
| > 6 mi | 18+ min | Remote timberland, river bottoms |
Typical expectation: about 10–14 minutes in the towns and 12–18 minutes or more for most rural addresses.
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 | Lumber yard, mill, large woodland fire | 2–12+ hours |
Forestry has been the backbone of Choctaw County's economy since 1847, and most of the county is timberland with few hydrants. Water is shuttled by tanker, neighboring departments are called in, and woodland fires are fought together with the Alabama Forestry Commission, so expect times toward the upper end of each range. In November 2025, a fire at a lumber yard in south Choctaw County drew Millry, Yarbo and North Oak Grove crews from Washington County.
Apparatus & Equipment
None of the 14 volunteer departments publishes a fleet list, and no personnel counts, call statistics or ISO ratings are published for the county.
- Structural firefighting
- Wildland firefighting
- Helicopter landing zones
Services & Community Programs
- Emergency alerts: the free Choctaw County EMA AL app sends county alerts.
- Volunteer firefighting: all 14 departments rely on local volunteers; contact the EMA at (205) 459-2153 to be referred to your community's department.
Outdoor burning: In Alabama, a permit from the Alabama Forestry Commission, (800) 392-5679, is required for burns larger than ¼ acre. Burning without a permit is a misdemeanor, and statewide no-burn orders can apply during droughts.
Neighboring Counties
- Sumter County, AL (north)
- Marengo County, AL (northeast)
- Clarke County, AL (southeast)
- Washington County, AL (south)
- Wayne County, MS (southwest)
- Clarke County, MS (west)
- Lauderdale County, MS (northwest)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Choctaw County?
The Choctaw County 911 district line is (205) 459-5911. The county EMA is at (205) 459-2153. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Does Choctaw County have a paid fire department?
No. All 14 fire departments in Choctaw County, including Butler, Gilbertown and Silas, are volunteer departments.
How fast does the fire department respond in Choctaw County?
About 10–14 minutes in the towns and 12–18 minutes or more for most rural addresses, depending on distance from the nearest volunteer station.
Do I need a burn permit in Choctaw County?
Burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679.
Last verified:
- Choctaw County — Fire/Rescue Services (14 volunteer departments)
- Alabama 911 Board — Emergency Communications Districts (Choctaw County ECD number)
- Town of Gilbertown — Departments (Gilbertown FD address and phone)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- U.S. Census Bureau — Choctaw County QuickFacts (population, land area, density)
- NERIS national fire department registry (station addresses)
- GovServ — Choctaw County EMA listing (EMA address, phone, hours)
- Encyclopedia of Alabama — Choctaw County (forestry economy, neighboring counties)
- FOX10 News — Lumber yard fire in south Choctaw County (2025)