Clay County, Alabama (pop. 14,236) is deeply rural, with about 24 residents per square mile on 604 square miles of land. Fire protection comes from 18 departments: the Ashland Fire Department in the county seat, listed as a combination department, and 17 volunteer fire departments covering Lineville and the countryside. The county reports about 100 trained volunteers and 18 stations. All fire and medical emergencies are dispatched by the Clay County E-911 Center in Lineville.
Clay County E-911 (administrative line)
(256) 396-6911- Clay County Sheriff's Office (non-emergency): (256) 354-2176
- Clay County Emergency Management Agency: (256) 396-5886
- Ashland Fire Department (via Ashland City Hall): (256) 354-2121
- Ashland Fire Department, 21 3rd Ave S, Ashland, AL 36251, USA
Who Provides Fire Protection in Clay County
The Ashland Fire Department protects the county seat (pop. 1,984, about 7.4 square miles); NERIS lists it as a combination department with one station. It handles fires, hazmat and vehicle entrapment inside Ashland city limits only. The rest of the county, including the city of Lineville, is covered by 17 volunteer fire departments. 911 dispatches the right department based on your address.
Fire Departments in Clay County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashland Fire Department | Combination | 21 3rd Ave S, Ashland, AL 36251 | (256) 354-2121 |
| Barfield VFD | Volunteer | 38 Fire Department Rd, Lineville, AL 36266 | (256) 396-5504 |
| Bluff Springs VFD | Volunteer | 7693 Bluff Springs Rd, Ashland, AL 36251 | Not published |
| Coleta Valley VFD | Volunteer | Not published (Talladega 35160 mailing) | Not published |
| Coppermine VFD | Volunteer | 6480 County Rd 31, Lineville, AL 36266 | (256) 354-3288 |
| County Line VFD | Volunteer | Not published (Wadley 36276 mailing) | Not published |
| Cragford-Corinth VFD | Volunteer | 9203 Cragford Rd, Cragford, AL 36255 | Not published |
| Delta VFD | Volunteer | Delta Church Rd, Delta, AL 36258 | (256) 488-5449 |
| Hipine-Pleasant VFD | Volunteer | 119 Fire Station Rd, Ashland, AL 36251 | Not published |
| Hollins Volunteer Fire & Rescue | Volunteer | Not published (PO Box 41, Hollins, AL 35082) | (256) 249-4014 |
| Idaho VFD | Volunteer | 3626 Idaho Rd, Ashland, AL 36251 | Not published |
| Lineville VFD | Volunteer | Not published (PO Box 247, Lineville, AL 36266) | (256) 396-5462 |
| Millerville VFD | Volunteer | 40 School House Rd, Millerville (Ashland 36251) | (256) 354-5501 |
| Mountain VFD | Volunteer | Not published (Cragford 36255) | Not published |
| Pine Grove VFD | Volunteer | 5011 Hwy 48, Lineville, AL 36266 | (256) 396-2627 |
| Shiloh VFD | Volunteer | Cragford Rd, Ashland, AL 36251 | Not published |
| Shinbone Valley VFD | Volunteer (11 members) | Not published (Delta 36258) | Not published |
| Tri Community VFD | Volunteer | 2051 Fire House Rd, Goodwater, AL 35072 | Not published |
Volunteer phones are from a commercial directory and may be outdated. In an emergency, call 911.
Estimated Response Time
Ashland's one station covers about 7.4 square miles (average radius ~1.5 miles). The other 17 stations share ~597 rural square miles (~24 residents per sq mi), a radius of ~3.3 miles each, and volunteers must first reach the station.
| Radius | Ashland (combination) | Rural county (volunteer) |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 5–8 min | 8–12 min |
| 1.5–3 mi | 7–10 min | 10–14 min |
| 3–6 mi | 9–13 min | 12–18 min |
| > 6 mi | 13+ min | 18+ min |
Typical expectation: about 5–10 minutes in Ashland and 12–18 minutes 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 | Multi-alarm, large woodland fire | 2–12+ hours |
Rural Clay County has few hydrants, so the 10 tankers shuttle water and neighboring departments assist; expect the upper end of each range. Woodland fires in the Talladega National Forest are fought with the Alabama Forestry Commission and federal crews.
Apparatus & Equipment
Countywide fleet (county profile; no per-department lists):
- Engines
- 9
- Tankers
- 10
- Rescue trucks
- 6
- Wildland fire
- Hazmat (Ashland)
- Vehicle extrication
- Water shuttle
Ratings & Recent News
- Fire insurance classification 6 "in city" (county profile); rural ratings not published.
- December 2025: two Shinbone Valley VFD members were hurt when their command truck rolled into a ravine; the 11-member department is recruiting.
Outdoor burning: A permit from the Alabama Forestry Commission, (800) 392-5679, is required for burns larger than ¼ acre; no-burn orders can apply during droughts.
Neighboring Counties
- Cleburne County, AL (north)
- Randolph County, AL (east)
- Tallapoosa County, AL (south)
- Coosa County, AL (southwest)
- Talladega County, AL (west)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Clay County, Alabama?
Call the Sheriff's Office at (256) 354-2176 or the E-911 office at (256) 396-6911. For any emergency, call 911.
Is there a paid fire department in Clay County?
Only the Ashland Fire Department is listed as combination (career and volunteer). All other departments, including Lineville, are volunteer.
How fast does the fire department respond in Clay County?
About 5–10 minutes inside Ashland and about 12–18 minutes in rural areas, depending on distance from the nearest station.
Do I need a burn permit in Clay County?
Burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679.
Last verified:
- City of Ashland — Fire Department
- U.S. Census Bureau — Clay County QuickFacts
- Alabama 911 Board — 911 Addressing
- NERIS national fire department registry
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- Clay County Chamber of Commerce — Clay County at a Glance
- Clay County Chamber of Commerce — Contacts
- ResponseRack — Alabama NERIS IDs
- ClaimsPages — Clay County fire departments
- USFireDept — Cragford Corinth VFD
- Firefighter Close Calls — Shinbone Valley VFD crash (2025)
- Wikipedia — Ashland, Alabama