Dale County, Alabama (pop. 49,326) is protected by a combination system: the Ozark Fire Department, with 46 professional firefighters and paramedics, staffs three stations 24/7 in the county seat, while 13 volunteer fire departments, including Daleville, Midland City, Level Plains and Newton, cover the rest of the county's 563 square miles. Two 911 centers handle dispatch; Fort Rucker has its own fire service.
Ozark Fire Department (main line)
(334) 774-1684- Ozark-Dale County E911 (administration): (334) 445-9444
- Daleville Public Safety / 911 center: (334) 598-4442
- Ozark Municipal Complex, 275 N. Union Avenue, Ozark, AL, USA
- ozarkal.gov/fire-department
Who Provides Fire Protection in Dale County
- Ozark Fire Department — 46 professional firefighters and paramedics run three paramedic engines and a ladder company from three stations staffed 24/7, answering about 3,500 calls a year.
- Thirteen volunteer fire departments — listed below. Daleville's is staffed by public safety and city employees plus community volunteers.
Ozark-Dale County E911 dispatches Ozark and nine volunteer departments, plus Ariton Rescue and Echo Rescue; the Daleville/Clayhatchee 911 center covers those two towns. Parts of Enterprise and Dothan lie in the county and are covered by those cities. Fort Rucker, mostly in Dale County, has its own federal fire service (not counted here).
Fire Departments in Dale County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ozark Fire Department | Career (3 stations) | 100 Mixon School Rd, Ozark, AL | (334) 774-1684 |
| Ariton VFD | Volunteer | 123 Hwy S, Ariton, AL 36311 | Not published |
| Choctawhatchee VFD | Volunteer | 6225 E Hwy 27, Ozark, AL 36360 | Not published |
| Clayhatchee VFD | Volunteer (3 stations) | 2541 Gritney Rd, Daleville, AL 36322 | (334) 790-4446 |
| Daleville Fire Department | Volunteer (city DPS) | 730 S Daleville Ave, Daleville, AL 36322 | (334) 598-4442 |
| Echo VFD | Volunteer | 12204 Hwy 27 E, Newville, AL 36353 | Not published |
| Ewell VFD | Volunteer | 2259 E Hwy 27, Ozark, AL 36360 | Not published |
| Level Plains VFD | Volunteer | 1708 Joe Bruer Rd, Daleville, AL 36322 | (334) 578-3473 |
| Marley Mill VFD | Volunteer | 3299 N County Rd 21, Ozark, AL 36360 | Not published |
| Midland City Fire Department | Volunteer | 1343 Hinton Waters Ave, Midland City, AL 36350 | (334) 983-3511 |
| Napier Field VFD | Volunteer | 358 Headquarter St, Napier Field, AL 36303 | Not published |
| Newton VFD | Volunteer | 72 Spring St, Newton, AL 36352 | Not published |
| Pinckard VFD | Volunteer | 1701 E Hwy 134, Pinckard, AL 36371 | (334) 983-4662 |
| Skipperville VFD | Volunteer | 6103 County Rd 33, Skipperville, AL 36374 | (334) 432-0982 |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed: in an emergency, call 911.
Ozark Fire Department Stations
| Station | Address |
|---|---|
| Station 3 | 100 Mixon School Rd, Ozark, AL |
| Dowling Fire Station | 382 North Union Ave, Ozark, AL — (334) 774-1994 |
| Chancey Fire Station | 202 Will Logan Rd, Ozark, AL — (334) 774-6444 |
Estimated Response Time
In Ozark, three staffed stations share about 34 square miles of land, an average radius of 1.9 miles. The rest of the county, about 527 square miles at roughly 66 residents per square mile, has some 15 volunteer stations, a radius of about 3.3 miles, plus time for volunteers to reach the station.
| Radius | Ozark (career) | Rural county (volunteer) |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 4–6 min | 8–12 min |
| 1.5–3 mi | 6–8 min | 10–14 min |
| 3–6 mi | 8–11 min | 12–18 min |
| > 6 mi | 11+ min | 18+ min |
Typical expectation: about 6–8 minutes in most of Ozark 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, industrial, large woodland fire | 2–12+ hours |
Rural roads often lack hydrants, so water comes by tanker and neighboring volunteers are called in; expect the upper end of each range. Woodland fires are fought with the Alabama Forestry Commission. The Choctawhatchee River runs through the county: in the March 1990 flood, homes and businesses around Newton and Daleville were flooded and several evacuations were needed.
Apparatus & Equipment
- Ozark FD paramedic engine companies
- 3
- Ozark FD ladder company (E-One 75-ft quint)
- 1
The quint (in service January 2026, $997,565) replaced a 1997 quint. Volunteer fleets are not published.
- Paramedic engines
- Aerial quint
Ratings & Accreditation
ISO Public Protection Classification ratings for Ozark and the volunteer districts are not published.
Outdoor burning: Inside Ozark, get a permit (8:00–17:00) at any city fire station. Elsewhere, an Alabama Forestry Commission permit, (800) 392-5679, is required for burns larger than ¼ acre, and statewide no-burn orders can apply during droughts.
Neighboring Counties
- Barbour County, AL (north)
- Henry County, AL (east)
- Houston County, AL (southeast)
- Geneva County, AL (southwest)
- Coffee County, AL (west)
- Pike County, AL (northwest)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Dale County?
Ozark Fire Department: (334) 774-1684. Daleville Public Safety: (334) 598-4442. For any emergency, call 911.
Who fights fires outside Ozark?
Thirteen volunteer departments, from Ariton and Daleville to Newton and Skipperville. 911 dispatches the right one for your address.
Who provides ambulance service in Dale County?
Ozark City Fire/EMS in Ozark; Ariton Rescue and Echo Rescue are also dispatched by Ozark-Dale County E911.
How fast does the fire department respond in Dale County?
About 6–8 minutes in most of Ozark and 12–18 minutes in rural areas, depending on distance from the nearest station.
Do I need a burn permit in Dale County?
Inside Ozark, get a permit from the Ozark Fire Department. Elsewhere, burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679.
Last verified:
- City of Ozark — Fire Department (personnel, stations, calls, permits)
- City of Daleville — Fire Department (staffing, phone, dispatch)
- Ozark-Dale County E911 (agencies dispatched)
- Alabama 911 Board — ECDs
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Volunteer Fire Departments list (Aug. 2025) (stations, phones)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- NWS — Alabama floods (March 1990 flood)
- WTVY — New Ozark firetruck (2026)
- NERIS fire department registry (Clayhatchee station count)
- Wikipedia — Dale County, Alabama (population, area, neighbors)
- Wikipedia — Ozark, Alabama (city area)