Dallas County, Alabama (pop. 38,462) is protected by a combination system: the career Selma Fire Department, rated ISO Class 2, staffs four stations around the clock in the county seat, while 15 volunteer fire departments, including Valley Grande, Orrville and Plantersville, cover the rest of the county's 979 square miles of land. The Dallas County E-911 center dispatches all fire, rescue and hazmat calls.
Dallas County E-911 Communications (main line)
(334) 874-3719- Selma Fire Department (non-emergency): (334) 874-2186
- Dallas County Emergency Management Agency: (334) 874-2515
- Selma Fire Department, 1500 Broad Street, Selma, AL 36701, USA
- selma-al.gov/departments/fire
- Selma FD office: Mon–Fri 8:00–16:00 (CT)
Who Provides Fire Protection in Dallas County
- Selma Fire Department — career, with 54 line personnel, 7 administrative staff and 1 assistant when fully staffed, on 24-hour shifts from four stations plus a training station. It answers about 700 calls a year and holds an ISO Class 2 rating.
- 15 volunteer fire departments (listed below); member numbers are not published.
Dallas County E-911 dispatches police, fire, sheriff and ambulance 24 hours a day, pages the volunteer departments and the Dallas Rescue and HAZMAT units, and transfers medical calls to Care Ambulance. 911 sends the right department based on your address.
Fire Departments in Dallas County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selma Fire Department | Career (4 stations) | 1500 Broad St, Selma, AL 36701 (HQ) | (334) 876-1190 |
| Beloit VFD | Volunteer | 8383 Hwy 22 W, Orrville, AL 36767 | Not published |
| Burnsville VFD | Volunteer | 8605 Hwy 14 E, Selma, AL 36703 | Not published |
| Carlowville VFD | Volunteer | 100 County Rd 4, Minter, AL 36761 | Not published |
| Craig VFD | Volunteer | Building 218, Avenue J, Craig Field, Selma, AL 36701 | (334) 872-0045 |
| Marion Junction VFD | Volunteer | 12873 US Hwy 80 W, Marion Junction, AL 36759 | Not published |
| Orrville VFD | Volunteer | 456 South St, Orrville, AL 36767 | (334) 996-3473 |
| Plantersville VFD | Volunteer | 111 Oak St, Plantersville, AL 36758 | Not published |
| Potter Station VFD | Volunteer | 2371 County Rd 44, Selma, AL 36701 | (334) 349-4431 |
| Riveroaks VFD | Volunteer | 115 County Rd 326, Orrville, AL 36767 | Not published |
| Safford VFD | Volunteer | 136 County Rd 15, Safford, AL 36773 | (334) 573-2673 |
| Sardis VFD | Volunteer | 8100 County Rd 30, Sardis, AL 36775 | (334) 412-5216 |
| Selma-Dallas County Rescue Squad & VFD | Volunteer | 1509 Hayden St, Selma, AL 36703 | (334) 526-1520 |
| Summerfield VFD | Volunteer | 106 Main St, Selma, AL 36701 | Not published |
| Tyler VFD | Volunteer | 10248 US Hwy 80 E, Tyler, AL 36785 | Not published |
| Valley Grande VFD | Volunteer | 5914 Hwy 22 E, Valley Grande, AL 36703 | (334) 872-0104 |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For anything urgent, call 911 rather than a station number.
Selma Fire Department Stations
| Station | Address |
|---|---|
| Station 2 | 2401 Selma Ave, Selma, AL 36703 |
| Station 3 (headquarters) | 1500 Broad St, Selma, AL 36701 |
| Station 4 | 800 Cahaba Rd, Selma, AL 36701 |
| Station 5 | 1107 Woodrow Ave, Selma, AL |
Source: NERIS registry.
Estimated Response Time
In Selma, four staffed stations share about 13.8 square miles of land, an average radius of roughly 1.0 mile. The rest of the county (about 965 square miles, 21 residents per square mile) has 15 volunteer stations, roughly 4.5 miles each, and volunteers must first reach the station.
| Radius | Selma (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 4–6 minutes for most addresses in Selma 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 |
Many rural roads have no hydrants, so water comes by tanker and neighboring volunteers help; expect the upper end of each range outside Selma. Woodland fires are fought with the Alabama Forestry Commission. The Alabama River crosses the county, and a large EF2 tornado heavily damaged Selma on January 12, 2023.
Apparatus & Equipment
Selma Fire Department fleet:
- Engine companies
- 4
- Ladder truck
- 1
- Brush truck
- 1
- Shift commander vehicle
- 1
Volunteer fleets are not published.
- Fire suppression
- Hazmat
- Rescue
- Wildland
Ratings & Accreditation
Selma Fire Department: ISO PPC Class 2. Ratings for the rural volunteer districts are not published.
Outdoor burning: Inside Selma, ask the Selma Fire Department about a burn permit at (334) 876-1190. Elsewhere in Alabama, a permit from the Alabama Forestry Commission, (800) 392-5679, is required for burns larger than ¼ acre, and statewide no-burn orders can apply during droughts.
Neighboring Counties
- Chilton County, AL (north)
- Autauga County, AL (northeast)
- Lowndes County, AL (southeast)
- Wilcox County, AL (south)
- Marengo County, AL (west)
- Perry County, AL (northwest)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Dallas County?
Dallas County E-911: (334) 874-3719. Selma Fire Department non-emergency: (334) 874-2186. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Who fights fires outside Selma?
Fifteen volunteer departments, from Beloit and Orrville to Plantersville and Valley Grande, cover the rural county. 911 dispatches the right one based on your address.
What ISO rating does Selma have?
The Selma Fire Department holds ISO Public Protection Classification Class 2.
How fast does the fire department respond in Dallas County?
About 4–6 minutes for the first unit in Selma and about 12–18 minutes in rural areas, depending on distance from the nearest volunteer station.
Do I need a burn permit in Dallas County?
Burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679. Inside Selma, ask the Selma Fire Department at (334) 876-1190.
Last verified:
- City of Selma — Fire Department (staffing, fleet, ISO)
- Dallas County — E911 (dispatch, phones)
- Dallas County — Emergency Management (EMA)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Volunteer Fire Departments (August 2025) (addresses, phones)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- NERIS registry — Selma Fire & Rescue stations
- Wikipedia — Dallas County, Alabama (population, area, neighbors)
- Wikipedia — Selma, Alabama (land area, 2023 tornado)