Etowah County, Alabama (pop. 103,436) is protected by a combination system. The career Gadsden Fire Department, with 107 line personnel, runs eight stations in the county seat, while Rainbow City (career) and Attalla (combination) protect their own cities. Twenty-three volunteer fire departments, from Glencoe, Southside and Hokes Bluff to Gallant and Walnut Grove, cover the rest of the county's 549 square miles along the Coosa River and Neely Henry Lake. Etowah County 911 dispatches most fire calls.
Non-emergency dispatch (Etowah County 911)
(256) 442-2312- Etowah County 911, second line: (256) 442-2789
- Gadsden Fire Department: (256) 549-4566
- Etowah County EMA: (256) 549-5351
- Gadsden Central Fire Station, 322 Walnut St., Gadsden, AL 35901, USA
- cityofgadsden.com/115/Fire
Who Provides Fire Protection in Etowah County
- Gadsden Fire Department — career, 107 line personnel (July 2024, full staffing) on three shifts, a Division of EMS and eight stations.
- Rainbow City Fire Department — career, four stations.
- Attalla Fire & Rescue — combination; NERIS lists five stations.
- 23 volunteer fire departments — including Glencoe, Southside, Hokes Bluff, Altoona and Sardis City.
Etowah County 911 dispatches Gadsden, Rainbow City and most volunteer departments. Boaz, Glencoe and Southside cross county lines. Call 911; dispatch sends the right department by address.
Fire Departments in Etowah County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden Fire Department | Career (8 stations) | 322 Walnut St, Gadsden 35901 | (256) 549-4566 |
| Rainbow City FD | Career (4 stations) | 3700 Rainbow Dr, Rainbow City | Not published |
| Attalla Fire & Rescue | Combination | 608 1st NE, Attalla 35954 | Not published |
| Altoona VFD | Volunteer | 3680 Main St, Altoona 35952 | (256) 485-2540 |
| Ballplay #1 VFD | Volunteer | 11091 Rockyford Rd, Piedmont 36272 | (256) 458-6119 |
| Ballplay Bend FD | Volunteer | 297 Croft Ferry Rd, Gadsden 35903 | (256) 393-2045 |
| Black Creek VFD | Volunteer | 20 Styles Bridge Rd, Collinsville 35961 | (256) 523-6768 |
| Coates Bend VFD | Volunteer | 1140 Pulltight Rd, Gadsden 35901 | (256) 399-2458 |
| Egypt VFD | Volunteer | 560 Mt Pleasant Rd, Altoona 35952 | (256) 538-2722 |
| Gallant VFD | Volunteer | 9090 Gallant Rd, Gallant 35972 | (256) 538-9957 |
| Glencoe VFD | Volunteer | 201 W Chastain Blvd, Glencoe 35905 | (256) 492-5107 |
| Highland VFD | Volunteer | 5231 Tabor Rd, Gadsden 35904 | (256) 543-7804 |
| Hokes Bluff VFD | Volunteer | 3301 Alford Bend Rd, Gadsden 35903 | (256) 492-2414 |
| Ivalee VFD | Volunteer | 365 Sarratt Battles Rd, Attalla 35954 | (256) 538-1007 |
| Keener VFD | Volunteer | 6283 US Hwy 11 N, Attalla 35954 | (256) 538-3315 |
| Lookout Mountain VFD | Volunteer | 4658 Lay Springs Rd, Gadsden 35904 | Not published |
| Mountainboro VFD | Volunteer | 1445 Rockledge Rd, Boaz 35956 | (256) 572-8857 |
| New Union VFD | Volunteer | 3330 Buffington Rd, Boaz 35956 | (256) 593-9576 |
| Reece City VFD | Volunteer | 1023 Valley Dr, Attalla 35954 | (256) 538-6521 |
| Sand Valley VFD | Volunteer | 2494 Sand Valley Rd, Attalla 35954 | (256) 538-0325 |
| Sardis City VFD | Volunteer | 1335 Sardis Dr, Sardis City 35956 | (256) 593-6406 |
| Southside VFD | Volunteer | 2255 Hwy 77, Southside 35907 | (256) 442-2255 |
| Tidmore Bend VFD | Volunteer | 1708 Tidmore Bend Rd, Gadsden 35901 | Not published |
| Walnut Grove VFD | Volunteer | 3991 Gadsden Blountsville Rd, Walnut Grove 35990 | (205) 589-6400 |
| West Etowah VFD | Volunteer | 3174 Warrior Valley Rd, Altoona 35952 | (256) 295-2916 |
| Whorton Bend VFD | Volunteer | 2589 Whorton Bend Rd, Gadsden 35901 | (256) 442-4185 |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. Call 911 or (256) 442-2312, not a station.
Gadsden Fire Department Stations
- Station 1 (Central) — 322 Walnut St, 35901
- Station 2 (training center) — 5121 Airport Rd, 35906
- Station 3 — 300 Garden St, 35903
- Station 4 — 505 Black Creek Rd, 35901
- Station 5 (Noccalula Falls) — 1894 Noccalula Rd, 35901
- Station 6 (North Gadsden) — 206 Goldenrod Ave, 35901
- Station 7 — 2815 S. 11th St, 35901 (per city)
- Station 8 — 2105 Rainbow Dr, 35901 (being replaced)
Estimated Response Time
In Gadsden, eight stations share about 37 square miles, an average radius of roughly 1.2 miles. The rest of the county (about 500 square miles, roughly 140 residents per square mile) has some 32 stations, roughly 2.2 miles each; volunteers must first reach the station.
| Radius | Gadsden (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 in most of Gadsden and 10–14 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 tankers and neighboring volunteers are needed; expect the upper end of each range. Local risks include the Coosa River, Neely Henry Lake and I-59. Woodland fires are fought with the Alabama Forestry Commission.
Apparatus & Equipment
No department publishes a fleet list. Gadsden is adding trucks and stations: Station 7 (2022), a new Station 5 and Station 8 (begun April 2026).
- EMS division
- Training center
- Fire prevention bureau
- Car seat installation
Ratings & Accreditation
ISO PPC ratings for the county's departments are not published; ask your insurer.
Outdoor burning: In Gadsden, request a burn permit through the fire department; the city notes a no-burn period from May through November. Elsewhere, an Alabama Forestry Commission permit, (800) 392-5679, is required for burns larger than ¼ acre, and drought no-burn orders can apply.
Neighboring Counties
- DeKalb County, AL (north)
- Cherokee County, AL (east)
- Calhoun County, AL (southeast)
- St. Clair County, AL (southwest)
- Blount County, AL (west)
- Marshall County, AL (northwest)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Etowah County?
Etowah County 911: (256) 442-2312 or (256) 442-2789. Gadsden Fire Department: (256) 549-4566. For emergencies, call 911.
Who fights fires outside Gadsden?
Rainbow City (career), Attalla (combination) and 23 volunteer departments such as Glencoe, Southside and Hokes Bluff. 911 sends the right one by address.
How many firefighters does Gadsden have?
107 line personnel on three shifts (July 2024), working from eight stations.
How fast does the fire department respond in Etowah County?
About 4–6 minutes in most of Gadsden and about 10–14 minutes in rural areas.
Do I need a burn permit in Etowah County?
In Gadsden, ask the fire department. Elsewhere, burns over ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit: (800) 392-5679.
Last verified:
- City of Gadsden — Fire
- City of Gadsden — Stations
- City of Gadsden — GFD reaches 100% staffing (2024)
- City of Gadsden — Station 8 groundbreaking (2026)
- City of Gadsden — FAQs
- Etowah County 911
- Alabama Forestry Commission — VFD list (Aug 2025)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- WBRC — Etowah County EMA (2025)
- NERIS registry (Rainbow City, Attalla)
- Wikipedia — Etowah County
- Wikipedia — Gadsden