Franklin County, Alabama (pop. 32,113) is protected by a combination system: the career Russellville Fire Department, rated ISO Class 4, covers about 13.4 square miles in the county seat from two stations with 20 paid staff, while 13 volunteer fire departments, including Red Bay, Phil Campbell, Vina and Hodges, cover the rest of the county's 634 square miles of land. All fire and medical emergencies are dispatched by Franklin County 911 in Belgreen.
Non-emergency dispatch (Franklin County 911)
(256) 332-8820- Russellville Fire Department: (256) 332-8761
- Franklin County Emergency Management Agency: (256) 332-8890
- Franklin County EMA and 911 Dispatch, 12951 Hwy 187, Russellville (Belgreen), AL 35653, USA
- russellvillefd.org (Russellville Fire Department)
- 911 non-emergency line: 24 hours
Who Provides Fire Protection in Franklin County
- Russellville Fire Department — a career department with 20 paid staff, 10 volunteer fire-ground support members and at least five firefighters on duty at all times. It covers about 13.4 square miles and 10,000 residents from two stations (headquarters on Jackson Ave S, Station 2 at 15938 Highway 43 N), answers about 1,000 calls a year, gives non-transport ALS care, and backs up the volunteer departments through mutual aid.
- Thirteen volunteer fire departments — they protect the towns of Red Bay, Phil Campbell, Vina and Hodges and the rural county (full list below).
911 sends the right department based on your address.
Fire Departments in Franklin County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Russellville Fire Department | Career (2 stations) | 1100 Jackson Ave S, Russellville, AL 35653 | (256) 332-8761 |
| Belgreen Fire Protection District | Volunteer | 4325 Hwy 524, Russellville, AL 35653 | (256) 332-5897 |
| Blue Springs VFD | Volunteer | 3001 Hwy 75, Phil Campbell, AL 35581 | (256) 332-0139 |
| Burnout–Halltown VFD | Volunteer | 75 Hwy 224, Russellville, AL 35653 | (256) 356-4908 |
| East Franklin VFD | Volunteer | 10443 Hwy 81, Phil Campbell, AL 35581 | (256) 331-9713 |
| Frankfort VFD | Volunteer | 1886 Hwy 41, Russellville, AL 35653 | (256) 577-3284 |
| Frog Pond VFD | Volunteer | 5215 Hwy 22, Russellville, AL 35654 | Not published |
| Gravel Hill VFD | Volunteer | 2059 Gravel Hill Rd, Phil Campbell, AL 35581 | Not published |
| Hodges VFD | Volunteer | 1521 AL Hwy 172, Hodges, AL 35571 | (205) 935-1951 |
| Phil Campbell VFD | Volunteer | 580 Railroad St, Phil Campbell, AL 35581 | (205) 993-4913 |
| Pleasant Site VFD | Volunteer | 2785 Hwy 90, Red Bay, AL 35582 | Not published |
| Red Bay VFD | Volunteer | Fifth Street SW, Red Bay, AL 35582 | (256) 356-3108 |
| Tharptown VFD | Volunteer | 23 Hwy 80, Russellville, AL 35654 | (256) 332-6990 |
| Vina VFD | Volunteer | 7426 Hwy 19, Vina, AL 35593 | (256) 356-4996 |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For anything urgent, call 911 or (256) 332-8820.
Estimated Response Time
Inside Russellville, two career stations share about 13.4 square miles, an average distance to the nearest station of roughly 1.5 miles. The rest of the county, about 620 square miles at roughly 34 residents per square mile, is covered by 13 volunteer stations, an average radius of roughly 3.9 miles.
| Radius | Russellville (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 4–8 minutes in most of Russellville 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 |
Away from Russellville, many roads have no hydrants, so water comes by tanker and neighboring volunteers are called in; expect the upper end of each range. Woodland fires involve the Alabama Forestry Commission. Tornadoes are a major risk: on April 27, 2011, an EF-5 tornado with winds of up to 210 mph tracked through Phil Campbell.
Apparatus & Equipment
No department publishes a fleet list. Russellville runs one of ten state-deployable medium rescue teams in Alabama.
- ALS first response
- Hazmat
- Dive team
- Vehicle extrication
- Confined space
- Trench rescue
- High-angle rescue
- Wildland
Ratings & Accreditation
Russellville Fire Department: ISO PPC Class 4 (department website). Ratings for the volunteer districts are not published.
Outdoor burning: 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. Inside Russellville, check city rules with the fire department.
Neighboring Counties
- Colbert County, AL (north)
- Lawrence County, AL (east)
- Winston County, AL (southeast)
- Marion County, AL (south)
- Itawamba County, MS (southwest)
- Tishomingo County, MS (northwest)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Franklin County?
Franklin County 911 Dispatch answers (256) 332-8820 around the clock. The Russellville Fire Department's line is (256) 332-8761. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Who fights fires outside Russellville?
Thirteen volunteer fire departments, including Red Bay, Phil Campbell, Vina, Hodges and Belgreen. 911 dispatches the right department based on your address.
What ISO rating does Russellville have?
The Russellville Fire Department reports an ISO Public Protection Classification of Class 4.
How fast does the fire department respond in Franklin County?
Within Russellville, the first unit usually arrives in about 4–8 minutes. In rural parts of the county, about 12–18 minutes is typical.
Do I need a burn permit in Franklin County?
Burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679.
Last verified:
- Russellville Fire Department (staff, area, ISO, calls)
- Franklin County Commission — Departments (EMA number)
- Franklin County, Alabama (2020 population, municipalities)
- Alabama 911 Board — Emergency Communication Districts (Franklin County ECD number)
- Franklin County Sheriff — 911 Dispatch (non-emergency line)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Volunteer Fire Departments (August 2025) (departments, phones)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- National Weather Service — Hackleburg–Phil Campbell EF-5 tornado (2011)
- Franklin County Chamber of Commerce — Emergency contacts (EMA, phones, Station 2)
- NERIS national fire department registry
- Wikipedia — Franklin County, Alabama (area, neighbors)