Hale County, Alabama (pop. 14,785), just south of Tuscaloosa County, is protected entirely by volunteers. Nine volunteer fire departments cover the county's 644 square miles of land: Greensboro, the county seat, plus Moundville, Akron, Newbern, Sawyerville, Stewart-Havana, Lock Five, Friendship and Gallion. Hale County 911 runs the county's single 911 center.
Hale County 911 office (non-emergency)
(334) 624-9911- Hale County Emergency Management Agency: (334) 624-8160
- Greensboro Volunteer Fire Department: (334) 624-7344
- Moundville City Hall: (205) 371-2641
- Greensboro Volunteer Fire Department, 554 Armory Street, Greensboro, AL 36744, USA
- Hale County EMA, 998 Church Street, Greensboro, AL 36744
Who Provides Fire Protection in Hale County
- Greensboro Volunteer Fire Department — the department of the county seat, listed by the Alabama Forestry Commission at 554 Armory Street. No career fire department is published for the county.
- Eight more volunteer fire departments — Moundville, Akron, Newbern, Sawyerville, Stewart-Havana, Lock Five, Friendship and Gallion, each listed with its own station.
- West Perry/East Hale VFD — listed under Perry County but with a Reynolds Chapel Rd, Newbern address and phone (334) 624-4850; as its name says, it serves the east Hale border area.
Hale County 911 (Hale County ECD) operates one public safety answering point in Greensboro. Moundville lies partly in Tuscaloosa County. Member numbers and fleets are not published. 911 sends the right department based on your address.
Fire Departments in Hale County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greensboro VFD | Volunteer | 554 Armory St, Greensboro, AL 36744 | (334) 624-7344 |
| Akron VFD | Volunteer | 181 1st Ave S, Akron, AL 35441 | (205) 372-2585 |
| Friendship VFD | Volunteer | 24739 AL Hwy 25, Greensboro, AL 36744 | (334) 624-1842 |
| Gallion VFD | Volunteer | 101 Gallion Rd, Gallion, AL 36742 | Not published |
| Lock Five VFD | Volunteer | 13286 County Rd 16, Greensboro, AL 36744 | (334) 624-1020 |
| Moundville VFD | Volunteer | 410 Market St, Moundville, AL 35474 (City Hall) | (205) 371-2641 (City Hall) |
| Newbern VFD | Volunteer | 7787 AL Hwy 61 S, Newbern, AL 36765 | (334) 624-0898 |
| Sawyerville VFD | Volunteer | 16760 AL Hwy 14, Sawyerville, AL 36776 | (334) 624-7351 |
| Stewart-Havana VFD | Volunteer | 2922 County Rd 59, Moundville, AL 35474 | Not published |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For anything urgent, call 911 rather than a station number.
Estimated Response Time
Every department in Hale County is volunteer, so crews must first reach the station before rolling out. Nine listed stations share about 644 square miles of mostly rural land (about 23 residents per square mile), an average distance to the nearest station of roughly 4.8 miles. Addresses in Greensboro, Moundville, Akron and Newbern are usually much closer to a station.
| Radius | Volunteer departments |
|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 8–12 min |
| 1.5–3 mi | 10–14 min |
| 3–6 mi | 12–18 min |
| > 6 mi | 18+ min |
Typical expectation: about 8–14 minutes in Greensboro, Moundville, Akron and Newbern, 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 the towns, 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 are fought with the Alabama Forestry Commission. On March 17, 2021, an EF-1 tornado with winds up to 110 mph damaged about 30 homes and several businesses in the county, with Moundville among the hardest-hit areas.
Apparatus & Equipment
Hale County's volunteer departments do not publish fleet lists.
- Fire suppression
- Tanker water supply
- Wildland
- Mutual aid
Ratings & Accreditation
ISO Public Protection Classification ratings for Hale County's fire departments 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 town limits, check local rules with the town hall or fire department.
Neighboring Counties
- Tuscaloosa County, AL (north)
- Bibb County, AL (northeast)
- Perry County, AL (southeast)
- Marengo County, AL (south)
- Greene County, AL (west)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Hale County?
The Hale County 911 office answers (334) 624-9911 and Hale County EMA (334) 624-8160. Greensboro Volunteer Fire Department: (334) 624-7344. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Which fire departments serve Hale County?
Nine volunteer fire departments: Greensboro, Moundville, Akron, Newbern, Sawyerville, Stewart-Havana, Lock Five, Friendship and Gallion. 911 dispatches the right department based on your address.
Does Greensboro have a full-time fire department?
No career fire department is published for Greensboro. The Alabama Forestry Commission lists the Greensboro Volunteer Fire Department at 554 Armory Street.
How fast does the fire department respond in Hale County?
In Greensboro, Moundville, Akron and Newbern, the first unit usually arrives in about 8–14 minutes. In rural parts of the county, about 12–18 minutes is typical, depending on distance from the nearest volunteer station.
Do I need a burn permit in Hale County?
Burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679. Inside town limits, check local rules with the town hall or fire department.
Last verified:
- Alabama 911 Board — Emergency Communication Districts (Hale County ECD phone, office, PSAP)
- Hale County Commission — Emergency Management (EMA phone, address)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Volunteer Fire Departments (August 2025) (departments, addresses, phones)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- City of Moundville — Services (City Hall phone)
- Tuscaloosa Thread — Moundville storm damage (2021)
- Wikipedia — Hale County, Alabama (2020 population, area, neighbors, communities)