Perry County, Alabama (pop. 8,511), is protected entirely by volunteers. Twelve volunteer fire departments cover the county's 720 square miles of land, including Marion, the county seat, and Uniontown, plus rural departments such as Sprott, North Perry, East Perry and Heiberger. Perry County 911 answers emergency calls from a single dispatch point in Marion, and the county Emergency Management Agency coordinates disaster response.
Perry County Emergency Management Agency (main line)
(334) 683-2236- Perry County 911 (Emergency Communication District office): (334) 876-6199
- Marion Volunteer Fire Department: (334) 683-6818
- Uniontown Volunteer Fire Department: (334) 628-4021
- Perry County EMA, 1025 W Green Street, Marion, AL 36756, USA
- perrycountyal.gov — Emergency Management Agency
- EMA office hours: Not published
Who Provides Fire Protection in Perry County
- Marion Volunteer Fire Department — the department of the county seat, based at 123 E Jefferson Street. It is listed by the Alabama Forestry Commission as a volunteer department.
- Uniontown Volunteer Fire Department — covers Perry County's second city, from Front Street.
- Ten more volunteer fire departments — East Perry, Hamburg, Heiberger, North Perry, Oakmulgee Creek, Pinetuckey, Sprott, Suttle, West Perry/East Hale and Vaiden Field, each with its own station. Member numbers are not published.
The Perry County Emergency Communication District runs one 911 answering point, in Marion. The Perry County EMA coordinates hazard mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Several rural departments use addresses in Selma, Centerville, Newbern or Marion Junction. 911 sends the right department based on your address.
Fire Departments in Perry County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marion VFD | Volunteer | 123 E Jefferson St, Marion, AL 36756 | (334) 683-6818 |
| East Perry VFD | Volunteer | 150 Melton Ln, Sprott, AL 36756 | (334) 683-4632 |
| Hamburg VFD | Volunteer | Route 2 Box 41, Marion, AL 36756 | (334) 683-9259 |
| Heiberger VFD | Volunteer | 814 Ironville Rd, Marion, AL 36756 (mailing) | (334) 683-9654 |
| North Perry VFD | Volunteer | 13581 Coretta Scott King Hwy, Marion, AL 36756 (mailing) | (334) 683-6255 |
| Oakmulgee Creek VFD | Volunteer | Rt 6 Box 288, Selma, AL 36701 | Not published |
| Pinetuckey VFD | Volunteer | 25 Pinetucky Rd, Centerville, AL 35042 (mailing) | Not published |
| Sprott VFD | Volunteer | Hwy 183, Sprott, AL 36756 | (334) 683-9685 |
| Suttle VFD | Volunteer | 7010 Hwy 14, Selma, AL 36701 (mailing) | (334) 875-9642 |
| Uniontown VFD | Volunteer | 100 Front St, Uniontown, AL 36786 | (334) 628-4021 |
| Vaiden Field VFD | Volunteer | 507 Tom Dickey Rd, Marion Junction, AL 36759 | (334) 419-0974 |
| West Perry/East Hale VFD | Volunteer | Reynolds Chapel Rd, Newbern, AL 36765 | (334) 624-4850 |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For anything urgent, call 911 rather than a station number.
Estimated Response Time
Every department in Perry County is volunteer, so crews must first reach the station before rolling out. In Marion and Uniontown, two stations share about 26 square miles of land, an average distance to the nearest station of roughly 2.0 miles. The other ten stations cover the remaining 694 or so square miles (the county averages about 12 residents per square mile), an average radius of roughly 4.7 miles per 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 10–14 minutes in Marion and Uniontown, 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 |
Outside Marion and Uniontown, many roads have no hydrants, so water comes by tanker and neighboring volunteers are called in; expect the upper end of each range. Part of the Talladega National Forest lies in the county, and woodland fires are fought with the Alabama Forestry Commission.
Apparatus & Equipment
Perry County's volunteer departments do not publish fleet lists or apparatus counts.
- Fire suppression
- Tanker water supply
- Wildland
- Mutual aid
Ratings & Accreditation
ISO Public Protection Classification ratings for Perry 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 Marion or Uniontown, check city rules with the local fire department.
Neighboring Counties
- Bibb County, AL (north)
- Chilton County, AL (northeast)
- Dallas County, AL (east)
- Marengo County, AL (southwest)
- Hale County, AL (west)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Perry County?
Perry County Emergency Management Agency: (334) 683-2236. Perry County 911 office: (334) 876-6199. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Which fire departments serve Perry County?
Twelve volunteer fire departments: Marion, Uniontown, East Perry, Hamburg, Heiberger, North Perry, Oakmulgee Creek, Pinetuckey, Sprott, Suttle, Vaiden Field and West Perry/East Hale. 911 dispatches the right department based on your address.
Does Marion have a full-time fire department?
No career fire department is published for Perry County. The Alabama Forestry Commission lists the Marion Volunteer Fire Department, 123 E Jefferson St, as a volunteer department.
How fast does the fire department respond in Perry County?
In Marion and Uniontown, the first unit usually arrives in about 10–14 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 Perry County?
Burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679. Inside Marion or Uniontown, check local rules with the fire department.
Last verified:
- Perry County — Emergency Management Agency (phone, address, role)
- Alabama 911 Board — Emergency Communication Districts (Perry County ECD phone, office, PSAP)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Volunteer Fire Departments (August 2025) (departments, addresses, phones)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- Wikipedia — Perry County, Alabama (2020 population, area, neighbors, national forest)
- Wikipedia — Marion, Alabama (land area)
- Wikipedia — Uniontown, Alabama (land area)