Russell County, Alabama (pop. 59,183) is protected by a combination system: the career Phenix City Fire/Rescue, rated ISO Class 2, runs three stations in the county seat on the Chattahoochee River, across from Columbus, Georgia, while 11 volunteer fire departments, including Ladonia, Seale, Fort Mitchell and Hurtsboro, cover the rest of the county's 641 square miles of land. Dial 911 anywhere in the county.
Phenix City Fire/Rescue (main line)
(334) 448-2817- Phenix City Fire Marshal / Fire Prevention: (334) 448-2852
- Russell County E-911 (office): (334) 291-5085
- Phenix City Fire/Rescue, 1111 Broad Street, Phenix City, AL 36867, USA
- phenixcityal.gov/fire-department
- Russell County E-911 office: Mon–Fri 8:30–17:00
Who Provides Fire Protection in Russell County
- Phenix City Fire/Rescue — career, with around 65 full-time personnel in four divisions (administration, fire marshal and prevention, training, suppression), three stations and an ISO Class 2 rating. New firefighters are cross-trained as EMTs. The city reaches north into Lee County, and the department covers that part too.
- 11 volunteer fire departments (listed below); member numbers are not published.
The Russell County Emergency Communications District (Russell County E-911) runs the county's 911 system and assigns 911 addresses. 911 sends the right department based on your address.
Fire Departments in Russell County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phenix City Fire/Rescue | Career (3 stations) | 1111 Broad St, Phenix City, AL 36867 (HQ) | (334) 448-2817 |
| Cottonton VFD | Volunteer | 1835 Hwy 165 S, Pittsview, AL 36871 | (334) 855-9500 |
| Crawford VFD | Volunteer | 6 Hwy 169 S, Phenix City, AL 36869 | (334) 214-9990 |
| Dixie VFD | Volunteer | 15 Lamb Rd, Opelika, AL 36804 | Not published |
| Fort Mitchell VFD | Volunteer | 868 Hwy 165, Fort Mitchell, AL 36856 | (334) 855-2074 |
| Hatchechubbee VFD | Volunteer | 495 Blanding Rd, Hatchechubbee, AL 36858 | (334) 667-6333 |
| Hurtsboro VFD | Volunteer | 405 Daniel St, Hurtsboro, AL 36860 | (334) 667-7771 |
| Ladonia VFD | Volunteer | 3855 US Hwy 80 W, Phenix City, AL 36867 | (334) 297-3342 |
| Mt. Olive–Sunderland VFD | Volunteer | 283 Hwy 165, Phenix City, AL 36867 | (334) 480-0810 |
| Pittsview VFD | Volunteer | 5741 Pittsview Hwy, Pittsview, AL 36871 | Not published |
| Seale VFD | Volunteer | 11 Person Loop, Seale, AL 36875 | (334) 855-3277 |
| Uchee Creek VFD | Volunteer | 174 Clark Rd, Seale, AL 36875 | (334) 480-9500 |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For anything urgent, call 911 rather than a station number.
Phenix City Fire/Rescue Stations
| Station | Address |
|---|---|
| Station 1 | 1910 Crawford Rd, Phenix City, AL |
| Station 3 | 510 S Seale Rd, Phenix City, AL |
| Station 4 (John L. Newsome) | 1300 Airport Rd, Phenix City, AL |
Station 2 was closed; Station 1 now covers its area. Administration is in the Public Safety Building, 1111 Broad St. Source: City of Phenix City.
Estimated Response Time
In Phenix City, three career stations share about 28.1 square miles of land, an average radius of roughly 1.7 miles. The rest of the county (roughly 610 square miles, mostly rural) has 11 volunteer stations, roughly 4.2 miles each, and volunteers must first reach the station.
| Radius | Phenix City (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 6–8 minutes for most addresses in Phenix City 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 Phenix City. Woodland fires are fought with the Alabama Forestry Commission. The Chattahoochee River forms the eastern border with Georgia, and part of the Eufaula National Wildlife Refuge lies in the county.
Apparatus & Equipment
Phenix City Fire/Rescue took delivery in 2021 of an E-One aerial quint with a 95-foot rear-mount ladder and a 2,000-gpm pump. The rest of the city fleet and the volunteer fleets are not published.
- Fire suppression
- Fire prevention
- Rescue
- Aerial ladder
Ratings & Accreditation
Phenix City Fire/Rescue: ISO PPC Class 2 (split 2/9 or 2/2X), obtained in July 2018 with a score of 83.57. Ratings for the rural volunteer districts are not published.
Outdoor burning: Inside Phenix City, a free permit from Phenix City Fire/Rescue is required, issued in person, with a site check before each burn; call (334) 291-4715. The city notes that ADEM rules ban open burning there from May 1 to October 31. 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
- Lee County, AL (north)
- Muscogee County, GA (northeast)
- Chattahoochee County, GA (east)
- Stewart County, GA (southeast)
- Barbour County, AL (south)
- Bullock County, AL (southwest)
- Macon County, AL (northwest)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Russell County?
Phenix City Fire/Rescue: (334) 448-2817. Russell County E-911 office: (334) 291-5085. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Who fights fires outside Phenix City?
Eleven volunteer departments, from Ladonia and Crawford to Seale, Fort Mitchell and Hurtsboro, cover the rural county. 911 dispatches the right one based on your address.
What ISO rating does Phenix City have?
Phenix City Fire/Rescue holds ISO Public Protection Classification Class 2 (2/9 or 2/2X), obtained in July 2018.
How fast does the fire department respond in Russell County?
About 6–8 minutes for the first unit in Phenix City and about 12–18 minutes in rural areas, depending on distance from the nearest volunteer station.
Do I need a burn permit in Russell County?
Burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679. Inside Phenix City, a free city permit is required; call (334) 291-4715.
Last verified:
- City of Phenix City — Fire/Rescue (contacts, personnel, divisions)
- City of Phenix City — Fire Stations
- City of Phenix City — ISO Rating
- City of Phenix City — Burn Permits
- Russell County E-911 (office, hours)
- Alabama 911 Board — ECD directory (Russell County ECD)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Volunteer Fire Departments (August 2025) (addresses, phones)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- Fire Apparatus Magazine — Phenix City aerial quint (2021)
- Wikipedia — Russell County, Alabama (population, area, neighbors)
- Wikipedia — Phenix City, Alabama (land area, Lee County portion)