Sumter County, Alabama (pop. 12,345), on the Mississippi state line, is a rural county with about 14 residents per square mile. Livingston Fire and Rescue, listed as a combination department, covers the county seat and home of the University of West Alabama, while 18 volunteer fire departments, including York, Cuba, Epes, Gainesville and North Sumter, protect the rest of the county's 904 square miles of land. Sumter County E-911 answers all emergency calls.
Sumter County EMA & E-911 District (main line)
(205) 652-6347- Livingston Fire and Rescue (non-emergency): (205) 652-9777
- Sumter County Sheriff's Office: (205) 652-7984
- York Volunteer Fire Department: (205) 392-5261
- Sumter County EMA, 110 Hospital Drive, Suite 104, Livingston, AL 35470, USA
- EMA e-mail: sumterema@bellsouth.net (mail: P.O. Box 99, Livingston, AL 35470)
Who Provides Fire Protection in Sumter County
- Livingston Fire and Rescue — listed in the national NERIS registry as a combination (paid and volunteer) department with one station at 1304 N Washington St. It covers Livingston, the county seat (pop. 3,436) and home of the University of West Alabama.
- 18 volunteer fire departments (listed below), from York and Cuba in the south to North Sumter (Geiger), Panola and Gainesville in the north; member numbers are not published.
The Sumter County Emergency Communication District runs the county's single 911 answering point in Livingston, and the county Emergency Management Agency shares its (205) 652-6347 line. 911 sends the right department based on your address.
Fire Departments in Sumter County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Livingston Fire and Rescue | Combination | 1304 N Washington St, Livingston, AL 35470 | (205) 652-9777 |
| Bellamy VFD | Volunteer | 527 Pine St, Bellamy, AL 36901 | (205) 392-9055 |
| Belmont-McDowell VFD | Volunteer | 10835 County Rd 23, Coatopa, AL 35470 | (334) 289-5666 |
| Bluffport VFD | Volunteer | 4459 Bluffport Rd (Co Rd 21), Livingston, AL 35470 | (205) 652-9294 |
| Boyd VFD | Volunteer | 24566 Hwy 17, Livingston, AL 35470 | (205) 652-4060 |
| Coatopa-Belmont VFD | Volunteer | 1651 County Rd 22, Livingston, AL 35470 | (205) 652-9633 |
| Coatopa-Dug Hill VFD | Volunteer | 111 Mundy Rd, Coatopa, AL 35470 | (205) 652-7545 |
| Cuba VFD | Volunteer | 406 4th St, Cuba, AL 36907 | (205) 392-7181 |
| Emelle VFD | Volunteer | 28 Park St, Emelle, AL 35459 | (205) 652-4861 |
| Epes VFD | Volunteer | 15141 Main St, Epes, AL 35460 | Not published |
| Gainesville VFD | Volunteer | 1622 Yankee St, Gainesville, AL 35464 | (205) 499-9763 |
| Kinterbish-Bronson VFD | Volunteer | 5541 Kinterbish Rd 10, Cuba, AL 36907 | (205) 392-5002 |
| Morning Star VFD | Volunteer | Hwy 27 & Wilson Rd, Cuba, AL 36907 | (205) 392-5800 |
| North Sumter VFD | Volunteer | 40464 Hwy 17, Geiger, AL 35459 | (205) 455-2131 |
| Panola VFD | Volunteer | 3620 Parkway 34, Panola, AL 35477 | (205) 344-3499 |
| Siloam VFD | Volunteer | 10685 AL Hwy 17, York, AL 36925 | (205) 392-4448 |
| Ward VFD | Volunteer | 132 Fire House Rd, Ward, AL 36922 | (205) 392-5777 |
| Whitfield VFD | Volunteer | 5947 County Rd 42, York, AL 36925 | Not published |
| York VFD | Volunteer | 607 2nd Ave, York, AL 36925 | (205) 392-5261 |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For anything urgent, call 911 rather than a station number.
Estimated Response Time
In Livingston, one station covers about 7.1 square miles of land, an average radius of roughly 1.5 miles. The rest of the county (about 897 square miles, roughly 10 residents per square mile) has 18 volunteer stations, roughly 4.0 miles each, and volunteers must first reach the station.
| Radius | Livingston (combination) | Rural county (volunteer) |
|---|---|---|
| ≤ 1.5 mi | 5–8 min | 8–12 min |
| 1.5–3 mi | 7–10 min | 10–14 min |
| 3–6 mi | 9–13 min | 12–18 min |
| > 6 mi | 13+ min | 18+ min |
Typical expectation: about 5–10 minutes for most Livingston addresses 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 Livingston and York. Woodland fires are fought with the Alabama Forestry Commission. The Noxubee River crosses the county.
Apparatus & Equipment
Fleet lists for Livingston Fire and Rescue and the volunteer departments are not published.
- Fire suppression
- Rescue
- Tanker water supply
- Wildland
Ratings & Accreditation
ISO Public Protection Classification ratings for Sumter 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 Livingston or York, check city rules with the local fire department.
Neighboring Counties
- Pickens County, AL (north)
- Greene County, AL (northeast)
- Marengo County, AL (southeast)
- Choctaw County, AL (south)
- Lauderdale County, MS (southwest)
- Kemper County, MS (west)
- Noxubee County, MS (northwest)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Sumter County?
Sumter County EMA and E-911 District: (205) 652-6347. Livingston Fire and Rescue: (205) 652-9777. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Which fire departments serve Sumter County?
Livingston Fire and Rescue, a combination department, and 18 volunteer departments, including York, Cuba, Epes, Gainesville, Emelle and North Sumter. 911 dispatches the right one based on your address.
Does York have its own fire department?
Yes. York Volunteer Fire Department operates from 607 2nd Avenue in York; its listed number is (205) 392-5261. Siloam and Whitfield VFDs also have York addresses.
How fast does the fire department respond in Sumter County?
About 5–10 minutes for the first unit in Livingston and about 12–18 minutes in rural areas, depending on distance from the nearest volunteer station.
Do I need a burn permit in Sumter County?
Burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679. Inside Livingston or York, check local rules with the fire department.
Last verified:
- Alabama EMA — County Contacts (Sumter County EMA phone, address, e-mail)
- Alabama 911 Board — Emergency Communication Districts (Sumter County ECD phone, office, PSAP)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Volunteer Fire Departments (August 2025) (departments, addresses, phones)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- University of West Alabama — Sumter County directory (2023) (Sheriff, emergency management phones)
- NERIS registry — Livingston Fire and Rescue (type, station)
- Wikipedia — Sumter County, Alabama (2020 population, area, density, neighbors)
- Wikipedia — Livingston, Alabama (2020 population, land area, University of West Alabama)