Wilcox County, Alabama (pop. 10,600), on the Alabama River, is protected entirely by volunteers. Nine volunteer fire departments cover the county's 888 square miles of land: Camden, the county seat, plus Pine Hill, Oak Hill, Pine Apple, Boykin, Coy, Lower Peach Tree, Millers Ferry and Snow Hill. All 911 calls are answered by the Wilcox County E-911 Communications Center in Camden.
Wilcox County E-911 Communications Center (office line)
(334) 682-5860- Wilcox County Emergency Communication District: (334) 682-4911
- Wilcox County Sheriff's Office (business office): (334) 682-4715
- Camden Volunteer Fire Department: (334) 682-9084
- Camden Volunteer Fire Department, 225 Camden Bypass, Camden, AL 36726, USA
- wilcoxcountysheriff.com/contact (E-911 center and sheriff)
- E-911 center: 24/7. Sheriff's business office (12 Water St, Camden): Mon–Fri 8:00–16:30 (CT)
Who Provides Fire Protection in Wilcox County
- Camden Volunteer Fire Department — the department of the county seat (pop. 1,927), listed by the Alabama Forestry Commission as a volunteer department with a station on the Camden Bypass. Member numbers are not published.
- Eight more volunteer fire departments — Pine Hill, Oak Hill, Pine Apple, Boykin, Coy, Lower Peach Tree, Millers Ferry and Snow Hill, each listed by the Alabama Forestry Commission with its own station.
Wilcox County has a single 911 answering point: the Wilcox County E-911 Communications Center in Camden, listed by the Wilcox County Sheriff's Office and staffed 24 hours a day. Places without their own department, such as the town of Yellow Bluff and the community of Catherine, are covered by a neighboring volunteer department. 911 sends the right department based on your address.
Fire Departments in Wilcox County
| Department | Type | Main station | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Camden VFD | Volunteer | 225 Camden Bypass, Camden, AL 36726 | (334) 682-9084 |
| Boykin VFD | Volunteer | 18 Sparrow Ln, Boykin, AL 36723 | Not published |
| Coy VFD | Volunteer | 2352 J M Brooks Rd, Coy, AL 36435 | Not published |
| Lower Peach Tree VFD | Volunteer | 571 David Johns Rd, Lower Peach Tree, AL 36751 | (334) 636-8153 |
| Millers Ferry VFD | Volunteer | 350 Marina Rd, Camden, AL 36726 | Not published |
| Oak Hill VFD | Volunteer | 10731 Hwy 10 E, Oak Hill, AL 36766 | (251) 746-2443 |
| Pine Apple VFD | Volunteer | 71 County Rd 59, Pine Apple, AL 36768 | (251) 746-2874 |
| Pine Hill VFD | Volunteer | 517 Oak Grove St, Pine Hill, AL 36769 | (334) 963-4351 |
| Snow Hill VFD | Volunteer | 1212 Hwy 89 (listed as Pine Apple, AL 36741) | Not published |
Volunteer stations are not always staffed. For anything urgent, call 911 rather than a station number.
Estimated Response Time
Every department in Wilcox County is volunteer, so crews must first reach the station before rolling out. In Camden, one station covers about 4.2 square miles of land, an average distance to the station of roughly 1.2 miles. The other eight stations share the remaining 884 or so square miles of rural land (the county averages about 12 residents per square mile), an average radius of roughly 5.9 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 8–12 minutes in Camden and 12–18 minutes for most rural addresses, with 18 minutes or more for remote parts of the county.
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 |
Most rural 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. The Alabama River winds through the county; Millers Ferry Lock and Dam forms the William "Bill" Dannelly Reservoir near Camden, and International Paper runs a paper mill on the river near Pine Hill. Fires in 1869 and 1870 destroyed about two-thirds of Camden.
Apparatus & Equipment
Wilcox 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 Wilcox 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 Camden and the towns, check local rules with the fire department.
Neighboring Counties
- Dallas County, AL (northeast)
- Lowndes County, AL (east-northeast)
- Butler County, AL (east-southeast)
- Monroe County, AL (south)
- Clarke County, AL (southwest)
- Marengo County, AL (northwest)
FAQ
What is the non-emergency number for fire in Wilcox County?
The Wilcox County E-911 Communications Center office line is (334) 682-5860. The Wilcox County Sheriff's Office business line is (334) 682-4715. For any fire or medical emergency, always call 911.
Which fire departments serve Wilcox County?
Nine volunteer fire departments: Camden, Boykin, Coy, Lower Peach Tree, Millers Ferry, Oak Hill, Pine Apple, Pine Hill and Snow Hill. 911 dispatches the right department based on your address.
Does Camden have a full-time fire department?
No career department is published. The Alabama Forestry Commission lists the Camden fire department as a volunteer department at 225 Camden Bypass, phone (334) 682-9084.
How fast does the fire department respond in Wilcox County?
In Camden, the first unit usually arrives in about 8–12 minutes. In rural parts of the county, about 12–18 minutes is typical, and remote addresses can wait 18 minutes or more.
Do I need a burn permit in Wilcox County?
Burns larger than ¼ acre need an Alabama Forestry Commission permit from (800) 392-5679. Inside Camden and the towns, check local rules with the fire department.
Last verified:
- Wilcox County Sheriff's Office — Contact (E-911 Communications Center, phones, hours)
- Alabama 911 Board — Emergency Communication Districts (Wilcox County ECD phone, PSAP)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Volunteer Fire Departments (August 2025) (departments, addresses, phones)
- Alabama Forestry Commission — Burn Permits
- Wikipedia — Wilcox County, Alabama (2020 population, area, neighbors, paper mill)
- Wikipedia — Camden, Alabama (population, land area, Millers Ferry dam, 1869–70 fires)