Winchester Fire and Rescue is a combined career and volunteer department. The City of Winchester Fire and Rescue Department staffs 70 firefighter/EMTs and Paramedics who operate from four volunteer stations.
Mission/Vision
Vision: Winchester Fire and Rescue Department strives to be a leader in combination Fire and Rescue Services.
Mission: To professionally provide and enhance life safety and fire protection services in a safe, resolute and respectful manner for all our community partners.
Core Values
F - Fairness
I - Integrity
R - Respect
S - Service
T - Trust
Department Overview
- Combination department (career & volunteer)
- Area Served: 9.3 square miles
- Population served: 27,349 residents
- Operate from 4 stations: 3 engine/rescue companies & 1 truck company
- Mutual Aid provided to Frederick, Clarke, Warren and Shenandoah Counties
- 24/48 typical work schedule with a set “Kelly” break
- EMS Revenue Recovery program
- Respond to approximately 6,600 incidents per year
- Fire Marshal: Life Safety, fire investigations, fire safety inspections, plan review, blasting
- Teams: Tactical Emergency Medical Operations (TEMO), Regional Hazmat Team, Honor Guard
- In-house training and safety team
- Regional live burn training facility located in Winchester
Photo Gallery
Leadership
Our focus is to empower members to grow rather than be content. Personnel are expected to be the very best in their profession, accountable at all levels, and to make critical decisions that best benefit the community and department.
Command Staff
Click here to meet the Winchester Fire and Rescue Department command staff.
Goals
Continuously work to meet the 16 Life Safety Initiatives to make sure “Everyone Goes Home” as defined by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation. Serve the community through strategic planning that focuses on staffing, infrastructure and resources. Increase career and volunteer recruitment and retention.
Awards
In 2022, WFRD received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.
History
The first known record of fire suppression capabilities in the City of Winchester was in 1788. The stations were called “engine houses” and were established to support other public buildings in the immediate surrounding area. Click the documents below for an in-depth look at the Winchester Fire and Rescue Department's history.
- Winchester Fire Chief History
- Winchester Fire Department History - 1897
- Winchester Fire Department History - 2015 by Nathan S. Newlin
- Frederick County & Winchester's Fire Department History - 2006 by G.B. Rusty Gill
Annual Reports
- 2020 Annual Report online or download PDF.
- 2019 Annual Report
- 2018 Annual Report
- 2017 Annual Report video
- 2016 Annual Report
- 2015 Annual Report
- 2014 Annual Report
- 2013 Annual Report
- 2012 Annual Report
- 2010 Annual Report
Stations
Collectively, the volunteers own the stations, most of the ambulances, fire engines and ladder trucks utilized for emergency response within the city. In 2018, the City of Winchester purchased its first ladder truck. Click here for more information about volunteering.
Station #1 - Friendship
627 North Pleasant Valley Road
Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 667-6961
Click here to see Friendship's first due boundaries.
Station #2 - Rouss
3 South Braddock Street
Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 662-5529
Click here to see Rouss's first due boundaries.
Station #4 - Shawnee
2210 Valor Drive
Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 662-0855
Click here to see Shawnee's first due boundaries.
Station #5 - South End
17 West Monmouth Street
Winchester, VA 22601
(540) 665-0007
Click here to see South End's first due boundaries.
Services Provided
- Emergency Medical Services
- Fire Suppression
- Hazardous Materials Response and Mitigation
- Fire Investigations
- Fire Prevention Inspections
- Fire and EMS Public Education
- Child Safety Seat Installation
- Fire/EMS Coverage for Local Public Events
- Tactical Emergency Medical Operators for the Police SWAT Team
Prevention/Community Risk Reduction
- Fire Station Tours
- Pre-School and Elementary Fire Safety
- CPR/First Aid Classes
- Senior Citizen Groups
- Dormitory and Residence Hall Fire Safety
- Residential Emergency Planning
- Commercial Emergency Planning
- Smoke Alarms
- Juvenile Fire Setter Intervention
- Child Safety Seat Installation
- Knox Box Program
- After the Fire
- Smoking and Oxygen Fire Safety
- Candle Safety in the Home
- Electrical Fire Safety
- Cooking Fire Safety
Insurance Services Office (ISO)
The Insurance Services Office, Inc. (ISO) collects and evaluates information from communities in the United States on their structure fire suppression capabilities. The data is analyzed using our Fire Suppression Rating Schedule (FSRS™) and then a Public Protection Classification (PPC™) number is assigned to the community.”
As of February 1, 2018, the City’s PPC rating improved from a Class 3 to a Class 2 (improved to Class 3 in 2014). According to the ISO website, there are only 18 Class 2 communities in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This puts the City and Winchester Fire and Rescue in the top 3.55% of rated agencies in Virginia. “Class 1 represents an exemplary fire suppression program, and class 10 indicates that the areas fire suppression program does not meet ISO’s minimum criteria.” Geographically ISO recommends that the City of Winchester maintain three engines and one aerial device in service each day. In addition, to maintain our Emergency Medical Services needs on a daily basis we must also maintain three Advanced Life Support ambulances in service.