The Fire Division provides coordination of Rowan County's fire service, which is made up of 32 individual fire districts. These districts include 29 contracted volunteer or municipal fire departments with a total of 41 stations across the county. Approximately 750 paid and volunteer personnel provide the staffing for these departments. Details about our departments and stations, including contact information may be found in our fire/rescue department & station section.
The Division is responsible with being the lead county agency in conducting fire investigations, helping determine the origin and cause of fires and in investigating all fires where there is serious injury or death. The Division's staff works closely with all local law enforcement agencies, along with municipal fire investigators in joint efforts to provide the best level of service possible to our County's citizens.
In 2007, under a county department reorganization, the Fire Division began the process to provide fire inspections and hazardous permitting, which was previously provided by the County's Building Inspections Division.
The Division also works with individual fire departments to help reduce their district's insurance rating (I.S.O.) classification.
Additionally, the Fire Division personnel respond to major alarm incidents to assist in command and control activities as requested by the incident commander. The fire departments look to the Fire Division staff to advise them at hazardous materials incidents and to provide them with the appropriate resources.
Fire Tax District and Budget Funding Information
Municipal fire departments in Rowan County are provided funding through that particular municipalities' annual budget process.
All of the fire districts established in non-municipal areas of Rowan County have individual established tax rates that are set for the purpose of providing funding for that district's fire protection program. Each Department is managed by a Board of Directors.
The Rowan County Board of Commissioners appoint citizen representatives from each non-municipal fire district every two years as Fire Tax District Commissioners to work with that fire district's Board of Directors in regard to budget planning and expenditures of tax funds for that fire district. The Tax District Commissioners also act as laison between the fire department's Board and the Board of County Commissioners.
Annually, individual non-municipal fire department's Board of Directors establish an operations budget that is submitted to the County Board of Commissioners for review and approval, as part of the Rowan County Budget. Municipal department budgets are submitted to those respective town or city governing bodies through a seperate budget process.
- Fire District Budgeting Information and Forms
Fire / Rescue Recruitment & Retention
Our local volunteer fire and rescue agencies are always on the lookout for energetic citizens who want to help their community and county. Likewise, our two largest municipalities, Salisbury and Kannapolis seek qualified individuals who would have interest in the fire service as a career. If you have an interest in either of these areas, please contact your local fire or rescue department for details.
Fire Safety
Being safe with fire is everyone's responsibility.
- Kitchen Fire Safety / Grease-Cooking Oil Fire Video
Fire / Rescue Services Library & Links of Interest
- NC Department of Labor / OSHA Information & Compliance Aids:
- Local Statistical & Other Helpful Information:
- 2007 Presentation on Rowan County Fire Services
- State Resources