Fire Division

Duties & Responsibilities

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 and 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.

Fire Inspections & Hazardous Permitting

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.

Insurance Rating (ISO) Classification

The Division works with individual fire departments to help reduce their district's ISO classification.

Additional Responsibilities

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 Safety 

Being safe with fire is everyone's responsibility.

After The Fire (PDF) - A fire at your home or business will change your life in ways you cannot imagine. Knowing where to begin and who can help is important.