Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department

In November 1976, a group of men in the Charlottesville-Albemarle area decided to form a volunteer fire department on the north side of Charlottesville; an area which was lacking in fire protection. After a series of public hearings, approximately forty people gathered together to form the Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department. After conducting monthly meetings and extensive fire training, the Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department became operational on November 8, 1977 with one engine (E-81) and forty-three active members, covering the Route 29 corridor from Interstate 64 to the Rivanna Reservoir. In the mid-eighties there was a transition to members spending the night at the station and soon duty crews were developed to share the load across most of the membership. This transition continued evolve and currently volunteers staff an engine company and the tower ladder every night, all weekends, and holidays. Career staff continue to cover weekdays from 6am to 6pm. This combination system keeps the Seminole Trail Volunteer Fire Department staffed round the clock, 365 days a year. During our first year of operation in 1978, we answered 166 calls. Since then, the number of calls we run has increased to over 2,400 in 2006 making us one of the busier volunteer fire departments in the state of Virginia.