The fire-rescue system in Albemarle County is very complex. It is a mixture of private organizations (volunteer fire and rescue companies) and local government. The overall system is predominately volunteer, but does contain a rapidly growing paid staff. County-wide, there are approximately 650 volunteers and about 80 paid staff. Over the next five years, an additional 100 paid personnel are planned to be hired, mostly to staff the two new fire stations that are planned.
Stony Point Volunteer Fire Company has about 30 active members. As a wildland-urban interface fire station, SPVFC members respond to approximately 300 calls per year. These calls are split approximately equally into thirds: 1/3 are fire-related calls, 1/3 are EMS calls, and 1/3 are motor vehicle accidents. We are always recruiting new members from both the local community and the University of Virginia student body.
The Stony Point Volunteer Fire Company responds to a wide range of emergency incidents including motor vehicle collisions, medical emergencies and fires. We routinely respond to calls not only in the Stony Point area, but also to addresses in Earlysville, Keswick, Charlottesville, Barboursville and Ruckersville. We are passionate about being ready to help our neighbors in their time of need. The SPVFC is a combination department, which means that our station is composed of both volunteer and paid crews. Emergency Incident responsibilities and station duties are based on training, experience and rank, not pay.
During week days from 6 am to 6 pm, the on-duty crew at Stony Point is mostly paid. On week nights from 6 pm to 6 am as well as on weekends and holidays, the crews are exclusively volunteer. There is no difference in certification standards between volunteer and paid firefighters in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Professionalism and pride in a job well done don't come from a pay check, but rather from the satisfaction of knowing that you make a difference. Maybe that's one reason why 73% of America's firefighters are volunteer.
Stony Point Volunteer Fire Company 3827 Stony Point Rd Charlottesville, VA 22911 (434)973-7733