Charleston Fire Department

What This Data Tells You About Charleston Fire Department

Charleston Fire Department operates as a Career (Paid) department in Charleston, within Kanawha County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 203 total personnel, 10 stations, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as active.

Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. West Virginia has 511 registered fire departments and 11,756 total personnel, averaging roughly 23 staff per department. Charleston Fire Department runs 783% above that state average, signalling a larger-than-typical crew likely tied to denser population or higher call volume. The state records about 15,700 fires, 55 fire deaths, and 70% volunteer coverage each year, which shapes training, funding priorities, and mutual-aid patterns felt at every department in the state.

Federal investment further defines this department's trajectory: Charleston Fire Department has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $419,028.18 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff.