COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
Columbus, WI · Columbia County
COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Volunteer department serving Columbus, WI (Columbia County), with 2 stations and 40 total personnel. The department also provides EMS services. Full equipment, coverage, and staffing data from HIFLD are below.
- 40
- Total personnel
- 2
- Stations
- —
- Fire trucks
- Yes
- EMS service
(28/dept)
of 699 WI depts
staffing density
AFG / SAFER
Department Profile
- Type
- MOSTLY VOLUNTEER
- Location
- Columbus, WI
- County
- Columbia County
- FDID
- 11010
FEMA Grant History
| Year | Award | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | EMW2015FO05488 | $170,102 |
Source: USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER) USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER)
Staffing vs the Wisconsin average
How COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT's personnel count compares to the typical department in Wisconsin. It is larger than 69% of the 699 reporting departments statewide.
- Stations
- 2
- State fire deaths/yr
- 54
- WI departments
- 961
What This Data Tells You About COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT operates as a Volunteer department in Columbus, within Columbia County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 40 total personnel, 2 stations, no truck inventory reported. EMS capability is listed as active, which directly affects how medical calls in the service area are routed and how quickly an advanced life support unit can reach a patient. Department type matters because career, volunteer, and combination organizations carry very different response-time profiles and funding sources.
Benchmarking against the state gives this profile context. Wisconsin has 961 registered fire departments and 26,974 total personnel, averaging roughly 28 staff per department. COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT runs 43% above that state average, signalling a larger-than-typical crew likely tied to denser population or higher call volume. The state records about 30,100 fires, 54 fire deaths, and 68% 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: COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $170,102 through the AFG and SAFER programs, money typically spent on PPE, SCBA, training, and hiring or retaining career staff. Residents, insurers, and mutual-aid partners use these data points to judge whether coverage is adequate for the built environment, whether ISO ratings are defensible, and where future capital investment should flow. All figures on this page come from the Homeland Infrastructure Foundation-Level Data (HIFLD) public dataset, USFA published statistics, and USAspending.gov, and are presented without editing so the underlying federal record remains transparent and verifiable.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many firefighters does COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT have? ▼
COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT has 40 total personnel according to HIFLD data. This is 43% above the Wisconsin average of 28 per department.
Does COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT provide EMS services? ▼
Yes, COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in addition to fire response.
How many fire stations does COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT operate? ▼
COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT operates 2 fire stations.
What type of fire department is COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT? ▼
COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Volunteer department serving Columbia County, WI. Volunteer departments rely on community members who serve without full-time compensation.
Has COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT received federal grants? ▼
Yes, COLUMBUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 1 FEMA grant totaling $170,102 through the AFG and SAFER programs. The most recent grant was in fiscal year 2016.
How many fire departments are in Wisconsin? ▼
Wisconsin has 961 fire departments with 26,974 total personnel. 68% are volunteer departments.
Learn More
Related Fire Data
Data from HIFLD Open Data (FEMA/DHS). Not all departments report equally.
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Related
Federal data sources
- HIFLD Fire Stations (DHS/CISA) — station inventory, personnel, and apparatus counts.
- USFA National Fire Department Registry (FEMA) — department-type classification and federal registration.
- FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grants — federal grant award history.
- NFPA 1710 / NFPA 1720 — career and volunteer response benchmarks.
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from FEMA/DHS HIFLD Open Data. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.