Volunteer EMS Provider

MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT

Marion, NC · Mcdowell County

MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Volunteer department serving Marion, NC (Mcdowell County), with 1 station and 34 total personnel. The department also provides EMS services. Full equipment, coverage, and staffing data from HIFLD are below.

34
Total personnel
1
Stations
Fire trucks
Yes
EMS service
+31%
above NC avg personnel
(26/dept)
48th
percentile by size
of 953 NC depts
34
personnel per station
staffing density
$641K
2 FEMA grants
AFG / SAFER

Department Profile

Type
MOSTLY VOLUNTEER
Location
Marion, NC
FDID
05605

FEMA Grant History

$641K
Total Funding
2
Awards
Year Award Amount
2019 EMW-2019-FG-04937 $217,048
2018 EMW-2018-FH-00255 $424,034.78

Source: USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER) USAspending.gov (CFDA 97.044 AFG / 97.083 SAFER)

Staffing vs the North Carolina average

How MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT's personnel count compares to the typical department in North Carolina. It is larger than 48% of the 953 reporting departments statewide.

▲ 31% above the state average
Stations
1
State fire deaths/yr
131
NC departments
1,534

What This Data Tells You About MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT

MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT operates as a Volunteer department in Marion, within Mcdowell County, and the HIFLD and USFA records give a precise structural picture of its response capacity. The department reports 34 total personnel, 1 station, 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. North Carolina has 1,534 registered fire departments and 40,350 total personnel, averaging roughly 26 staff per department. MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT runs 31% above that state average, signalling a larger-than-typical crew likely tied to denser population or higher call volume. The state records about 62,800 fires, 131 fire deaths, and 57% 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: MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 2 FEMA grants totaling $641,082.78 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 MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT have?

MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT has 34 total personnel according to HIFLD data. This is 31% above the North Carolina average of 26 per department.

Does MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT provide EMS services?

Yes, MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT provides Emergency Medical Services (EMS) in addition to fire response.

How many fire stations does MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT operate?

MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT operates 1 fire station.

What type of fire department is MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT?

MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT is a Volunteer department serving Mcdowell County, NC. Volunteer departments rely on community members who serve without full-time compensation.

Has MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT received federal grants?

Yes, MARION FIRE DEPARTMENT has received 2 FEMA grants totaling $641,082.78 through the AFG and SAFER programs. The most recent grant was in fiscal year 2019.

How many fire departments are in North Carolina?

North Carolina has 1,534 fire departments with 40,350 total personnel. 57% are volunteer departments.

Data from HIFLD Open Data (FEMA/DHS). Not all departments report equally.

Related

Data sourced from official public datasets. See our methodology for details. Retrieved and formatted by PlainFireData Editorial

Federal data sources

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.