List of Delaware fire departments explained

The fire departments in Delaware are members of the Delaware Volunteer Firemen's Association, with the exception of the fire brigades and airport fire departments. The City of Wilmington fire department is an associate member.

New Castle County

Fire Department	Town/City	Station Number	Founded	Image
Volunteer Hose Co.	Middletown	Station 1	September 30, 1887
Mill Creek Fire Co.	Pike Creek	Station 2	January 6, 1927
Christiana Fire Co.	Christiana	Station 3	October 7, 1921
Odessa Fire Co.	Odessa	Station 4	1926
Christiana Fire Co.	Christiana	Station 6	October 7, 1921
Aetna Hose, Hook, & Ladder Co.	Newark	Station 7^[1]	December 17, 1888
Aetna Hose, Hook, & Ladder Co.	Newark	Station 8	December 17, 1888
Aetna Hose, Hook, & Ladder Co.	Newark	Station 9	December 17, 1888
Aetna Hose, Hook, & Ladder Co.	Newark	Station 10	December 17, 1888
Brandywine Hundred Fire Co.	Bellefonte	Station 11^[2]	March 19, 1924
Christiana Fire Co.	Christiana	Station 12^[3]	October 7, 1921
Claymont Fire Co.	Claymont	Station 13	January 5, 1928
Cranston Heights Fire Co.	Cranston Heights	Station 14^[4]	November 16, 1919
Delaware City Fire Co.	Delaware City	Station 15 (One Five)^[5]	March 17, 1887
Elsmere Fire Co.	Elsmere	Station 16 https://www.elsmerefc.org/	March 18, 1921
Five Points Fire Co.	Five Points	Station 17^[6]	May 7, 1921
Good Will Fire Co.	New Castle	Station 18^[7]	1907
Hockessin Fire Co.	Hockessin	Station 19^[8]	October 15, 1936
Holloway Terrace Fire Co.	Holloway Terrace	Station 20^[9]	September 20, 1921
Mill Creek Fire Co.	Marshallton	Station 21^[10]	January 6, 1927
Minquadale Fire Co.	Minquadale	Station 22	1925
Minquas Fire Co.	Newport	Station 23^[11]	May 21, 1907
Odessa Fire Co.	Odessa	Station 24^[12]	1926
Talleyville Fire Co.	Talleyville	Station 25^[13]	October 24, 1928
Townsend Fire Co.	Townsend	Station 26	1926
Volunteer Hose Co.	Middletown	Station 27	September 30, 1887
Wilmington Manor Fire Co.	Wilmington Manor	Station 28^[14]	November 13, 1945
Port Penn Fire Co.	Port Penn	Station 29^[15]	August 14, 1951
Belvedere Fire Co.	Belvedere	Station 30^[16]	1949
Wilmington Manor Fire Co.	Wilmington Manor	Station 32	November 13, 1945
Delaware Air National Guard, New Castle County Airport Crash Fire Rescue	Wilmington Manor New Castle County Airport	Station 33
Delaware City Refinery Fire Department	Delaware City PBF Energy^[17]	Station 34
Dupont - Chestnut Run Plaza	Wilmington DuPont	Station 35-1
FMC - Stine Research Center^[18]	Newark FMC Corporation	Station 35-3
Dupont - Experimental Station Laboratories	Wilmington DuPont	Station 35-8
Christiana Care Fire Protection	Christiana	Station 37
Winterthur Museum Fire Brigade	Wilmington Winterthur Museum	Station 38
Wilmington Fire Dept.	Wilmington	Station 1	November 30, 1921
Wilmington Fire Dept.	Wilmington	Station 2	November 30, 1921
Wilmington Fire Dept.	Wilmington	Station 3	November 30, 1921
Wilmington Fire Dept.	Wilmington	Station 4	November 30, 1921
Wilmington Fire Dept.	Wilmington	Station 5	November 30, 1921
Wilmington Fire Dept.	Wilmington	Station 6	November 30, 1921
Wilmington Fire Dept.	Wilmington	Station 7	November 30, 1921

• Originally organized as "Volunteer Fire Company" on March 17, 1887 and later underwent a name change to "Delaware City Hose Company" on January 23, 1889. There was a disrupted period of inactivity where there was no organized fire company and the Delaware City Fire Company was reorganized on July 9, 1924, however, the company uses the initial date of organization for the previous company in 1887.
• Originally organized as the "Minquas Civic Association and Fire Company" and later changed their name to "Minquadale Fire Company, Inc." in 1929 to avoid confusion with Minquas of Newport.
• Originally organized as "Nonesuch Fire Company" and changed their name one month later to "Minquas Fire Company."
• Originally organized as "Augustine Beach Fire Company" and changed their name on December 3, 1957 to "Port Penn Volunteer Fire Company."

Kent County

Fire Department	Town/City	Station Number	Image
Bowers Fire Co.	Bowers Beach	Station 40
Camden-Wyoming Fire Co.	Camden	Station 41
Carlisle Fire Co.	Milford	Station 42
Cheswold Fire Co.	Cheswold	Station 43
Citizens Hose Co.	Smyrna	Station 44
Clayton Fire Co.	Clayton	Station 45
Dover Fire Department	Dover	Station 46 - Station 1
Dover Fire Department	Dover	Station 46 - Station 2
Farmington Fire Co.	Farmington	Station 47
Felton Fire Co.	Felton	Station 48
Frederica Fire Co.	Frederica	Station 49
Harrington Fire Co.	Harrington	Station 50
Hartly Fire Co.	Hartly	Station 51
Houston Fire Co.	Houston	Station 52
Leipsic Fire Co.	Leipsic	Station 53
Little Creek Fire Co.	Little Creek	Station 54
Magnolia Fire Co.	Magnolia	Station 55 ^[19]
Marydel Fire Co.	Marydel	Station 56
South Bowers Fire Co.	Thompsonville	Station 57
Dover Air Force Base Crash, Fire, Rescue	Dover Air Force Base	Station 58
Energizer/Playex, Fire Brigade, EMS	Dover	(No Station Number)

Sussex County

Fire Department	Town/City	Station Number	Image
Bethany Beach Fire Co.	Bethany Beach	Station 70 - Station 1^[20]
Bethany Beach Fire Co.	Fenwick Island	Station 70 - Station 2
Blades Fire Co.	Blades	Station 71^[21]
Bridgeville Fire Co.	Bridgeville	Station 72^[22]
Dagsboro Fire Co.	Dagsboro	Station 73^[23]
Delmar Fire Co.	Delmar	Station 74^[24]
Ellendale Fire Co.	Ellendale	Station 75 - Station 1^[25]
Ellendale Fire Co.	Lincoln City	Station 75 - Station 2
Frankford Fire Co.	Frankford	Station 76^[26]
Georgetown Fire Co.	Georgetown	Station 77^[27]
Greenwood Fire Co.	Greenwood	Station 78^[28]
Gumboro Fire Co.	Gumboro	Station 79^[29]
Indian River Fire Co.	Oak Orchard	Station 80 - Station 1^[30]
Indian River Fire Co.	Long Neck	Station 80 - Station 2
Laurel Fire Co.	Laurel	Station 81 - Station 1^[31]
Laurel Fire Co.	Sycamore	Station 81 - Station 2
Lewes Fire Co.	Lewes	Station 82 - Station 1^[32]
Lewes Fire Co.	Nassau	Station 82 - Station 2
Lewes Fire Co.	Angola	Station 82 - Station 3*
Millsboro Fire Co.	Millsboro	Station 83^[33]
Millville Fire Co.	Millville	Station 84 - Station 1^[34]
Millville Fire Co.	Clarksville	Station 84 - Station 2^[35]
Milton Fire Co.	Milton	Station 85^[36]
Rehoboth Beach Fire Co.	Rehoboth Beach	Station 86 - Station 1^[37]
Rehoboth Beach Fire Co.	Rehoboth Beach	Station 86 - Station 2
Rehoboth Beach Fire Co.	Angola	Station 86 - Station 3*
Seaford Fire Co.	Seaford	Station 87^[38]
Selbyville Fire Co.	Selbyville	Station 88^[39]
Memorial Fire Co.	Slaughter Beach	Station 89 - Station 1^[40]
Memorial Fire Co.	Argo's Corner	Station 89 - Station 2
Roxana Fire Co.	Roxana	Station 90^[41]

• Lewes Station 3 and Rehoboth Beach Station 3 is a joint station housing apparatus from both fire departments in the same building on John J. Williams Highway in Angola.

Defunct

Fire Department	Town/City	Service Time	Image	Notes
Brandywine Fire Co.	Wilmington	1850s		Chartered in the city's Ninth Ward, the charter was relinquished in the 1850s. A new iteration was started in the Ninth Ward some fifty-plus years later utilizing the same charter.
Brandywine Fire Co. No. 10	Wilmington	1901 - November 30, 1921		Restarted under the same charter as the previous Brandywine Fire Co. in 1901, officially recognized by the city of Wilmington in June 1902. dissolved into the newly established Wilmington Fire Department when fire protection was taken over by the city.
Delaware Fire Co. No. 3^[42]	Wilmington	April 22, 1819 - November 30, 1921		Dissolved into the newly established Wilmington Fire Department when fire protection was taken over by the city.
Fame Fire Co. No. 6	Wilmington	January 1, 1839 - September 1, 1920		Quit service to the City of Wilmington on September 1, 1920 with no notice given.
Fort Miles Fire	Lewes			United States Army fire company
Friendship Fire Co. No. 1	Wilmington	December 22, 1775 - September 1, 1920		Dissolved at midnight September 1, 1920 after giving the City of Wilmington notice and offering the city first option on its apparatus.
Independence Fire Co. No. 12	Wilmington	? - November 30, 1921		Dissolved into the newly established Wilmington Fire Department when fire protection was taken over by the city.
Lakeview Hook and Ladder Co.	Wyoming	August 20, 1890 - 1927		Started as the Lakeview Hook and Ladder Company on August 20, 1890. The name was changed to the Wyoming Fire Company in 1916 and continued to operate until merging with the Rescue Hook and Ladder Company of Camden to become the current Camden-Wyoming Fire Company.
Lenape Fire Co.	New Castle	April 1887 - April 1906		Disbanded after waning interest and lack of funds for several years, property was seized and sold at sheriff sale Saturday, April 21, 1906.
Liberty Fire Co. No. 9	Wilmington	February 12, 1891 - September 1, 1920		Quit service to the City of Wilmington on September 1, 1920 with no notice given.
Penn Fire Co.	New Castle	1820 - ?		Organized in 1820, incorporated February 6, 1823, unknown date of disbandment.
Phoenix Fire Co. No. 4	Wilmington	January 26, 1835 - September 1, 1920		Quit service to the City of Wilmington on September 1, 1920 with no notice given.
Reliance Fire Co. No. 2	Wilmington	March 6, 1796 - November 30, 1921		Dissolved into the newly established Wilmington Fire Department when fire protection was taken over by the city.
Rescue Fire Co. No. 1	Seaford			Municipal fire department run by the town of Seaford prior to the establishment of the volunteer fire department in 1901.
Rescue Fire Co. No. 10	Wilmington	November 22, 1901- 1902		Chartered in November 1901 and procured a steam fire engine in December 1901, responded to fires in the Ninth Ward in 1902 while competing with the Brandywine and Independence fire companies for recognition, never formally recognized by the city of Wilmington and disbanded.
Rescue Hook and Ladder Co.	Camden	February 4, 1865 - 1927		Small volunteer fire company that merged with Wyoming (formerly Lakeview Hook and Ladder) Fire Co. to become the current Camden-Wyoming Fire Co.
Riverside Fire Co.	Dobbinsville	Spring 1948 - ?		Small volunteer fire company in the Dobbinsville neighborhood of the town of New Castle, active at least through 1950, but never admitted entrance to county or state fire associations.
Union Fire Co.	New Castle	March 1796 - ?		Organized in March 1796, incorporated January 1804, unknown date of disbandment.
Union Fire Co. No. 11	Wilmington	? - November 30, 1921		Dissolved into the newly established Wilmington Fire Department when fire protection was taken over by the city.
Washington Fire Co. No. 7	Wilmington	January 4, 1840 - September 1, 1920		Quit service to the City of Wilmington on September 1, 1920 with no notice given.
Water Witch Fire Co. No. 5	Wilmington	January 22, 1835 - August 9, 1885;April 12, 1893 - November 30, 1921		Dissolved into the newly established Wilmington Fire Department when fire protection was taken over by the city.
Weccacoe Fire Co. No. 8	Wilmington	July 16, 1869 - September 1, 1920		Quit service to the City of Wilmington on September 1, 1920 with no notice given.
Woodcrest Fire Co.	Newport	1941 - November, 1958		Located on Boxwood Avenue off Boxwood Road, established as a Civil Defense FD in WW2, chartered as a regular FD in 1945

Notes and References

1. Web site: Aetna Hose Hook & Ladder Company. www.aetnahhl.org. 2017-07-13.
2. Web site: Brandywine Hundred Fire Company - New Castle County, Delaware. Company. Brandywine Hundred Fire. www.bhfc11.com. 2017-07-13.
3. Web site: Christiana Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. christianafc.org. en. 2017-07-13.
4. Web site: Cranston Heights Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. www.chfc14.com. 2017-07-13.
5. Web site: Delaware City Fire Company - New Castle County, Delaware. Design. Chief Web. www.dcfc15.com. 2017-07-13.
6. Web site: five-points-fc. five-points-fc. 2017-07-13.
7. Web site: Goodwill Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. www.gwfc18.com. en. 2017-07-13.
8. Web site: Hockessin Fire Company – Hockessin, DE. www.hockessin19.com. en-US. 2017-07-13.
9. Web site: Holloway Terrace Fire Company - New Castle County, Delaware. Design. Chief Web. www.ht20fc.com. 2017-07-13.
10. Web site: Mill Creek Fire Company - Delaware. Design. Chief Web. www.millcreekfireco.org. 2017-07-13.
11. Web site: Minquas Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. www.minquas23.com. en-US. 2017-07-13.
12. Web site: Odessa Fire Company - New Castle County, DE. Design. Chief Web. www.ofc424.com. 2017-07-13.
13. Web site: Talleyville Fire Company - New Castle County, DE. Design. Chief Web. www.talleyvillefireco.org. 2017-07-13.
14. Web site: Wilmington Manor Fire Co.. Design. Chief Web. www.wmvfc.com. en. 2017-07-13.
15. Web site: Port Penn Vol. Fire Co. - New Castle County, Delaware. Design. Chief Web. www.ppvfc.org. 2017-07-13.
16. Web site: Home . bvfd30.com.
17. Web site: Cook. Bill. Delaware City refinery to add hundreds of jobs . 4 June 2010. WHYY-TV. 17 December 2010.
18. Web site: Mordock . Jeff . DuPont sells part of Stine-Haskell to FMC, saving 600 jobs . 2023-10-11 . The News Journal . en-US.
19. Web site: Magnolia Fire Company - Kent County, Delaware. www.magnolia55.com. 2017-07-13.
20. Web site: Bethany Beach Fire Company. www.bethanybeachfire.com. en. 2017-07-13.
21. Web site: Blades Fire Company - Sussex County, Delaware. Design. Chief Web. blades71.com. 2017-07-13.
22. Web site: Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Company - Sussex County, Delaware. Design. Chief Web. bridgeville72.com. 2017-07-13.
23. Web site: Dagsboro Volunteer Fire Department. Design. Chief Web. dagsborovfd.com. 2017-07-13.
24. Web site: Delmar Fire Department. Design. Chief Web. delmar74fire.com. 2017-07-13.
25. Web site: Ellendale Fire Company - Sussex County, Delaware. Design. Chief Web. evfd75.com. 2017-07-13.
26. Web site: Frankford Volunteer Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. frankfordfire.com. en. 2017-07-13.
27. Web site: Georgetown Fire Company - Sussex County, Delaware. Design. Chief Web. georgetown77.com. 2017-07-13.
28. Web site: Greenwood Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. www.greenwood78.org. 2017-07-13.
29. Web site: Gumboro Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. gumborovfc.com. 2017-07-13.
30. Web site: Indian River Vol. Fire Co.. irvfc.com. 2017-07-13.
31. Web site: Laurel Fire Department - Sussex County, Delaware. Design. Chief Web. laurelfiredept.com. 2017-07-13.
32. Web site: Lewes Fire Department. www.lewesfire.com. 2017-07-13.
33. Web site: Millsboro Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. www.millsborofire.com. 2017-07-13.
34. Web site: Millville Volunteer Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. millville84.com. 2017-07-13.
35. Web site: Millville Volunteer Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. millville84.com. 2017-07-13.
36. Web site: Milton Fire Department - Sussex County, Delaware. Design. Chief Web. milton85.com. 2017-07-13.
37. Web site: Rehoboth Beach Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. www.rehobothbeachfire.com. en. 2017-07-13.
38. Web site: Seaford Fire Department - Sussex County, Delaware. Technologies. Chief. seaford87.com. 2017-07-13.
39. Web site: Selbyville Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. www.selbyville88.com. en. 2017-07-13.
40. Web site: Memorial Fire Company - Slaughter Beach, Delaware. Design. Chief Web. www.memorialfire89.com. 2017-07-13.
41. Web site: Roxana Fire Company. Design. Chief Web. www.roxana90.com. en. 2017-07-13.
42. News: Wilmington Volunteer Fire Department, 1899, Company Descriptions. Genealogy Today. 2017-07-13.