In 1903 the county's first fire department was formed in the town of Vienna where a hand-drawn chemical wagon was kept under the porch of the Freeman house.
Fourteen years later a fire destroyed much of Herndon because there was no trained personnel in town — sparking the formation of a Herndon Volunteer Fire Department.
At that time, all firefighters in the county were volunteers.
It wasn't until 1949 that the Board of Supervisors approved the hiring of firefighters for each of the volunteer stations and created the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department.
Although these men were primarily day workers, they were on call from their homes at night.
As the county grew and housing increased, more stations were added, and more career firefighters were hired. Today the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department is a combination career and volunteer organization providing fire suppression, emergency medical, technical rescue, fire prevention and educational services.
In addition to hired personnel, volunteers continue to hold a supporting role.
Although all stations in the county are staffed by career firefighters and paramedics 24 hours a day, seven days a week, volunteers occasionally supplement the career staffing and provide service to special events.
The volunteers are trained at the county's Fire and Rescue Academy and must complete over one year of training on nights and weekends to function in a similar role of a career firefighter.