VFSI proudly protects approximately 21,000 people residing in the 482 square miles which are rural areas of Bedford County, Tennessee, lying outside the city of Shelbyville. Our department is a private department whose members are on a combination of paid and volunteer status.
The Service operates from nine stations with 140 firefighters and 31 pieces of apparatus.
In addition to fire suppression, the Service also provides fire safety inspections and public fire education. VFSI stands ready to assist other public safety agencies in rescue,hazardous materials incidents, natural and man-caused disasters.
VFSI is positioned ready to assist Shelbyville with fire protection if Shelbyville chooses this protection.
VFSI is divided into seven different stations.
The headquarters section consists of a paid Chief, a paid Training Officer, three paid shift Captains, nine paid firefighters, and volunteer firefighters.
The District Stations consist of one District Chief, one or more Captains, and are manned by volunteer firefighters within each station's responsibility district. All District Chiefs are under the command of VFSI Station 1 officers.
Each station, other than Wartrace and Bell Buckle, is an entity of VFSI. Wartrace and Bell Buckle departments are adopted as volunteer fire stations through first responding mutual aid agreements with VFSI.
District Chiefs and their subordinate officers are appointed by the VFSI Chief.
The number of officers varies from station to station, but each has a District chief who is in charge of all fire protection activities of the station, and the needed company officers to direct the activities of the various fire companies housed in the station.
Each station has a governing board, consisting of the officers, that carries out department policies pertaining to discipline of firefighters, addition of any new firefighters, and business management decisions. Each station conducts and makes its own business management decisions
Volunteer Fire Services Incorporated Bedford County 104 Prince Street Shelbyville, TN 37160
