and able to volunteer for their community. We understand it is a busy
world with economic uncertainty, people working multiple jobs, caring
for children and family, and perhaps attending school. If everyone
used that excuse, we would not have any members and could not
operate. Our current members are just like most of our citizens
because our members are our community citizens.
The Fire Chief is Jim Ritchey, a 30 plus year veteran who started as a
volunteer and is retired from an urban NC fire department. Chief
Ritchey is supported by a Deputy Chief, an Assistant Chief, two
Captains, two Lieutenants, a cadre of volunteer Firefighters and paid
part-time employees that hold an Engineer rank.
The department serves more than 5,000 residents in western
Rockingham County, a variety of commercial properties,
manufacturing facilities, and farms in the town limits, and the M&M
Rural Fire District with the assistance of Mayodan Fire Department and
its members.
Department apparatus consists of the Chief’s Command Vehicle, 2
Engines, 1 Tower Ladder, 1 Brush Unit, 1 Squad, 1 Service Unit and a
Mobile Cascade unit.
Madison Fire Department was re-evaluated by The Office of the State
Fire Marshal in 2017 and earned and ISO rating of Class 4 inside the
town limits, an ISO rating of Class 6 in the M&M District within 5 road
miles of our station, and an ISO rating of Class 9E in the area between
5 and 6 road miles from our station. We are very proud of the rating
and for our personnel who actively worked long hours through
training and responses to improve the fire rating for the district, along
with our automatic aid departments. An ISO rating lower than Class 10
entitles homeowners and businesses to a reduction in their fire
insurance premiums.
We proudly serve by protecting life, property, and the
environment through:
– Public Education
– Fire Suppression & Investigation
– Motor Vehicle Accident Response
– Emergency Management & Disaster Response
– Hazardous Materials Mitigation & Response
We welcome you to visit and take a tour of our Fire Department
Madison Fire Department is a municipal combination volunteer/paid
per call fire department supplemented by part-time paid staff located
in Madison, North Carolina which is located approximately 20 miles
north of Greensboro in Rockingham County. The department is fire
tax funded and is governed by the Madison Board of Aldermen and
three M&M Fire District Commissioners.
Since our establishment in 1909, the dynamics of the local population,
economics, firefighting operations, and the personal values of people
themselves have drastically changed. We are neighbors helping
neighbors and rely tremendously on volunteer members with only a
few part-time members. The simple facts are fewer people are willing