History of the Volunteer Fire and Rescue Services
in King George County

First Organized Fire Department for King George County

On  August 7, 1946 residents met in the auditorium of the King George County Courthouse to organize a fire department. Superintendent of King George  and Stafford County Schools T. Benton Gayle brought some firemen from  Falmouth and Fredericksburg “...who explained very thoroughly the  importance of a fire department in a community,...” according to the  minutes of that meeting. 

The group of twenty-five dedicated, community-minded individuals who came to a second meeting on August 14, 1946 became the charter members of the King George Volunteer Fire Association (Later renamed King George Volunteer Fire Department). The first Fire Chief of this organization was Frank T. Hudson. The primary mission of this volunteer department was to provide fire protection for the citizens of King George County.

Creation of the Rescue Squad

In 1954, The Dahlgren Rescue Squad was created to provide rescue and emergency medical services to the community. This organization became one of the most cutting edge EMS agencies in this region. DRS was the first organization in the region to provide advanced life support services. It was also the first agency in the region to perform telemetry. In 1989, DRS became the first volunteer EMS agency in the region to hire career EMS providers to supplement volunteer coverage during daytime hours.

Expanded Fire Department Coverage for Dahlgren Area

In the early 1960’s eight young men decided, due to the growth in the area, it was time for Dahlgren to get its own fire protection. Up until then, the Dahlgren area had been served either by Company 1 out of King George, or by the federally-funded fire and rescue team on the Navy Base. Company 2 began operating out of a bay at the Texaco gas station. When Company 2 was officially absorbed by KGVFD around 1980 its membership totaled 12.

Fire Department services for Fairview Beach Area

In 1966 a substation for KGVFD was established in Fairview Beach. The substation was a boat shed that was purchased from Fred Slick and was located on the site next to what is currently the Paisley Dog restaurant. KGVFD had just purchased a new truck so they relocated a 1949 Chevrolet (Number 1) to Fairview Beach. In 1972 the personnel at Fairview Beach requested that they be released from KGVFD and allowed to start their own department named Fairview Beach Volunteer Fire Department. Mack Frye was the first Fire Chief of this organization and Calvin Garner the first Fire Captain. This department provided fire service until the merging of FBVFD and KGVFD in 2000 which then became known as King George Fire and Rescue, Incorporated.

Growth, Consolidation, and the addition of Paid Employees

To be continued......