Other Fire & Rescue Agencies in Johnson County

Johnson County is home to eleven fire departments, with number twelve underway.  All the county's departments have a mutual aid agreement under which they will respond to assist one another at major fires. 

The county's communities take great pride in their fire departments, and some citizens go to great lengths to help out.  Countywide, over 150 volunteers from all walks of life are on call to serve their fellow citizens. 

If you are a Johnson County resident and would like to join one of the county's emergency organizations, contact the dispatch center at 789-2200.  If you live in W.R.'s area and would like to join our department, visit our recruitment page.

Paintsville Fire-Rescue & EMS began service in 1926.  Their territory includes the city limits of Paintsville, shown above in pink.  The department has approximately 18 paid personnel and several volunteers staffing two stations.  In 1996 an ambulance was placed in service that has since been joined by two other units, one of which is staffed 24 hours a day with an advanced life support crew.  Paintsville is the only paid department in the county.

The Oil Springs Fire Department was established in 1962.  They protect the communities of Oil Springs, Barnett's Creek, Greenrock, and Pickle Fork.  Currently they are preparing to turn over the communities of Rockhouse, Denver, and Leander to the Rockhouse Volunteer Fire Department, which is in the process of becoming established and assuming coverage for the area shown in yellow.

The Thelma Fire Department formed in1975.  They cover Thelma and Meally, which are shown in gray on the map.

The Flat Gap Fire Department is shown above in burgundy.  The department was established in 1978 and serves Flat Gap, Sitka, Puncheon, Barnrock, and parts of Staffordsville.

The River-Tutor Key Fire Department organized in 1981 and serves the bluish-gray area.  They serve the communities of River, Tutor Key, and Wiley Branch.

The West Van Lear Fire Department protects West Van Lear, Hager Hill, Davis Branch, East Point, and Collista.  The department, shown above in light blue, was formed in 1965.

The Thealka Fire Department, shown above in the greenish-gray region just outside Paintsville, organized in 1981.  It serves Thealka, Boyd Branch, and Greentown.

The Williamsport Fire Department serves Williamsport, Boons Camp, Hammond, Chestnut, Pricetown, and Offutt.  Their jurisdiction is in purple above.  Williamsport FD organized in 1981.

The Van Lear Fire Department started operations in 1991 and serves Van Lear, John's Creek, and Daniels Creek.  They are planning to open a substation along Ky. Rt. 3 to serve the new Honey Branch industrial park, Big Sandy Regional Airport, and the new federal prison in Martin County.  Their area is shown in orange.

The Red Bush Fire Department was assembled in 1986 and protects Red Bush, Keaton, and Martha.  This area is shaded the bluish color on the top left.

The Rockhouse Fire Department is still in the formative stages.  Their station is under construction in the Rockhouse community.  They may also reopen the station where the Jenny's Creek Fire Department once operated.  This would expand their current planned territory, shown in yellow, to include the large area at the southwest corner of the Oil Springs FD's territory.

The Johnson County Rescue Squad organized in the late 1970's and provides auto extrication, search and rescue, severe weather rescue, and other services in the county.  Their response area includes the fire jurisdictions of all departments except W.R. Castle and the City of Paintsville, which perform their own rescue services, and River-Tutor Key, where rescue service is provided by W.R.  The squad's station is located near Paintsville Lake.