Fire and EMS

The first fire company in Vicksburg was organized in April 1837, with a second, rival company organized two weeks later. Others followed, manned by volunteers. By the late 1800`s, some employees were paid, and by 1902, the Vicksburg Fire Department was a fully paid fire service -- the first in the state.

There are currently seven fire stations with more than 110 firefighters and emergency medical personnel employed by the Vicksburg Fire Department.
 
The Central Fire Station was completed in November 1925, and a major addition was completed in 1996. Central Fire Station serves as headquarters for the Fire Department and houses administrative offices.

Memorial Fire Station 2 is  named in honor of  Firefighter Jimmy Gibbs, a survivor, and Lt. Johnny McBroom, Captain John Krueger and Lt. David Lewis, who lost their lives on July 3, 1974, in an explosion at Pride Butane Company near the Culkin water tower.
 
The newest station, Independence Fire Station Number 3 on Maxwell Drive, opened in November 2017.  With the opening of Station 3, Constitution Station Number 6 on Cherry Street was closed.

Station 5, located at the Vicksburg Municipal Airport facility in south Vicksburg, opened in April 2011.
 
Our oldest station, Station 7, located on Washington Street, opened in 1910.
 
Fire Station 8 is at Halls Ferry Park, and Fire Station 9 serves the Kings Community.

The city´s first two ambulances were delivered on May 16, 1969, and the Vicksburg Warren Ambulance Service was begun. This ambulance service was the first in the state to be run by a city fire department, and continues to be one of only three fire department ambulance services in Mississippi. 
The Vicksburg Fire Department accomplished a major milestone in October 2018 when our fire rating was improved to a Class 4 for the first time.