Ridgefield is protected by full time career firefighters who are on duty around the clock. Backup is provided by the Ridgefield Volunteer firefighters, off-duty career personnel, and mutual aid from surrounding communities.
On duty firefighters staff two engines, one at Headquarters on Catoonah Street and the other at Station II in the Ridgebury district of town.
Ridgefield has two advanced life support ambulances in the Catoonah Street fire station. All career firefighters are trained Emergency Medical Technicians and are also trained to “defibrillate” heart attack victims. Ten are certified Paramedics with advanced life support training. The station II engine is equipped with emergency medical equipment, including a defibrillator and responds to all EMS calls in the Ridgebury district and in town when needed. On the volunteer side 3 members are EMTs and 10 are MRTs.
Following the Great Fire of Ridgefield on December 8, 1895, in which a large portion of Main Street was destroyed by fire, a group of community minded citizens banded together to form the Ridgefield Volunteer Fire Department. As the town grew the need for added protection also grew. In the 1930’s Ridgefield began employing its first full time paid firefighters. In 1947 twenty-four hour paid coverage was instituted. In 1967 Ridgefield’s Professional Firefighters affiliated with the International Association of Firefighters and gave rise to the present combination Career/Volunteer Fire Department.