About the Port Jervis Fire Department

The Port Jervis Fire Department is a Class 3 fire department as rated by the Insurance Services Office (ISO).  An ISO Class 3 fire department is a high performing department, placing in the top 10% nationwide, that significantly reduces property insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses.  The rating signifies excellent fire suppression capabilities, including strong water supplies, 24-hour dispatch, equipped reserve apparatus and rigorous, above average firefighter training.

Our department is dedicated to safeguarding the lives, property and environment of our community through exceptional service in education, preparedness, prevention and prompt response to emergency incidents.

We are an all-volunteer municipal fire department serving the City of Port Jervis, a small city located at the confluence of the Delaware and Neversink rivers in western Orange County.

Port Jervis is a historic small city located at the junction of three states, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

Near the end of the third quarter of the Twentieth Century (1970’s), our 525 members staffed 7 companies in 5 fire stations and also a fire police squad.  At one point in time, we had a waiting list of members wishing to join our department 

Today, in 2026, we have approximately 200 members staffing 5 companies, which includes 4 Engine companies and an Aerial company.  In addition, we operate a mutual aid duty pumper, a Special Operations component with several specialty teams, and maintain a fire police squad.

Organized in 1858, the Port Jervis Fire Department is the largest, all volunteer, fire department in Orange County, and possibly the region.  We are the only all-volunteer city fire department in the lower Hudson Valley.

Many long hours of training are put in and we are extremely proud of our capabilities.  Some of our members serve or served on the Orange County Hazardous Materials Team, the Orange County Technical Rescue Team, as an Orange County Fire Investigator, as an Orange County Deputy Fire Coordinator, and as an N.Y.S. Fire Instructor.  Many of our volunteers went on to become career firefighters, including career chief officers.

Locally, we have a highly trained Accident Victim Extrication Team (AVET), an extremely skilled Rope Rescue Team, and an outstanding Water Operations Team, including for swift water rescue.  Due to our expertise, we provide mutual aid assistance to agencies in Orange, Pike. Putnam, Sulivan, Sussex, and Wayne counties on a regular basis.  However, participation on these specialty teams and on emergency scenes is limited until a member is properly qualified and approved to do so.

We are an ageing department, where more than 60% of our membership has 25 or more years of service.  More than 25% of our membership has 50 or more years of service.

Present day, our 5 companies are independent to one another but perform under the same umbrella, we are one department.  Department-wide, members serve in our Special Operations component, and representatives throughout also serve on our Fire Police squad, who protect those who protect.

We strive to foster positive human relationships with all members of the department, and other members of emergency services, and with the public that we serve.  We are a family, rich in tradition.  A place where lifetime friendships are achieved.

We are a registered public charity exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  Contributions are tax deductible under section 170 of the Code.