• Structure and brushfires
• Motor vehicle collisions
• Hazardous materials incidents
• Fire alarms and investigations
• Severe weather and storm events
• Technical and water rescue incidents
• Life safety and fire prevention activities
• Community service and support

Emergency Medical Services (EMS)
Emergency medical response represents the majority of the department’s call volume. Ridgefield Firefighter/Paramedics and EMTs provide paramedic-level Advanced Life Support (ALS) and transport services, delivering hospital-level care at the patient’s side.

The department has earned state and national recognition for excellence in cardiac care, including designation as a HEARTSafe Community and multiple American Heart Association Mission: Lifeline® awards. These outcomes reflect a sustained commitment to training, quality improvement, and coordination with regional hospitals and dispatch partners.

A Department Shaped by History
From its earliest days using bucket brigades and horse-drawn apparatus, the Ridgefield Fire Department has continually evolved to meet new risks and challenges. Key milestones include:

• 1897 – Formal organization of the Ridgefield Fire Department
• 1938 – First ambulance placed into service
• 1965 – First on scene to commercial airline crash over South Salem
• 1967 – Transition to a combination career/volunteer department
• 1968 – Opening of Station 2 in Ridgebury
• 2000 – Launch of in-house paramedic services
• 2001 – September 11th operations at Ground Zero
• 2005 – Major Main Street fire and Route 7 tanker explosion
• 2022 – Celebration of 125 years of service
• 2025 – Record number of over 4,500 Emergency responses 

Community, Tradition, and the Future
Beyond emergency response, the Ridgefield Fire Department maintains a strong connection to the community through public education, CPR training, fire prevention programs, and long-standing traditions such as the Firemen’s Carnival and community events.

While the department continues to modernize facilities, equipment, and training, its foundation remains unchanged: service to the community, teamwork, and readiness to answer the call any time, any place.