About Us

    Located next to Morgantown, WV and West Virginia University, the Star City Volunteer Fire Department provides primary fire and rescue services to the town of Star City and many surrounding unincorporated areas including Chestnut Ridge, Bakers Ridge, Chaplin Hill, Rt. 705, and Fieldcrest areas, as well as Interstate 79 from milepost 155 to the Pennsylvania state line.

    Company 20 operates out of a single fire station located at the intersection of University and Springdale Avenues in the town of Star City, West Virginia.  Currently having approximately 30 active volunteer members, We respond approx 650-700 calls per year. The department is led operationally by the Chief and administratively by the President.

    The Star City Volunteer Fire Department runs two Class A Pumpers, an Aerial Ladder, and a Utility.  All department apparatus are owned by this department.  All of our apparatus were purchased with funds raised by the department through donations and fundraisers.

    Membership is available to citizens at least 16 years of age who are willing to donate their time and talents to helping our community. Membership categories are available for those who wish to pursue firefighting and for those who wish to help with administrative and fund raising activities of the department. A majority of our all volunteer membership is comprised of West Virginia University students from many different states. Applicants for membership must undergo a background check and physical exam before acceptance.  More information about becoming a member can be found on our recruitment page by clicking here.

    All active members are expected to be at the station for weekly training and maintenance and monthly meetings. Members must complete 8 hours of participation monthly.

    Our membership is divided into three platoons, headed by the two captains and four Lieutenants. Each platoon leader is responsible for their platoons individual training sessions, assigned unit maintenance, and any personnel issues. The platoon leaders report directly to the 1st Captain. This structure has been implemented to alleviate the work load of our Chief and Assistant Chief.

    The Fire Chief and Assistant Chief are elected from among eligible members every two years. The Chief is responsible for all operational aspects of the department. The Chief and Assistant Chief appoints all other officer positions from among qualified applicants. The selection process requires submittal of an application and an interview by the Chief.  Officer selections are done annually for terms beginning January 1 of each year. All officers must meet the requirements specified in the State code and virtually all of our officers far exceed the minimum requirements.

    There are 12 volunteer and 1 career department in Monongalia County. Primary Emergency Medical Services is provided by Mon EMS operated by Monongalia Health Systems. Ruby Memorial Hospital is a level-one trauma center located in Morgantown. Healthnet 1, one of three aero medical helicopters in the state of West Virginia, is based out of Morgantown at WVUH.  Monongalia County is located approximately 75 miles south of Pittsburgh, PA and 150 miles northeast of the state capitol, Charleston, WV. Two major highways intersect the county. I-68 runs from Hagerstown, MD and connects with I-79 which runs from Pittsburgh, PA to Charleston, WV.

    We are dispatched on emergency calls through the Monongalia County Commission by Monongalia Emergency Centralized Communications Agency (MECCA) which handles 911, County police and fire/rescue. Assignment of companies to emergency calls is predetermined based on response time and distance. All fire and medical calls are tone alerted through radio dispatch (currently 46.500 MHz VHF, 154.340 UHF).

    Any further question or comments about our organization not answered on this page can be answered by emailing them to starcityvfd@starcityvfd.com or by calling (304) 599-1539.