History of the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department
The Friendship Volunteer Fire Department (FVFD) also known as Friendship Fire Department serves the Friendship community of Tallassee, Alabama, with a tradition rooted in neighbor‑to‑neighbor service and the belief that rural communities deserve the same level of fire protection as any city. Located at 4544 Friendship Road, the department has grown from a small grassroots effort into a fully equipped, community‑supported emergency service organization.
Founding and Early Development
The department’s origins trace back to the early–mid 1980s, when thirty-five residents of the Friendship area had a formal organizational meeting one of many to follow at Friendship Baptist Church. Chairman and later Chief Steven R. Dennis recognized the need for faster, more reliable fire protection recalling approximately six homes that had burned and two lives lost due to fires in 1980. At that time, response times from municipal departments were long, and rural homes, farms, and wooded areas faced significant risk. Local citizens came together to organize a volunteer fire service dedicated to protecting their families, neighbors, and property.
On 4th of February 1982, the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department formalized its structure and submitted Certificate of Incorporation under Alabama Non-profit Corporation Act to the Probate Office in Elmore County, Alabama. Probate office accepted it 12th of February 1982, and Probate Judge E.W. Enslen certified it 1st of March 1985. Which has set Friendship Fire Department to be recognized as a 501(c)(4) nonprofit community fire organization, establishing the legal and financial foundation that still supports the department today. This milestone marked the transition from an informal community effort to an officially chartered emergency service provider.
The Founding six Board members at the time of Incorporation are as follows: Clyde Cleveland Butler, Keith Butler, James Norrell, Johnny Taylor, Steven R. Dennis, Todd Cosby. The List of the Founders of the department are noted with Honors as follows: Steven R. Dennis (Chairman), Jimmy L. Ballentine (Secretary), And Roy Parker.
Like many rural departments, FVFD began with limited equipment—often donated, repurposed, or purchased through community fundraisers. Over the years, the department steadily expanded its fleet to meet the growing needs of the area. The First Station in operation was a Three bay station that operated for many years, with the Community support and the growing need of the fire service the building was upgraded to a Six bay station housing all apparatus, Office and dorm space in one central location in Friendship Community. It wouldn’t be till 2010 with help from the community and Volunteers that Station 9 would expand once again. Fastly outgrowing the former Station Steven R. Dennis (Steve) and the Fire Members at that time knew in order to compete with the growth of the community and the growth of the fire service and to modernize the former station a new station would need to be built and established bringing more office space, female and male door rooms, and a modern bay area that could compliment the expanding resources needed for fire operation. Steve Dennis set out to build something that would be able to grow and expand with the community for future generations to come and he did just that. With the help of the Fire Department Members, His loving wife Shelia Dennis the department received funding for the new building and construction began.
On the 13th of November 2010 a formal Dedication Ceremony was held for the new building and community members were invited to attend and tour the new station that is currently in use till this day.
Community Support and Organizational Strength
From its earliest days, FVFD has been powered entirely by volunteers—local men and women who dedicate their time to training, emergency response, and community service. The department is governed by local officers and supported through donations, fundraisers, grants, and the generosity of the Friendship community.
By 2018, the department had accumulated community-owned assets, including land, apparatus, and equipment—evidence of decades of sustained investment and stewardship.
Service to the Friendship Community
Throughout its history, the Friendship Volunteer Fire Department has remained committed to:
Fire suppression and prevention
Rural and wildland firefighting
Emergency response and community assistance
Mutual aid support to neighboring departments include: Tallassee Fire Department, Eclectic Fire Department, Red Hill Fire Department, Redland Fire Department, and Reeltown Fire Department.
Public safety education and community outreach
The department’s mission has always been simple: to protect life and property with professionalism, dedication, and community pride.
A Continuing Legacy
Today, FVFD stands as a testament to what a small community can accomplish when it works together. From its founding volunteers in the 1980s to the current generation of firefighters, the department continues to evolve while honoring the values that built it—service, commitment, and neighborly care.
Friendship Fire Department is currently under the direction of Chief Toby Ward
The Friendship Volunteer Fire Department remains proud to serve the people of Friendship, Tallassee, and the surrounding areas, carrying forward a legacy of protection that has spanned more than four decades.
