MEDIA RELEASE: McDowell Co. fire department voluntarily closes due to deficiencies

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The Northfork Volunteer Fire Department voluntarily shut down on Thursday, March 1, citing several deficiencies concerning defective and out-of-date equipment as well as a lack of fire personnel.

These deficiencies were identified by the West Virginia State Fire Marshal’s Office after an investigation prompted by a complaint to the agency.
Residents of the Northfork community will be covered temporarily by the Keystone, Anawalt, Bramwell, Matoaka and Kimball volunteer fire departments. Fire service to the community will not be interrupted.

The Northfork VFD will remain closed while it undergoes a restructuring and the cited deficiencies are corrected. Completing both steps would allow it to resume operations.
The VFD is responsible to correct these deficiencies to comply with W.Va. Code § 29-3-9(i) and W.Va. Code of State Rules Title 87, Series 6 and series 8.