The River Vale Fire Department is an all-volunteer department that consists of 55 dedicated men and women. It is our mission to protect the lives and property of the residents, visitors and businesses of the Township of River Vale.
What does this mean? The Insurance Services Office (ISO) rates fire departments across the country on a scale of 1-10, 1 being the highest and 10 being the lowest. Essentially, ISO rates how well-equipped a fire department is to extinguish fires effectively. Many factors are included in the grading such as, water supply, training, fire prevention, communications and dispatch, types and amount of apparatus, size, recruitment and retention and more. Once ISO completes the evaluation for a department, they take the score and send it to each homeowners insurance company.
The RVFD averages around 300 calls for service per year. Most of our calls are for alarm activations and gas-related emergencies, but we are always prepared for fires. Calls for service usually spike around holidays and drastic changes of weather. No matter the weather, day of the week, or time of day, we will be there.
We take pride in having close working relationships with other emergency services agencies in the area. We work closely with the River Vale Volunteer Ambulance Corps, the River Vale Police Department, all fire departments in the Pascack Valley and even some in Rockland County, NY. We often work with Public Service Electric and Gas as they must respond to all gas and electric emergencies. We are proud to work with the amazing dispatchers at Northwest Bergen Central Dispatch.
The River Vale Volunteer Fire Department Association, or simply "The Association", is comprised of all active firefighters, officers, life members, past and honorary members. The Association is committed to serving the community and ensuring the welfare of its members. The Association is made up of many different committees; some focus on the serving the active side of the department while some focus on the community by funding school scholarships and sponsoring town events and athletic teams.
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