Lavalette Volunteer Fire Department

Lavalette Volunteer Fire Department Chief: Jason Cazad
Deputy Chief: Kevin Simmons The Lavalette Volunteer Fire Department was established March 27th, 1959. A. Rowe from donations and fund raisers.

The deptartment started with a group of men that were tired of seeing the citizens of Lavalette lose their homes and love ones to fire without being able to help, and relying on either Huntington Fire Department or the Wayne Volunteer Fire Department to respond. The original fire dept started in a two story single bay door building, which still stands to this day, approximately 500 ft north of the

main building now at the intersection of 152 and 8th street road. They started with one fire truck, and then later were able to purchase another fire truck. Instead of Pagers the fire deptartment worked with “fire phones”. This worked by one person calling the fire department to report a fire. Another person called the first person on his department member list, then continued calling the other members from his list. Then that member called the department members on his list. This cycle went on until every department member had been called. They had two fire trucks parked side by side in this building to where you could barely move. In the early 1970's the fire department purchased the land that the fire dept. is currently located now from a gentleman named J. During this time the membership was able to grow as volunteers got on the department. The department was able to purchase fire trucks as donations came in from the community. In the late 70's or early 1980's the department was able to purchase pagers. These pagers would alert the firefighters from a dispatcher to let them know of a call they had. In the mid 1980's the department was able to build another building located beside the J. Rowe building through Federal Grant money. This building had to be built to house the fire trucks due to there size, plus due to the amount of equipment that the fire department has. Now since the enhanced 911 system has gone into effect. Due to the large amount of calls we have had , we went to a paid EMS crew. The crew stays at the station during the day from 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., and from 6:00 p.m. until the next morning 6:00 a.m. There are still some days that we may not have a crew simply because everyone has their full time jobs elsewhere, and they work at the department on their days off. The fire calls are all strictly volunteer, from volunteer firefighters.to this day it is still hard to get volunteers out on all calls due to the lack of interest, and the current members work schedules with their full time jobs and family activities. Currently, in 2006, the fire department has 4 fire trucks, 2 ambulances, with the assistance from the county commission, a blazer donated from the forestry, a retired Wayne County police cruiser, used a command vehicle, a rescue boat, and a 7x14 cargo trailer for haz-mat and confined rescue equipment. One thing that we can say is that the community of Lavalette has always been there to support the fire department, and without the donations from our community, the hard dedication of its past and present members, and still some fundraisers we would not have what we have now.

Proud to have this guy as part of our team for many years!
04/13/2026

Proud to have this guy as part of our team for many years!

Wayne County 911 is led by BJ Willis, who joined the center in 2017 and became Director in the fall of 2019. While emergency management wasn’t his original career plan, decades of service led him here.

BJ began his career in the early 1980s while attending Marshall University, working as a Production Technician and later a Broadcast Engineer at WSAZ Television. In the mid‑1990s, he transitioned into emergency services as a full‑time paramedic with Cabell County EMS. He later served nearly 10 years as the Regional Program Manager for the WV Office of Emergency Medical Services, overseeing EMS systems in nine counties across southeastern and central West Virginia, while also working as a fixed‑wing per diem flight medic with HealthNet Aeromedical. In addition, BJ dedicated 43 years as a volunteer firefighter and paramedic with the Lavalette Volunteer Fire Department.

His career also includes more than 12 years overseas serving in Diplomatic Security roles, later becoming an instructor teaching tactical medicine, communications, motorcade operations, and fi****ms training in the U.S. and allied countries. Toward the end of that service, he served as Program Director for 21 medical clinics in Southern Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom.

Today, BJ serves on the Boards of Directors for the Huntington Salvation Army and Lavalette VFD and is the President of the West Virginia Emergency Management Council, representing emergency managers from every county in the state.

That depth of experience helps shape how Wayne County 911 operates, with a strong focus on training, teamwork, and supporting telecommunicators. Our dispatchers are truly the first first responders, providing reassurance and lifesaving guidance before help ever arrives.

While Director Willis is proud of his career in public service, he says his greatest accomplishment is his family. This fall, he will celebrate 40 years of marriage to his wife, Kathy. Together they have two daughters, two sons‑in‑law, and three grandchildren. And although his career has taken him around the world, he is proud to still call Wayne County home.

This week, we say thank you to the employees of Wayne County 911. Your work matters, and our community is safer because of you.

04/12/2026
03/29/2026

WENS Alert:

…RED FLAG WARNING…

…INCREASED FIRE DANGER TODAY...

A combination of dry vegetation, relative humidity lowering to around 15 to 25% and winds gusting to around 15 to 25 mph will result in increased fire danger today.

Residents and visitors are urged to properly dispose of cigarette butts, matches, and any other flammable items in appropriate containers. Additionally, exercise caution if operating any equipment that could create sparks and keep vehicles off of dry grass. Most dry grasses, dead leaves, and other tree litter could easily ignite and spread fire quickly.

West Virginia law prohibits burning in the spring from 7AM to 5PM...March 1st through May 31st.

03/02/2026
We are hiring currently certified EMTs and Paramedics! Various shifts available. Please reach out to 304-939-0245 for ap...
02/27/2026

We are hiring currently certified EMTs and Paramedics! Various shifts available. Please reach out to 304-939-0245 for application information.

📢Still accepting applications as of 2/26/26.📢

We are hiring currently certified EMTs and Paramedics! Various shifts available. Please reach out to 304-939-0245 for application information.🚑

Edit - This has been repaired. Due to a wreck that took out a power pole, the 4200 block of 8th Street Road is down to o...
01/25/2026

Edit - This has been repaired.

Due to a wreck that took out a power pole, the 4200 block of 8th Street Road is down to one lane. Please use caution when in this area and alternate traffic. Once the pole is repaired, both lanes will be opened back up.

Thank you Giovanni’s Pizza of Lavalette, WV for feeding our guys after the structure fire tonight! We appreciate it. 🍕🚒
01/13/2026

Thank you Giovanni’s Pizza of Lavalette, WV for feeding our guys after the structure fire tonight! We appreciate it. 🍕🚒

Thanks for the assistance from Ceredo and Kenova Volunteer Fire Departments!
01/13/2026

Thanks for the assistance from Ceredo and Kenova Volunteer Fire Departments!

📢Still accepting applications as of 2/26/26.📢We are hiring currently certified EMTs and Paramedics! Various shifts avail...
12/28/2025

📢Still accepting applications as of 2/26/26.📢

We are hiring currently certified EMTs and Paramedics! Various shifts available. Please reach out to 304-939-0245 for application information.🚑

Address

4504 5th Street Road
Lavalette, WV
25535

Telephone

+13045257156

Website

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