Princeton Fire Department

100 Courthouse Road

Princeton, WV  24740-2431

Phone (304) 487-5017 or

(304) 487-5018 (Call ahead to send fax)

Fax (304) 487-5015

E-mail:   fire@princetonfire.com

website:   www.princetonfire.com

Shawn L. Vest

Fire Chief

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◙ Princeton Fire Department personnel are motivated by their overwhelming desire to provide an incomparable level of protection for our community.  It is with great resolve that this department serves our citizens with the highest level  of dedication and  professionalism possible.

◙  Thankfully, we can again report no loss of life during the past fiscal year.  Also, $3,069,000 in property was saved this past year.  A total of 1047 calls were answered last year in the areas of Emergency Medical Services first responder, public service, false alarms, smoke scares, hazardous materials, rescue, structure, vehicle and brush fires.

◙   Princeton Fire Department purchased many items this past fiscal year with most of the money coming from the U.S. Fire Administration Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.  Total amount funded by the AFG Program was $39,638 with matching funds from the City of $1,362.  The following items were funded by this grant:  portable generator, pressure fan, vent saws, gas torch system, multipurpose foam system, rescue board, portable radio batteries, battery chargers, rescue dummy, $10,000 of physical training equipment for our new fitness program, and $7,125 for physicals for fitness program.

◙  It is with great pride that we announce the arrival of our newest apparatus purchase that was also funded by the AFG Program of the previous year.  This $456,614 Ladder Truck (L-1) will soon be seen responding to calls within the City with $360,000 provided by the Grant and $96,614 from the City in matching funds.  L-1 will assist Green Valley/Glenwood Volunteer Fire Department with certain calls as soon as training is completed.

◙  Training hours affect Insurance Services Office evaluations to improve the City’s rating for insurance premiums.  The lower the classification rating, the better the insurance premiums.  The Department currently has a Class 3 ISO rating.  Total training for career and volunteer personnel was 3,100 hours in the areas of:  MRI Fire Familiarization, Fire Officer I & II, Electrical Fire Investigation, CPR and First Aid, Ladder Operations Training, Hazmat Operations, Drivers EVOC, and Firefighter Level I.

◙ Our Website, www.princetonfire.com, has information on fire prevention, the Department's operations, upcoming events, projects, personnel, equipment, and history.  To date, the site has generated over 12,470 hits and is increasing daily.  Princeton Fire Kids is an area on our Website where kids can participate in the home escape plan, have fun learning the fire safety song, and enjoy games that teach fire safety. 

◙  Three officers were added to our Division of Fire Prevention increasing the total number of inspectors to 5 as these new inspectors receive training and experience in the field. Fire Prevention conducted 78 inspections involving new inspections, re-inspections, occupancy permits, plans review and consultations, and entered pre-plans into our computer database.

◙ Over 1,800 children and adults participated in classes through our Community Health and Safety Program. Fire and Evacuation classes were held at Mercer County Vo Tech Center Health Care Assistants Class, and Workforce WV.  Fire Safety talks were held at Energy Express, Princeton Health Care, Mercer School, Princeton Public Library, Princeton Towers, TMI Center, and Glenwood 4-H Camp.  CPR and First Aid Classes were given to Vo Tech RN and Health Care Assistants Class, and the Salvation Army.  Rescue Care of the Virginias participated in our Fire Extinguisher Course.  Station Tours were given to Girl Scouts and Mother Goose Day Care Center.  Fire Prevention Week activities were held at New Hope Head Start, Straley, Mercer Elementary, and Princeton Primary School, utilizing the theme “Home Candle Fires”.  With our Fire Safety House we taught children how to escape from their homes and schools safely and not return to the building until it is safe.

Throughout the past year, the Princeton Fire Department has continued to strive toward the highest level of preparation in order to respond to any emergency that might affect the citizens and visitors of our fair city.