Pittsylvania County, VA

Connect on Social Media

About the Public Safety Department 

The Pittsylvania County Public Safety Department is responsible for coordinating emergency management and public safety services for the more than 61,000 citizens that live in Pittsylvania County, Virginia's largest locality. The department oversees the County’s 911 Dispatch Center, Animal Control, Emergency Management and Fire and Rescue Operations. The department is also responsible for the County’s Public Safety radio system and maintains a citizen notification system.

With Pittsylvania County being so expansive and rural, much of the county receives emergency services from the more than 20 volunteer fire and rescue agencies spread out within its borders. Public Safety coordinates efforts between these diverse agencies and their volunteers.

Pittsylvania County is now staffing three transport units: Hurt, Chatham, Mt. Hermon (moved from Mt. Cross) and a quick response unit in the Riceville-Java Community. Beginning on February 1, 2021, Public Safety personnel have been assigned a dual role as firefighters and EMS providers. These EMS professionals can run calls when volunteers are unable to or respond to emergencies alongside the volunteers. An additional quick response vehicle and staffer are located in the former 640 Community Rescue Squad, 13 hours a day, 7 days a week.

The Public Safety Department also works with a wide range of external agencies like the Pittsylvania County Sheriff's Department, the Virginia State Police, the Virginia Department of Emergency Management, the Virginia Office of EMS, the Virginia Department of Fire Programs, the Virginia Department of Forestry, the Red Cross, and FEMA.