History

Our department’s history dates back to the early 1900s, with the Waitsfield Fire Department been founded in 1910. The original firehouse was located on Main Street in Waitsfield, in what is now the Waitsfield Telecom space. From those early days, local residents have answered the call whenever their neighbors needed help. 

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In 1988, Waitsfield and Fayston formally established their shared fire-service agreement, creating the partnership that continues today. The two towns work together to support one volunteer department serving both communities, with Waitsfield providing 60% and Fayston 40% of the department’s operating and capital costs. 

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But the history of our department isn’t just about buildings, trucks, equipment, or emergency calls. It’s about the people. Generations of men and women from Waitsfield and Fayston have volunteered their time, trained together, maintained the station and equipment, responded in the middle of the night, and stood beside their neighbors during some of their most difficult moments. In 2010, the department celebrated a century of service with a community-wide celebration that included a parade, more than 30 visiting Vermont fire departments, and a gathering of more than 400 neighbors, family members, and friends. It was a fitting celebration of a department whose greatest strength has always been its connection to the community it serves. 

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Today, the Waitsfield-Fayston Fire Department continues that tradition. Our members volunteer their time because they care about this Valley and the people who call it home. We train, respond, maintain our equipment, support our neighboring departments, and continue to learn so that when the call comes, we are ready.

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More than 100 years later, our mission remains the same: to protect our neighbors, serve our community, and be there when we are needed.

We are proud of our history, grateful to the generations of volunteers who came before us, and committed to carrying that tradition forward for the next generation.