Under the command of Fire Chief, Mike Shaffer, the Verdigris Fire Department covers an area of land approximately 36 square miles wide. In addition to numerous residential neighborhoods, the district area covers a wide variety of structures including commercial businesses and heavy industry. Running through the district is seven miles of historic Route 66, seven miles of the Will Rogers Turnpike, and five miles of State Highway 266. The district also shares responsibility of approximately 1 mile of the Verdigris River Navigation Channel.

The city of Verdigris continues to grow in size with each passing year. Likewise, the Fire Department continues to see a growth in the number of emergency calls received as well. The station is staffed with eleven, full-time paid employees working 24 hour shifts 365 days a year. We heavily depend on our volunteers to handle the demands of our ever growing community.

The department staff operates as a team, utilyzing the talents and skills of its staff members to serve the community in the most effective way possible. It takes allot of people to maintain a strong and efficient fire department agency and we believe each of our members bring something special to our team.

The department continues to improve response times and quality of service. Recently, the department lowered the ISO (Insurance Services Office) rating to a 3. On a scale from 1 to 10 with 1 being the best, this rating is considered very high. The districts ISO rating plays a major role in setting insurance premiums for homeowners living in the fire district.

In addition to protecting lives and property, the department is constantly seeking new ways to be involved in the continual growth of the Verdigris community. While you will most likely always see our uniformed staff at high school football games and carnivals, you will also find them at various community events, church activities and fundraising drives. The department also plays host to a number of activites throughout the year including our famous Chili Cook-Off in March!