The Parkersburg Fire Department protects a resident population of over 30,000 people and a daytime population of more than 50,000 people.
The Fire Department is under the direction of Fire Chief Jason Matthews. It is staffed with over 50 career firefighters (54-hour schedule), working out of six fire stations. In addition to firefighting, the department also responds to automobile accidents, search and rescue, water rescue, emergency medical backup, fire prevention education, and a multitude of other requests.
The main reason for having a career fire department . . . time! A typical house fire doubles in size every 30 seconds. Using those figures, in five minutes, a small fire will grow to over 1000 square feet. Time is of the essence. With its six fire stations, the Parkersburg Fire Department has an average response time of 2-4 minutes.
Food Truck Safety 
As the spring and summer fair and festival season approaches; the Parkersburg Fire Department wishes to inform the public of the regulations regarding mobile and temporary cooking operations.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) governs food trucks and trailers in the State of WV. The State of WV adopted the newest version of NFPA 96, the Standard for Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations, in August of 2022.
NFPA 96 requires cooking equipment that produces “grease-laden vapors” to be protected by a fire-extinguishing system. NFPA 96 also details the requirements for propane tanks, portable generators, ventilations systems, and fire extinguishers.
“Public Safety is something that is taken seriously by the Parkersburg Fire Department and I have always been and remain committed to appropriate enforcement of applicable regulations; we want all vendors and patrons to have a safe and enjoyable time at all events and activities.” – Jason Matthews Parkersburg Fire Chief
A business license is also required to operate a food truck in the City of Parkersburg. The business license can be obtained from the Finance Department on the first floor of the City Building.
To find out more information about the requirements of NFPA 96, please contact the Fire Chief’s office at ( 304) 424-8470 or email: Jason.Matthews@parkersburgwv.gov
Related Resources
Food Truck Fact Sheet
Mobile Cooking Operations - Quick Guide
