The first paid firefighter hired by York County was Floyd "Hump" Hudgins; he was hired as an Engineer on January 1, 1956 and served the department for sixteen years, retiring on February 15, 1972.  The second Firefighter/Engineer hired by the YVFD was William “Noonie” Nelson.  

In 1958, the County purchased its first ambulance, a used Pontiac, from the City of Williamsburg.  They purchased it for $900.00 and it came with the stretcher.  Later that year, a second ambulance was purchased from the Beasley Motor Company in Portsmouth for $600.00.

During the early 1950’s, many of the wives of York Volunteer Fire Department members formed the York Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. Dressed in red jumpers and white shirts with YVFD Ladies Auxiliary patches on the sleeves, these ladies assisted the department at community events and on incidents by providing refreshments to the personnel involved in operations.

On December 3, 1963 the York Volunteer Rescue Squad (YVRS) was started with former York Volunteer Fire Department Chief Harry Worthington serving as its first Captain.

In 1964, the York Volunteer Fire Department purchased its first uniforms. They were issued to the Chief, Assistant Chief, Captains and Lieutenants.  On November 27, 1964, the York Volunteer Fire Department responded to a major fire at R. M. Mills Company at the State Dock.

Between 1964 and 1968, the York Volunteer Fire Department’s and York Volunteer Rescue Squad’s emergency fleets grew with the delivery of a Seagrave/Ford fire engine, a Chevrolet panel truck and carryall, a jeep for brush firefighting, a Dodge truck outfitted with a water tank (to be used as a tanker), and a Ford utility truck.

In 1972, the County recognized the need for a full time Fire Chief to train, organize and direct emergency responses to the citizens and to plan for the future of the County’s emergency services.  The York County Board of Supervisors recommended that they hire Wallace J. Robertson from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.  In March, Wallace J. Robertson was hired with the title of Fire Marshal, becoming the County’s first paid (career) Fire Chief.

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