The Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) is a member of the Arlington County Fire & Rescue Association (ACFRA). ACFRA’s member companies and affiliates include:
- Arlington Volunteer Fire Department (Company 1)
- Cherrydale Volunteer Fire Department (Company 3)
- Clarendon Volunteer Fire Department (Company 4)
- Fairlington Volunteer Fire Department (Company 7)
Volunteers from the member companies supplement the career Arlington County Fire Department with personnel, resources, and apparatus. Upon successful completion of pre-requisite levels of training and certifications, volunteer firefighters and EMTs can ride with career crews on any apparatus they have been signed off to ride, subject to the permission of the station captain at any of the fire stations in Arlington County. In addition, volunteers may staff volunteer-owned units.
Administratively, CVFD is governed by a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Board of Directors, which consists of nine members. The Board members are elected to a two-year term while all other positions are elected annually. CVFD also elects a Chief and Deputy Chief to oversee fire and EMS operations. They are assisted by two Captains, (a Fire Captain and EMS Captain), as well as three platoon lieutenants; these officer positions are appointed by the Chief directly.
Prospective new members are accepted for a six-month probationary period. During this trial, recruits are expected to demonstrate commitment to the fire department by attending company and association meetings, as well as participate in the Orientation program. During this program, new members get an introduction to the Fire/EMS programs offered in Arlington County.