The Portsmouth Fire Department serves the citizens of Portsmouth and Sciotoville, Ohio. Portsmouth is the seat of Scioto County and is situated in south-central Ohio where the Scioto River empties into the Ohio River.

According to the 2000 census, the Fire Department protects 20,909 citizens in an 11.1 square mile area.

Staff, Units, & Apparatus
The Fire Department currently includes 38 sworn officers and six emergency dispatchers. The Department also has three stations housing the Urban Search and Rescue Unit, Water Response / Dive Team Unit, and:

• Four engines
• Two ladder trucks
• One rescue truck
• One brush truck
• One assistant chief's vehicle