One of the busiest of Baltimore County's 33 volunteer fire companies, the Arbutus Volunteer Fire Department provides fire, rescue and emergency medical services to Arbutus and its surrounding communities. AVFD is one of only two stations in the county, with two Advanced Life Support-equipped ambulances. Swift water rescue has been been part of the department's activities for more than a decade. The AVFD firehall is an Arbutus institution, with a community center available for special events, regular record and CD meets that attract dealers and collectors from around the region and an annual carnival in July.