The Long Valley Volunteer Fire Department got started in the late 1970's as a Community Services District, right after California's Proposition 13 had passed. The measure was at the top of the list in an anti-tax climate throughout the state. Two measures on the ballot to tax local residents for fire protection in Long Valley subsequently failed, but the third try 'was the charm.' Starting from scratch with almost nothing, the community proceeded over the next decade to build a fire station, and started to acquire equipment.

The Long Valley VFD is a proud member of the Plumas County Fire Chiefs Association, and is signatory to county-wide mutual aid agreement. In addition LVFPD has an Automatic Aid agreement with the Greenhorn Creek VFD to the west, with the departments helping each other automatically on incidents as needed.