The Dunkirk Volunteer Fire Department (Calvert County Station 5) was officially established in May of 1975 as a substation of the North Beach Volunteer Fire Department. Dunkirk began running with two engines, one brush truck and two ambulances. The engines were 51, a Peirce, and engine 53, a Ford. The brush truck was a Ford pickup and ran as 55. The ambulances were 58 and 59. When the station began, the top runners typically had credit for between 50-100 calls per year. The first Chief of DVFD was Ray Hardesty, and the first President was Vonzell Ward.

Dunkirk split from the North Beach Volunteer Department in 1982, and today has over 100 active and probationary members. The station runs two engines, a tanker, a rescue pumper, a brush truck, two ambulances and two command units.

Dunkirk is located on West Ward Road, approximately 2/10th's of a mile away from their current location. Dunkirk now responds to approximately 1,900 to 2,300 calls per year.