General History

1819, first fire company organized in Raleigh

1908-1912 (?), Wendell Fire Department formed

1910's, Zebulon Fire Department formed

1912, Raleigh Fire Department formed, consolidating Rescue Company, Hook and Ladder Company, Victor Fire Company, Capital Hose Company, and L.A. Mahler Steamer Company

1917, Wake Forest Fire Department formed

1917?, second Wake Forest Fire Department formed

1922, Cary Volunteer Fire Company formed

1938, Fuquay-Varina Fire Department formed (February 1938)

1939, Apex Fire Department formed

1952, Garner Fire Department formed. Incorporated as Garner Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. on August 15, 1952

1953, Zebulon Rural Fire Department formed.  Incorporated at Zebulon Rural Fire Department Inc. on February 2, 1953

1954, Knightdale Fire Department formed in August 1954.  Incorporated as Knightdale Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. on October 27, 1954

1954, Cary Rural Fire Department incorporated as Cary Rural Fire Department, Inc. (November 11, 1954)

1955, Wake County Fireman's Association incorporated by Robert B. Heather, H. C. Sears Jr., H. M. Jackson, Willis Winston, Win Donat, C. S. Schaub, and Raleigh Fire Chief J. B. Keeter (November 24, 1955)

1955, Morrisville Fire Department formed. Incorporated as Morrisville Rural Fire Company, Inc. as June 8, 1955

1956, Wake Forest Rural Fire Department formed.  Incorporated as Wake Forest Rural Fire Department, Inc. on April 24, 1956

1956, Six Forks Fire Department formed.  Incorporated as Six Forks Road Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. on June 5, 1956

1956, Wake-New Hope Fire Department formed. Incorporated as Wake New Hope Fire Department, Inc. on September 11, 1956

1957, Western Boulevard Fire Department formed.  Incorporated as Western Boulevard Rural Fire Department, Inc. on January 28, 1957

1957, Wendell Rural Fire Department formed.  Incorporated as Wendell Rural Fire Company on March 4, 1957

1958, Rolesville Fire Department formed. Incorporated as Rolesville Rural Fire Department, Inc. on June 3, 1958

1958, Stony Hill Fire Department formed. Incorporated as Stony Hill Rural Fire Department Inc. on June 12, 1958

1960, Swift Creek Fire Department formed. Incorporated as Swift Creek Rural Fire Department, Inc. on June 7, 1960

1961, Cary Fire Department splits into separate town-run (Cary Fire Department) and private volunteer fire departments (Cary Rural Fire Department).  Volunteer fire department later changes name to Yrac Fire Department

1961, Fairgrounds Fire Department formed. Incorporated as Fairgrounds Rural Fire Department, Inc. on February 24, 1961

1961, Bay Leaf Fire Department formed.  Incorporated as Bayleaf Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. on August 4, 1961

1963, Fairview Fire Department formed.  Incorporated as Fairview Rural Fire Department, Inc. on June 27, 1963

1964, Durham Highway Fire Department formed.  Incorporated as Durham Highway Fire Protection Association, Inc. on May 1, 1964

1970, Falls Fire Department formed. Incorporated as Falls Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. on July 7, 1970

1971, Holly Springs Rural Fire Department formed.  Incorporated as Holly Springs Rural Fire Department, Inc. on July 21, 1971

1977, Hopkins Fire Department formed. Incorporated as Hopkins Rural Fire Department, Inc.  on March 10, 1977

1981, air compressor moved from Fire Marshall's office to EMS Station #1 (January-February 1981) ^wcfar

1981, air compressor moved from EMS Station #1 o Raleigh Fire Station #11.  Procedure for refilling:  call Central and have them contact fire station when units are approximately ten minutes out.  Fire Chiefs are also encouraged to carry air bottles upright and secured when under pressure. (January-February, 1981) ^wcfar

1983, Wake Forest fire departments merge

1987, classrooms added at training center (July-August, 1987) ^wcfar

1988, Ed Schmelzer appointed Fire Marshall (February 15, 1988) ^wcfar

1988, Incident Command System adopted (Summer 1988) ^wcfar

1988, tower completed at training center (August 1988) ^wcfar

1988, Fire Marshall's Office begins conducting unannounced inspections throughout County, except in Raleigh, Cary, and Morrisville (Fall 1988) ^wcfar

1989, Arson Response Team placed in service (September 1, 1989) ^wcfar

1989, first annual Firefighter Competition Field Day held from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at training center (October 28, 1989) ^wcfar

1980's, Wendell fire departments merge

1990's, Fuquay Varina fire departments merge

1992, fire departments adopt new fireground sector protocols (January-February 1992) ^wcfar

1994, study commissioned by the County Board of Commissioners finds unequal fire service, due to a number of factors including the autonomous structure of volunteer departments and the layout of fire districts.  Recommendations include the establishment of a county fire advisory board, the taxing of the entire county as a single fire district, improvements in the mutual-aid system, and having fire departments take over the role of rescue, particularly vehicular extrication (October 1994) ^glf20oct94

1995, Holly Springs Fire Service Division placed in service (April 1, 1995)

1997, Holly Springs fire departments merge (August-September, 1995)

1998, Western-Wake Fire Department formed as merger of Fairgrounds and Yrac fire departments. Incorporated as Western Wake Fire Rescue, Inc. on June 18, 1988

2000, Zebulon fire departments merge

2002, Knightdale Public Safety fire department formed.  Begins service on July 1, 2002

2002, Six Forks Fire Department merges with Bay Leaf Fire Department (July 1, 2002)

2002, Apex fire departments merge

• ^cfd Cary Fire Department records
• ^dah NC Department of Archives and History
• ^fdr Fire department records
• ^no News and Observer
• ^oh Oral history
• ^rt Raleigh Times
• ^sos NC Department of the Secretary of State
• ^wcbh Wake County Bicentennial Town history
• ^wcfa Wake County Firemen's Association records

Last updated: June 10, 2004

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Copyright 2013 by Michael J. Legeros