On Tuesday, June 4, 2024, the leaders of the Town of Rolesville and the non-profit corporation Rolesville Rural Fire Department signed a unification resolution, to begin the formal process of merging the fire department with the town.

During the past three years, both had been meeting collaboratively to discuss the benefits, concerns, challenges, and opportunities of a merger. They created a Unification Committee comprised of town staff, fire department members, and a third-party consultant, NC Fire Chief Consulting. Together they drafted the unification resolution. 

The resolution was adopted by the town board on May 21, 2024. It’s an informal document that commits to the effort of unification, and subsequently initiates the establishment of a formal, legalistic definitive agreement to solidify the unification of the fire department and the town by the proposed target date of July 1, 2025.

Rolesville Rural Fire Department Inc. was organized in June 1958. The first fire chief was H. E. Perry and the first fire station was a bay in the Rolesville Amoco Station on South Main Street. Their first fire truck was a 1958 Chevrolet/American pumper and it is still on the department’s roster. 

Last year, the fire department celebrated their 65th anniversary. 

• Read the unification resolution (PDF). 
• Read the town news release.
• See photos from the signing ceremony.
   
• Read research notes on the fire department’s history.
• See historical photos of the fire department. 
• See historical fleet photos. 
   
• See photos from the fire department’s 65th anniversary celebration.