Presenting a history of fire and rescue services on Topsail Island as well as selected nearby fire and rescue departments in Pender and Onslow counties. 

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Short Version

• 1961, Jun – Topsail Island Rescue Squad operating by this time,
• 1962, Jan 30 – Pender County Rescue Squad, Inc. incorporated.
• 1966, Sep 15 – Topsail Island Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. incorporated.
• 1969, Dec 5 – Topsail Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. incorporated.
• 1967, May 31 – Sneads Ferry Rescue Squad, Inc. incorporated.
• 1971, Aug 23 – Topsail Beach RS renamed Topsail Beach Fire and Rescue, Inc.
• 1973, Apr, circa – Topsail Beach Fire Department created as a town department.
• 1973, Apr 24 – Topsail Beach F&R renamed Topsail Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc.
• 1974, May 6  – Topsail Island VFD renamed Surf City Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
• 1975, Dec 1 – West Onslow Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. chartered
• 1976, Jun – Surf City Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. organized.
• 1977, Oct 3 – Scotts Hill Fire Department, Inc. incorporated.
• 1978, Aug 25 – Hampstead Fire Department and Sloop Point Rescue merged and created Hampstead Volunteer Fire and Rescue Squad, Inc.
• 1980 or 1981 – West Onslow Beach RS stopped operating.
• 1981, Apr 17 – Union Rescue Squad, Inc. incorporated.
• 1983, Mar 17 – Hampstead Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc. incorporated. Group separated from Hampstead Fire and Rescue.
• 1984, Jul 23 – Hampstead RS renamed Pender East Volunteer Rescue Squad, Inc.
• 1985, Jan 1 – Surf City VFD stopped answering calls to West Onslow Beach.
• 1985, May 1 – West Onslow Beach Volunteer Fire & Rescue Departments, Inc. incorporated.
• 1989, Aug 18 – Surf City RS renamed Surf City Emergency Medical Services, Inc.
• 1990, Nov 21 – Topsail Beach RS renamed Topsail Beach Emergency Medical Services, Inc.
• 1991, Apr 8 – West Onslow Beach FD changed named to North Topsail Beach Volunteer Rescue and EMS, Inc.
• 1992, Feb 1 – Scotts Hill FD ceased operating.
• 1993, Oct 6 – Municipal Surf City Fire Department was operational by this date.
• 1993, Oct 6 – Effective date that the town’s contract with SCVFD ended.
• 1994, Feb – Surf City town officials decided to end the municipal structure surrounding Surf City FD, and contract with the volunteer members instead.
• 1994, Feb – Treasure Coast Fire Department, Inc. incorporated. Organized by members of the former municipal fire department, so the town could contract with them.
• 1994, May 12 – News reported that Surf City town council last week terminated the services of Treasure Coast FD and resume contracted fire protection from Surf City VFD.
• 1999 – Pender East RS renamed Pender East Rescue & EMS, Inc.
• 1999, Jul 1 – Second iteration of municipal Surf City FD began operating.
• 1999, Jul 6 – Topsail Beach EMS merged with Pender East Rescue and EMS.
• 2002, Oct 1 – Pender East Rescue & EMS and Pender County RS merged to create Pender Volunteer EMS & Rescue, Inc.
• 2013, Jun 30 – Pender EMS & Fire, Inc. created. The Pender EMS corporation was renamed on July 11, 2013, and three corporations were merged into it: Sloop Point Volunteer Fire Department, Inc., Long Creek Grady Volunteer Fire & Rescue, Inc., and Hampstead Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Inc. An invitation had been extended to Surf City VFD, but they didn’t meet deadlines for the merger. County officials planned to dissolve SCVFD.
• 2013, July or later – Surf City VFD ceased operation. Assets later to Pender EMS & Fire. 
• 2013, Jul 19 – Sneads Ferry RS merged with Sneads Ferry FD and both merged into Turkey Creek Fire and Rescue.
• 2022, Jan 31 – North Topsail Beach RS renamed North Topsail Beach Firefighters Association.
• 2025, Jun 16 – County officials approved the merger of Pender EMS & Fire, Penderlea FD, and Maple Hill FD and the county.