Hillsborough and Orange Rural Fire Department History

Updated August 19, 2018

Contents

• Change Log
• Introduction
• Pictures and Patches
• Station Locations
• Major Milestones
• Sources

Change Log

Random edits for clarity, typos, August 19, 2018.
Page created April 7, 2016.

Introduction

This page presents notes on the history of Hillsboro(ugh) and Orange Rural fire departments. This content originated as blog posting in 2015. Big thanks to Chris Cardwell, for sharing his historical information and helping with research in 2016.

See more HFD and ORFD history on the Orange Rural Fire Department web site.

Pictures and Patches

Hillsboro Fire Department in 1937

Pictured from left to right are (kneeling) Rainey Roberts, Dr. H.W. Moore, Edwin Lynch, Mayor Ben Johnston, Chief George Gilmore; (standing) Marvin (Jug) Walker, Herman Strayhorn, Curtis (Hank) Rhew, Jim Gordon, C.D. (Buck) Knight, Vincent (Chunk) Forrest, Leonard Rosemond, Roger Wilson, Homer Watkins, Seth Thomas, Mitchel Lloyd, George Teer and Harvey Watkins. Click to enlarge:

Courtesy Orange Rural Fire Department

Historical Photos

More pictures, from the early decades of both HFD and ORFD. Click to enlarge:  

Courtesy Orange Rural Fire Department

Early Patches

Circa late 1970s.	Circa mid-1980s.
Both of these patches were used for both HFD and ORFD.

Station Locations

HFD and ORFD have occupied three locations since 1937:

		First location - Behind 35 N. Churton Street Built ? Occupied 1937 to 1947 Shared with Eno Chevrolet, which faced north side of King Street, which was behind a grocery warehouse facing N. Churton Street. Fire truck(s) shared space with repair garage. They were pulled out during day, while business operated, then parked at night. Vacated in 1947, when Eno Chevrolet needed the space for new equipment.
		Second location - 112 W. King Street Built 1947. Closed 1976. Erected on empty lot, beside auto repair garage owned by Fire Chief. Western Auto located on other side of lot. Town offices later occupied a building on the site (the auto garage?) until 1974. Both buildings demolished after 1976.
		Third location - 206 S. Churton Street Built ? Occupied 1976 to present Former automobile dealership that was purchased by town for use as fire station. ORFD purchased parking lot beside building. One bay faced Churton Street, and four bays faced parking lot on south side of structure.

Major Milestones

Pre-History

• 1790, March - Courthouse damaged by fire, requiring rebuilding of structure. Old Anglican Church, used as school house and meeting place, also believed damaged by the same fire.
• 1848 - Corporate Proceedings contain reference to town-owned fire buckets, fire ladders, and fire tools.
• 1888, December - Great Fire of 1888. Started in Postmaster building and spread to other buildings.
• 1903, November - Southern Depot fire that destroyed both the structure and freight.
• 1920, May - Farmers Union Fire. Several buildings in business district destroyed. Mutual aid from Durham Fire Department.
• 1921, April - Forest Building Fire. With $30,000 damage to several buildings in town.
• 1921, June - Building Boom. Hillsboro experiencing increase in construction partially due to recent fires.

1900-1949

• 1924 - No fire department listed on Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for this year or prior years.
• 1930 - Hillsboro FD first appears on department lists of North Carolina State Firemen's Association (NCSFA). Incorrect!
• 1934-35 - Water lines installed in town by WPA, which also provides money to establish the town's "first official fire department." The water system replaces the old town pump, which is remembered as the lone source for fighting fires, via bucket brigade, in the late 19th and early 20th century. (And likely earlier.)
• 1936, July - Water system placed in service for public customers. (Were the hydrants already in service?)
• 1937 - Fire department organized, with purchase of fire truck funded by WPA.
  • The 1937 Chevrolet/American LaFrance 500/150 was purchased from Eno Chevrolet in Hillsborough. (Chassis only, or entire rig delivered as new?)
  • Eno Chevrolet also serves as first fire station. Truck was kept in garage at night, then pulled out each day, so the business could conduct business.
  • Electric siren is purchased as fire alarm, and installed outside the garage. It's controlled by the phone operator at the telephone exchange on King Street.
  • George Gilmore is appointed the first Fire Chief by the town Board of Commissioners, in March 1937. He serves 1937 to 1970.
  • Department is all-volunteer, including many merchants. 
• 1943 - Town fire department described in Sanborn Fire Insurance Map as
  • Volunteer with Chief, Asst. Chief, 18 men
  • Fire truck is 1937 Chevrolet/Barton 500/100
  • Fire station in rear of 35 Churton Street, sharing a one-story auto repair garage which adjoins rear of two-story grocery warehouse.
  • Fire alarm is electric siren. 
  • Water supply includes 38 fire hydrants.
  • Domestic pressure at Courthouse is 80 pounds.
• 1944, December - Mutual aid to Mebane, for the Hollywood Theater fire. MFD was also assisted by Burlington and Graham fire departments.
• 1945, September - Flooding impacts Orange County, including nine bridges washed out. Hillsboro firemen assist with evacuating two families in Eno Village.
• 1947 - Fire station constructed on King Street. The garage space at Eno Chevrolet is needed for new equipment, and the fire department is requested to vacate. Planning starts by May 1947. The town acquired an open lot on King Street between a garage owned by Chief Gilmore and the Western Auto. The fire station was constructed as a three (?) bay garage that adjoined Gilmore's garage.
• 1947, September - Telephone fire alarm system installed. The control for the electric siren was moved to the fire station, now called direct at 2222.
• 1947, September - Limits for answering rural calls more strictly observed. Limit of 1.5 miles outside town has been on books for several years, but had lately not been observed.

1950-1969

• 1951 - Hillsboro Rural FD organized.
  • Move to purchase a fire truck for rural areas begins with a meeting of interested citizens in January 1951.
  • The need has been demonstrated in recent years, with "rural fires" leaving the town vulnerable when their fire equipment leaves the town limits.
  • HFD members recently voted and will offer their services to man a rural fire truck.
  • An organization is created and begins raising money for the fire truck.
  • Fire truck is delivered in March 1951, but still needs equipment. Some $4,500 has been donated to date by 260 members.
  • The truck is a 1951 Ford/______, 500/150, with front-mounted pump.
  • Hillsboro Rural FD is lettered on truck, as shown in early photos.
  • Orange Fire Protective Association is name cited in newspaper story, in January 1951.
  • Orange County Rural FD is name cited in newspaper story, in May 1952.
  • Service fee of $50 implemented for non-members, in May 1952. (Fees are $20 for residential and $30 for farms.) Since the creation of the rural department, sixteen calls have been answered in the past year.
• 1958, February - Central High School for Negroes in Hillsboro is destroyed by fire. Mebane FD responds as mutual aid.
• 1964 - HFD adds pumper. 1964 Ford F-700/American LaFrance, 750/500, purchased to replace 1937 Chevrolet.
• 1965 - Town changes name Hillsboro to Hillsborough.
• 1968 - Leading citizens launch plans to create a volunteer fire department to replace the "present 17-year old system".
  • Estimated cost is $25,000.
  • Project spearheaded by Hillsborough Exchange Club.
  • Propose extending coverage area several miles from town.
  • Memberships are sold to raise money for new truck and equipment.
  • Fees are $20 for single residences and $30 for "complexes such as farms." The cost covers the first four years of service, with annual renewals after.
  • Volunteer department would have no paid members.
  • Current Hillsborough Rural FD would continue to respond to "outside calls." [ This appears to mean that HRFD would continue to respond to calls, while the new rural FD was begin organized. ]
  • Most of the new district would be to the north, east, and west of Orange County, with Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and newly formed Eno fire departments covering south side of county.
• 1968 - Orange Rural FD organized.
  • Chartered as Orange Rural Fire Department No. 1 Inc. on June 11, 1968.
  • Initial registered address is 138 N. Churton Street, addressed to Marshal L. Cates Jr.
  • Incorporators are Marion Clark. Marshal L. Cates Jr., Reid Roberts, George Gilmore, and Clarence D. Jones. They are also the initial Board of Directors.
  • First fire truck is 1951 Ford/______, 500/150, with front-mounted pump.
  • Also has a 1,300 gallon tanker, make/model unknown.
  • ORFD and HFD are separate entities, with separate equipment, personnel, and budgets. They operated under the same roof, and under the same chief. The town also had a Fire Commissioner that oversaw the town's interests. The "town trucks" were restricted to inside the town limits, and the "rural trucks" ran outside the town. Both departments also provided mutual aid to each other.
   
• 1968 - ORFD adds pumper, 1968 Chevrolet C-60/John Bean, 750 GPM high-pressure pump, 500 gallons. Cost $18,3000. Purchased to replace 1951 Ford.

1970-1979

• 1970 - Second Fire Chief is Chandler Cates, serves 1970 to 1978.
• 1971 - The ORFD Board of Directors start a project to expand provide fire protection to more of Orange County, by helping other communities start their own fire departments.
  • The county was growing rapidly and the fledging ORFD was unable to keep up with the increasing call volume. Rural fire protection was slowly growing in Orange County. Until the creation of rural departments in the 1960s (and later), the only fire departments were HFD, Chapel Hill, and Carrboro. With Chapel Hill protecting only the university, HFD and CFD responded into areas that today part of Chapel Hill city limits
  • Project lasts for several years, with ORFD members (and HFD founders) organizing community meetings and helping with the paper needed to incorporate the new departments.
  • In 1971, fire departments in Orange County consisted of
     
    • Carrboro
    • Chapel Hill
    • Eno (created 1960)
    • Hillsborough
    • Orange Rural.
       
  • New fire departments are organized in the subsequent years, and in the following decade:
     
    • Efland FD in 1972
    • Orange Grove FD in 1973
    • Cedar Grove FD in 1977
    • Caldwell FD in 1979. Cites the department history, "[ORFD Chief] Chandler Cates gave us the best advice. Only buy new equipment and invest in a new building."
    • White Cross FD in 1985 (operational in 1987).
       
• 1972 - ORFD adds tanker, 1972 Ford F-750/John Bean, 450/1250. Purchased to replace "old water truck." Alternate year 1973. Later Engine 23.
• 1974 - Town offices move from the co-occupied building.
• 1974 - Incident - Gasoline truck catches fire and explodes, damaging the county jail. Friday, May 3?, 1974.
• 1975 - ORFD adds brush truck, 1974 Dodge 300/Pierce mini-pumper, 300/260. Purchased to replace 1951 Ford that was used for brush fires.
• 1976 - Fire station moved to 206 S. Churton Street (present address).
  • Former Ray Motor Company garage, which is 6,500 square-feet. Building had been vacant for a year, last occupied by Major Business Forms. The car dealership moved from the location nine years ago.
  • Town purchases building for $60,000 in April 1976, ORFD purchases adjacent vacant lot for parking.
  • Building houses both HFD and ORFD.
  • Will house five fire trucks, one owned by town and four owned by ORFD.
  • Building has wash pit and lifts for truck maintenance.
  • May also become public safety headquarters, with six new police officers planned after June 30, to be trained as public safety officers.
  • Fire department is now single entity with twenty-seven members, who serve both town and rural districts.
  • New "colonial front" will be added to the building, with Architect Archie Davis working on the design.
• 1976, or later - Former fire station building and town hall demolished to make a parking lot.
• 1978 - Third Fire Chief is John Forrest, serves 1978 to 1986.
• 1978 - ORFD adds pumper. 1977 Ford 750/____, 750/750. Purchased in 1978 as second ORFD engine.

1980-1989

• 1980 - HFD adds pumper. 1980 Ford F-8000/FMC, 1000/750. Purchased to replace 1964 Ford. Engine 3, later Engine 231.
• 1982 - ORFD adds tanker. 1973 Ford F-700/_____, 500/3200. Purchased as additional water supply.
• 1982 - ORFD opens Station 2 at 835 Phelps Road.
• 1983 - First female volunteer joins, Jane Combs.
• 1985 - ORFD adds pumper/tanker. 1985 Ford F-8000/Grumman, 1000/1250. Alternate year 1984. Later Tanker 27.
• 1986 - Fourth fire chief is Mark Gordon, serves 1986 to 1994.
• 1988 - HFD adds aerial. 1988 Simon-Duplex/LTI, 1500/400/75-foot. Alternate year: 1987. Aerial 22, later Ladder 272. Later re-lettered for ORFD.
• 1988 - Incident - Kenwood Apartments at 701 Benton Street burn. Fourteen apartments destroyed, some 40 people displaced, and three people killed. Saturday, February 20, 1988.

1990-1999

• 1990 - Incident - Hillsborough Business Center burns. Site is former Cone Mills plant and house twenty-seven businesses. Some 200 firefighters from Hillsborough, Efland, New Hope, Alamance, Eno, Caldwell, Carrboro, and Durham County participate. Saturday, March 11, 1990.
• 1991 - ORFD adds pumper/tanker. 1991 White/Volvo/EEI pumper-tanker, 1250/2500. Purchased to replace 1972 Ford. Later Tanker 233.
• 1992 - Incident - Tornado strikes town. Two people killed, some eighteen people injured, and dozens of homes destroyed.
• 1994 - Fifth fire chief is Jimmy Summey, serves 1994 to 1996.
• 1995 (mid-1990s) - ORFD adds equipment truck. 1983 International/Hackney with walk-around body. Former bottled water transport truck in Boston, MA. Repainted red and used as air and light unit. Later Squad 268. Sold to Orange County Rescue in early 2000s, who later sold it and some Hurst equipment to Creedmoor FD.
• 1996 - Upon advice of North Carolina League of Municipalities, town begins contracted fire protection with ORFD, and the town fire department is dissolved.
  • The town and ORFD enter into a contract dated November 14, 1996.
  • The town owns the fire station and fire equipment.
  • ORFD owns some fire equipment, and operates its own fire department.
  • Both organizations want to "consolidate the activities, responsibilities, and purposes of both fire departments under one governing body."
  • Contract continues to June 30, 1997.
  • Contract is automatically extended for each subsequent year, beginning July 1, unless terminated.
  • Town continues to own and maintain the fire station building, which is now leased to ORFD.
  • Town now leases all fire apparatus, supplies, and materials it owns to ORFD.
  • Subsequent contract provisions, in later years, including the town providing a town-purchased pumper, and later a town-purchased aerial platform.
• 1996 - Six fire chief is Mac Cabe. Serves 1996.
• 1996 - Seventh fire chief is Jeff Cabe. Serves from 1996 to present.
• 1996 - HFD adds pumper. 1996 KME 1500/750. Purchased to replace 1980 Ford.
• 1996 - ORFD replaces brush truck chassis. 1996 Ford F-350, replaces 1974 Dodge 300 chassis with 1974 Pierce body.
• 1996 - ORFD hires first paid personnel, day hours.
• 1997 - ORFD paid personnel being providing 24/7 coverage.

2000-present

• 2002 - ORFD adds pumper/tanker. 2002 International/KME, 1500/1000. Purchased to replace 1977 ford pumper.
• 2007 - ORFD adds rescue/service truck. 1992 Simon-Duplex/Saulsbury, former Rescue 11 from Huntington Manor FD in Long Island, NY. Replaces 1983 International/Hackney. Squad 268.
• 2011 - Town purchases 2011 Sutphen aerial platform 1500/300/95-foot lettered for HFD. Operated by ORFD.
• 2012 - ORFD opens Station 3 at 2510 Walker Road on April 14, 2012.
• 2015 - ORFD Engine 232 overturns on Phelps Road at Mason Keyon Road on January 14, 2015. Apparatus is responding to MVC, and the single-vehicle accident occurs less than a mile from Station 2. No injuries to the firefighters aboard. Apparatus is totaled.
• 2015, by - ORFD adds rescue/service truck. 201_ KME.
• 2015 - ORFD adds two pumper/tankers. 2015 Sutphen Monarch 1500/1000. Delivered December 18, 2015. One is purchased by town and lettered for HFD. It replaces a 1996 KME also lettered for HFD. The second one, lettered for ORFD, replaces Engine 232, which overturned in January.

Notes

• HFD first fire car was 1981 Chevrolet Impala.
• HFD second fire car was 1983 Ford Crown Victoria.
• ORFD first pick-up was 1990 Chevrolet.
• ORFD first equipment truck was 1974 Dodge with walk-in utility body.
• ORFD second equipment truck was 1985 Iveco box-truck with walk-in body.
• ORFD third equipment truck was
• ORFD operated 1998 Chevrolet Suburban.
• ORFD operated 2002 Ford F-350 pick-up, purchased as a first responder unit.

Sources

• Hillsborough, N.C. - History of Town Lots - Addendum 2015, by Stewart Dunaway via Google Books.
• Hose & Nozzle magazine, March-April 1968, May-June 1968
• Legeros Fire Blog posting, December 2009
• Lee Wilson photos
• North Carolina corporation records
• North Carolina State Firemen's Association department lists
• Oral histories.
• Orange Rural FD history page
• Orange Rural FD Facebook page

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