Rolesville Fire Department History

Last updated: January 19, 2023

Contents

• Part I - Research From 2004
• Part II - Additional Notes - 2016 >

Part I - Research From 2004

1913, business section of town "practically wiped out" by fire on Thursday night. Ten buildings are destroyed. Fire "is said to have originated in a room over Wright Brothers' store, used as a meeting hall by the Junior Order, and a defective flue was no doubt the direct cause" reports the February 10 edition of the Raleigh Times. Flames spread "across the road to the east and would have wiped out the whole northern part of the town if the inhabitants had not worked heroically to save it. Everyone in the place helped with water buckets and wet blankets and finally succeeded in checking the flames by saving the office and drug store of Dr. L. B. Young." No residences were destroyed. None of the properties were insured and the total loss is estimated at $10,000. (February 6, 1913) ^rt

1958, established. Incorporated as Rolesville Rural Fire Department, Inc. (June 3, 1958) ^sos

1958, fire engine first stored in Rolesville Amoco Station on S. Main Street across the street from 106 S. Main Street. ^oh

1958, first fire apparatus:

• 1958 Chevrolet / American pumper with front-mounted Barton pump

• tanker created/converted from military surplus 6x6 truck.

1960, H. E. Perry is Fire Chief. (May 7, 1960)

1960, permanent fire station completed at 106 S. Main Street. ^wcrer

Apparatus deliveries (?):

• 1965 Chevy tanker

• 1967 Kaiser brush truck.

1980, new fire station completed on 104 E. Young Street.

1982, wooden tract between Jonesville Road and SR 1003 burns for four days. Nine fire departments and volunteers armed with tractors and bulldozers battle blaze. An estimated "several hundred firemen" participate from Rolesville, Wake Forest, Six Forks, Bay Leaf, Falls, Stony Hill, Bunn, Knightdale, New Hope, and Hopkins. (April 4, 1982) ^ww

1986, fire station additions completed.^wcrer

Apparatus deliveries (?):

• 1970 GMC tanker
• 1972 Bean pumper.
• 1983 KME pumper.
• 1986 Ford tanker.
• 1989 ____ tanker.

Apparatus deliveries:

• 1991 Chevy 30 Step Van
• 1994 Freightliner / E-One pumper-tanker
• 1997 Freightliner / EEI
• 1998 Freightliner / E-One service truck
• 1999 Freightliner / E-One pumper-tanker.

Part II - Additional Notes - 2016 >

1998?, extrication services started. On Christmas Eve, new "jaws of life" tools were placed in service on the new rescue/service truck. Source: OH.

2005 - Apparatus deliveries:

• 2005 Pierce Contender pumper-tanker.
• 2005 International/KME elliptical tanker, 500/2000. Tanker 157.^lw
• 2008 Ford F-550/Seagrave brush truck.
• 2009 International/KME elliptical tanker, 500/2000. Tanker 158. Delivered March 1, 2009.^lw
• 2011 Ferrara Inferno HD mid-mount aerial platform, 2000/300/100-foot. Ladder 15. Delivered February 7. Dedicated and placed in service September 11, 2011.^lw
• 2012 Pierce Saber pumper-tanker, 1500/1000. Engine 151. Delivered around May 1. Placed in service on Monday, May 14, 2012. Former Engine 151 sold to Soul City FD in Warren County.^mjl-blog

See Wake County Fire Chiefs (pdf).

Vehicles

See Wake County apparatus register (pdf).

Raleigh Fire Museum photo albums.

• ^cfd Cary Fire Department records
• ^lw Lee Wilson
• ^rt Raleigh Times
• ^sos NC Department of the Secretary of State

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Copyright 2023 by Michael J. Legeros