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Swift Creek Fire Department History

Last updated: January 16, 2023

  

1960

Incorporated by members of Swift Creek/Macedonia community as Swift Creek Rural Fire Department, Incorporated. (June 7, 1960) ar1, sos

Board of Directors elected at a public meeting at Swift Creek School. (August 29, 1960) ar1

Officers elected at Board meeting. (September 13, 1960) ar1

First Fire Chief is Joe Womble. ar1

Fire department budget is supported by membership fees of up to ten dollars raised by members of the department. ar1

First fire engine is 1961 Chevrolet 70 Series/Howe pumper, 500/500 is purchased for $14,769.98. ar1

Second fire engine is 1946 Chevrolet tanker, 0/1000. Truck is constructed in Joe Womble's garage by mounting a 1,000 gallon tank donated from N.C. Butane Company on a 1946 Chevrolet 1 1/2 ton truck chassis purchased from Pine State Creamery for $150.00. Board members "pass the hat" to raise funds to complete the purchase of the vehicle. ar1

The newly formed fire department receives Civil Defense surplus property after the dissolution of the Western Boulevard Fire Department. Received are two vehicles, miscellaneous equipment, and $1,000 in cash. Vehicles consist of:

Last major item of equipment purchased is a 7 1/2 horsepower siren at a cost of $790.50. fdr, 2

1961

First barbecue supper held for purpose of fundraising. (February 18, 1961) ar1

Temporary fire station constructed in tin shed offered rent free by Lewis Furr. Location is Tryon Road behind present site of Swift Creek Grocery. (late March) 2, oh

Fire district boundaries measuring a four-mile radius established by Wake County Fire Commission. Also approved is County support in amount of $100 per month beginning in May. Inspection of equipment by Fire Commission indicates meeting of minimum standards. (April 10, 1961) ar1

Second barbecue supper held for purpose of fundraising. (May 8, 1961)

Fire station site at 6115 Holly Springs Road leased for eighteen years from Mr. Earl Franklin. Mr. Franklin receives as rental, free fire protection service for houses he owns in the fire district not to exceed $55 in any given year. (July 31, 1961)ar1

Reduction of fire insurance rates in Swift Creek Fire District approved by North Carolina Fire Rating Bureau. (August 15, 1961)ar1

Stanford Mizelle becomes Fire Chief.fdr

1962-1969

1962, construction of permanent fire station approved by Board of Directors. Concrete block building with 2800 square feet of floor space has estimated cost of $8,270.ar1

1962, fire department answers 27 calls between July 1, 1961 and June 30, 1962. fdr

1963, L. D. Warner becomes Fire Chief. Serves until 1987.fdr

1963 fire department answers 34 calls between July 1, 1962 and June 30, 1963. fdr

1960s, apparatus deliveries:

1970-1979

1971, fire department budget begins being supported by tax base of Swift Creek residents. Five cents from every one-hundred dollars of tax money within the district is budgeted by the County to the fire department.fdr

1970s, apparatus deliveries:

1979, equipment also includes generator trailer, and a portable pump.

1980-1989

1983, late or early 1984, present fire station constructed at 6000 Holly Springs Road. oh

1980s, apparatus deliveries:

1988, Harold Estes becomes Fire Chief.fdr

1990-1999

1990, full-time personnel added. Two firefighters staff the fire station from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. (March 1990)no21mar90

1991, Robert Estes becomes Fire Chief. Serves until 1994.fdr

1993, First Responder service started. (Fall 1993)

1995, daytime weekday staffing changed from full-time to part-time personnel, utilizing career members of neighboring fire departments. Volunteer duty crew staff other hours.oh

1990s, apparatus deliveries:

1999, new rescue truck ordered. This occurred several months after the department procured a 1975 GMC service truck from Cary, as surplus. It was purchased for one dollar and with the intention of refurbishing and using as a rescue truck. The truck sat in the bay for several months and that prompted the department to purchase the newtruck.oh

 

2000-2009

2000, extrication services started, following the delivery that year of the Pierce heavy rescue.oh

2000s, apparatus deliveries:

2007, apparatus delivery: 2007 Pierce Contender pumper-tanker, 1500/1000. Engine 3. Delivered June 6, 2007.lw

2010-present

2013 - Line of duty death. Firefighter Jon F. Schondelmayer, 44, died on December 18, 2013, after being found unresponsive at his home, while working with the Swift Creek Fire Department. He had begun to feel ill while at the fire station. At about 11:30 a.m., he told his crew that he was going home to get some medicine and return to the station.

His crew became concerned when he left and called him on his cell phone to see how he was doing. At the same time, a Swift Creek firefighter was sent to his residence. While on the telephone, Schondelmayer said that didn't feel well and needed assistance.

When the other firefighter arrived at the residence, he found Schondelmayer unresponsive. The Swift Creek firefighter began rendering medical aid and contacted his company at the fire station for assistance. Emergency responders worked for 50 minutes to try to revive Schondelmayer, but he passed away from a nature and cause of injury still to be determined and reported.

Schondelmayer was also a Captain in Cary, and had just come off of a busy shift  that included several emergency response runs. He was a 19-year veteran of the Cary Fire Department, and had worked with Swift Creek for 18 years. His memorial service was conducted on Monday, December 23, at Colonial Baptist Church in Cary. Following the service, his body was carried to Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Raleigh.

2014 - Apparatus delivery: 2014 International/Rosenbauer elliptical tanker, 500/2000. Tanker 2. Delivered November 10, 2014. Old Tanker 2 sold to Woodsale FD in Person County.lw

Fire Chiefs

See Wake County Fire Chiefs (pdf).

Vehicles

See Wake County apparatus register (pdf).

Photos

Raleigh Fire Museum photo albums.

Sources
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