Op-Ed: Fair Grove Fire Dept celebrates 65 years of service, needs support

This July marks the 65th Anniversary of the Fair Grove Fire Department Inc. In the beginning, several Fair Grove community members came together to try and form a Volunteer Fire Department for the purpose of protecting the citizens of the Fair Grove and surrounding communities. The first attempt was a failure.

The idea of forming a department stayed on the minds of a few members within the community. Later a fire that erupted in the area rekindled the desire for Fair Grove to have a Fire Department of their own. Prior to this any response for fire protection came from the city of Thomasville when available.

In July 1957, The Fair Grove Volunteer Fire Department was chartered by The State of North Carolina. Soon money was being raised by everyone in the community and even the elementary aged school children collected pennies to help support the purchase of a new 1957 American LaFrance GMC Fire Engine. In December of 1957, that first apparatus was purchased and signed for on the steps of the old Fair Grove School. That first piece of apparatus is currently in the possession of FGFD member Halsey Hoosier. It wasn't long before people were donating land for a station, an old kerosene tanker truck to haul water and various other items to help facilitate the needs of the up-and-coming department. The home that is located on the corner of Forest Drive and Cedar Lodge Road was the home of Johnnie Everhart. This is where the new fire engine was kept until the first two bay station could be constructed, adjacent to present day Station 43.

For almost 20 years the Fair Grove Fire Department operated strictly off of donations, sales from Bar-B Que dinners, subscription fees for service and directly out of the pockets of members.

The community atmosphere in the 50's, 60's and 70's, was much different that it is today. Everyone knew the families and neighbors close by. Many families were connected with each other by work, school or church. Fair Grove Fire Department reached out to help provide coverage for hundreds of families in the Randolph County area of our current district. Many of these families worked at Thomasville Furniture with members of the department and some of their children even went to Davidson County Schools.

In the mid 70's the department was able to petition to receive money from a collected fire tax in Davidson County. Years later the same was accomplished in Randolph County. This action eased the burden of members having to go around and collect money from residents and pulling money out of their own pockets to make ends meet. I remember a story told to me long ago about a man that refused to pay the yearly membership dues of $5.00 dollars when the firemen went around to collect. He said he had never needed the fire department and he could take care of anything that happened at his house on his own. 

Weeks went by and the man who refused to pay had a fire at his home. The department responded and put the fire out just as if the family was a member in good standing. The next day the gentleman who had at first refused to pay, brought $5.00 dollars to the station for his membership dues.

The Fair Grove Fire Department has a long rich history surrounding the Fair Grove, Cedar Lodge, Light, Noahtown, Wheatmore, Black Snake and so many other communities that once made up the Fair Grove Fire District. Fire District line stretched at one time North to almost Holly Hill and Randolph Streets and North Eastward to almost Highway 29-70 traveling Old Thomasville Road. Those were certainly more simpler times. Yearly call volumes might reach 50 in a busy year. There was a waiting list for Volunteers. The Department only allowed 64 Firefighters on the roster and there were always people waiting to become a member.

So many people have given their money, time and dedication to the Fair Grove Fire Department. I'm definitely not going to start naming names because the list would be tremendously long and I would surely leave someone out but I dare say you would never find a more dedicated and hard-working group than those that have helped lay the foundation of this Fire and Rescue Department. 

Times have definitely changed over the last 65 years. Currently we have 46 Volunteer Firefighters, 24 paid Firefighters and 12 Junior Firefighters. The department usually answers about 1,200 calls for service a year. We maintain a fleet of 13 vehicles out of 3 separate station locations. 

Fair Grove Station #43 (Main Station) located on Cedar Lodge Road Fair Grove Station #44 located on Lee Road Fair Grove Station #45 located on Welborn Road Randolph County 

The department provides a wide variety of service to the public such as public fire safety education, smoke detectors installations along with medical, fire and rescue services. Our goal is to provide the best possible protection to our citizen and those that travel through our area. 

Please join me and the staff of Fair Grove Fire Department in remembering those that have helped lay the foundation over the last 65 years. Some of those men and women have since passed away and we cherish their memory while others are still with us, still active in the community. 

Scott Rudisill Chief of Department Fair Grove Fire Department Inc. Thomasville, N.C. 27360