History

Pre-history

1943, farmers organize volunteer forest firefighting service. Two-dozen farmers meet and elect community leaders. Appointment of a forest warden for the township is also urged. Buckhorn and White Oak townships are invited to join in setting up an organization to protect the three communities, which annually have been hit hard by fires (February 1943)

1970-1979 

1971, Holly Springs Rural Fire Department formed (July 21, 1971)

1971, First fire station is two-bay building at 1140 Avent Ferry Road 

1971, First fire apparatus:

  • 1953 GMC tanker
  • 1955 International tanker

Later apparatus includes:

  • 1974 Ford / Bean pumper
  • military surplus tanker
  • military surplus brush truck

Late 1970’s, pit building added behind fire station to hold pigs for fundraising barbecues 

History


1980-1989

1985-86, Apparatus delivery:
1985-86 Chevy / FMC tanker, 1250 gallons

1986, Apparatus delivery:
  • 1986 FMC pumper-tanker, a demonstrator model purchased with funds donated by Carolina Power and Light for first-in fire protection at the Harris Plant, after the 1974 pumper's pump failed at a house fire and the fire department was using an FMC pumper-tanker lent by Fuquay at the time CP&L inquired about fire protection
1987-88, rest of fire station added, including additional apparatus

1989, Shearon Harris Nuclear Power Plant suffers fire. After nuclear reactor automatically shuts down at 11:06 p.m., workers spot two fires. One involves the transformer and is extinguished largely by sprinkler system. Second fire involves the generator in the turbine building. Plant's five-member fire brigade is assisted by Holly Springs and Fuquay-Varina fire departments. Plant officials confirm fire is out and associated hydrogen leak is contained at 2:43 p.m. (October 10, 1989)

1990-1999

1990, apparatus deliveries:
  • 1977 Ford / Howe tanker
  • brush truck built on 1990 Dodge chassis donated by Mr. Henry Collins
1995, municipal fire department formed. Named Holly Springs Fire Service Division, part of Holly Springs Department of Public Safety (April 1, 1995)
1995, temporary fire station at Omaha Meat Company at corner of Thomas Mill Road and Irving Parkway (April 1, 1995)
1995, first fire apparatus:
  • 1970's Chevy / Bean pumper purchased from Wendell Fire Department. Later sold to Surf City Fire Department
  • 1990's International tanker, later sold to Northwest Harnett County Fire Department (April 1, 1995)
1995, first fire station completed at 127 N Main Street (September 1995)
1995, apparatus delivery:
  • 1995 Pierce pumper originally ordered by rural department, but purchased by municipal department
1997, apparatus constructed:
  • municipal fire department builds aerial apparatus from 1980's Kodiak 55' bucket truck donated by Carolina Power and Light. Apparatus is utilized as master stream at one fire before behind sold to Swepsonville Fire Department (July 1997)
1997, municipal and rural fire departments merge. Rural station is designated Station No. 1, municipal station is designated Station No. 2 (August-September 1997)

1998, fire department begins EMS service. (April 1, 1998)
1998, apparatus delivery:
  • 17-foot Shore Line rescue boat donated by Wake County Sheriff's Department and modified by firefighters to include canopy, crane, portable pump with 2" discharge with 1 1/2" gate, and stokes basket bracket
1999, pit building behind Station No. 1 remodeled into training facility

2000-2009

2002, fire department assists Knightdale Public Safety's newly created Fire Division. Also donates hose, turnout gear, and other equipment (summer 2002)
2002, apparatus deliveries:
  • 1996 Ford L8000 chassis with Salisbury rescue body. Replaces 1972 Ford 800 chassis. (September 2002)

2010-Present

2011, Holly Springs Station 2 was condemned after a tornado struck the town April 16th, 2011
2012, The new Holly Springs Station 2 opened on the site of the razed building
2014, Squad 1, a combination engine-rescue vehicle, was placed into service
2014, Cinder joins the Holly Springs Fire Department to assist firefighters with teaching fire and life safety skills
2015, Refurbished 2001 95-foot aerial platform was placed into service

Sources

NC Department of the Secretary of State
Some events are based on oral history.