History
[written in 1982]The Calabash Volunteer Fire Department was originally chartered in November 1973, and the Charter was amended in December 1975. The merchants of Calabash donated a substantial amount of the funds needed. Funds were raised through individual donations; fish fries, barbeques, oyster roasts, and turkey shoots. Our original fire fighting equipment consisted of a 1974 Ford, John Bean 750 gallon pumper, a 2.5 ton GMC Army type 1000 gallon tanker, and a half-ton truck for brush and wood fires. In 1976 the fire department received a loan through the FHA in the amount of $82,000 to purchase land (one acre), to build a new fire station and to pay off the 1974 truck. Prior to this time the department operated from other temporary locations. During the period of 1973 - 1975 the fire department operated strictly from donations and fund raising events with the help of the volunteer firemen and the Ladies Auxiliary. Since that time, the Brunswick County has given the fire department $6000 per year, the Town of Calabash $2000 per year and for the past two years the ABC Store of Calabash has donated $1200 each year. The department still must depend on donations and fund raising events to continue to operate efficiently.
Personnel Updates
- July 2000
- First career firefighters hired. Coverage with one firefighter 7 days per week 6 a.m. - 6 p.m.
- September 2001
- Second career firefighter hired, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
- November 2001
- Increased career firefighters to 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. One firefighter per shift. Continued with second firefighter, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Apparatus Updates
- December 1999
- 1998 E-One 75 foot Quint placed in service
- February 2000
- 1999 Spartan Salisbury Rescue Pumper placed in service
- January 2004
- 2004 Fout's Brothers 3300 gallon Tanker on Kenworth Chassis placed in service
Other Milestones
- April 2002
- Response Rating System (ISO) - Evaluation completed. Rating in hydrant area improved from a 7 to a 5.
- February 2004
- Second station opened in north west part of fire district.
- Emergency call volume
- Increased annually from 127 calls in 1997 to 572 calls in 2003. For 2005, the call volume was 1058.