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History Of Gray's Creek Fire Department, Station 18

The History of the
Gray's Creek
Volunteer Fire Department Inc.,
Cumberland County
Station 18


Station #18 (circa 1980) T H E N
Station 18 Circa 1980

Station #18 (2002) N O W Station today

"A Desire and a Need"
With The Citizens of Gray's Creek desiring to have and needing a local fire department closer to their homes, and after many hours of fund-raising, to include Turkey Shoots, and Bar-b-Que Dinners, the idea of Gray's Creek Fire Department was becoming a reality.

The Gray's Creek Township was recieving fire protection from Cotten Fire Department located on US 301 in Hope Mills and from Pearce's Mills Fire Department located on Gillespie Street in Fayetteville. This make parts of Gray's Creek over 12 miles from the closest fire station.

In December of 1970, the Cotten Fire Department and the people of Gray's Creek started plans for a sub-station, which was formed in January of 1971.

This project came in to place thanks to several people of the community. Marvin and Myrtle Herndon, Harold and Dot Matthews, just to name a few, who work hard to ensure that the members of the sub-station Gray's Creek received the fire calls, they also raised money and gave encouragement to the members showing that the community wanted and needed a FIRE DEPT.

There is a memorial monument (pictured at the bottem of this page)located at the flag pole in front of the station house in honor of Mrs Myrtle Herndon for the deication and hard work in making the dream of a community fire department a reality.

The building was built at the corner of what is now known as Fire Department Road and Yarbourgh Road.

A Charter was written

And on December 22, 1972 the Gray's Creek Fire Department was chartered by the State of North Carolina and became a non-profit incorporation

After becoming chartered, the department was on the move. The 28 firefighters on the roster in 1973 purchased the department's first new fire truck, a 1973 Ford - Tanker. In 1975 a 750gpm Beam pumper was purchased and Gray's Creek Fire Department was well on its way to being a rated fire department. The 1975 pumper was donated to the North Carolina Fallen Firefighter Foundation in November of 2001.

The Gray's Creek Fire district was 10 miles by 12 miles. In 1979, the Gray's Creek Fire Department saw a need to build a sub-station in the north end of the district, to provide even better service to the community. The sub-station was built and became what is now Gray's Creek Fire Department, Station 24. In 1985, a need for full time personel was recognized and a Paid firefighter was hired. The Firefighter was shared between both stations 18 and 24.

The need for additional services were seen by the officers and the Departments' Board of Directors, so additional firefighters was hired and each station was manned 5 days a week from 8am to 5am. Station 18 is now manned from 7 am to 5 pm Monday through Friday with 2 career firefighters.

In 2002, Gray's Creek Fire Department is still growing. The department now has responsbility of Medical First Responders. Personnel with Emergency Medical Technician - Level D respond to Medical Emergencies in the district as well as fire calls.

The need for the fire department, not only as a center of the community but for services provided has increase several times over. In 2002, the department logged 475 dispatches compared to less than 100 in 1980 So now you might see why our slogan is "TAKING CARE OF THE CREEK"

Monument In Memory of Mrs Myrtle Herndon
Our 1st New Engine and Our 1st New Tanker/Pumper
Our 1st New Engine Our 1st New Pumper Tanker

Remember When?
This picture was made between 1985 and 1990

Tour Our Deparment by clicking below:
1st Out - Engine 1831 - Engine 1832 - Tanker 1821 - Brush Unit 1841 - 1st Responder / Command / Service Unit - Boat 18 - - Station 18 Officers - GCVFD Board Of Directors - History of GCVFD - Fire Facts - Some Photos - - Links to other Fire Related sites