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.

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.