69 years ago, when a building caught on fire in Stokesdale, neighbors responded as quickly as word–of–mouth could spread. With no special equipment or training in fighting fires, they used the only resources they had to fight the blazes – determination and buckets of water. All too often, they were no match for the blazes that inevitably reduced yet another home, business or tobacco barn to a heap of ashes.

Things slowly began to change in 1954, however, after a small group of about 18 men banded together to form a community fire department. They started with nothing – no money to purchase a fire engine, no fire station to store it in, and no formal training. Their occupations ranged from mechanics to electricians to tobacco farmers. Though they were small in number, they were mighty in their desire to protect homes and businesses in their community from being destroyed by fire.

In its 69 year history, the department has expanded its first response coverage area from what initially encompassed only three square miles to 36 square miles, parts of which extend from Guilford County, where the station is located on U.S. Highway 158 in Stokesdale into Rockingham County. Seven fire Chiefs have preceded the current fire Chief Todd Gauldin, who has served as the department’s Chief since 1992. Throughout its history, scores of board members and hundreds of volunteer firefighters have served the community by volunteering with the fire department, and they have been supported by countless family members who have sacrificed time with family members so they could stop whatever they were doing when an emergency call came in.