This Site is dedicated to all Men and Women who give freely of their time and effort to provide aid and comfort to the public, whether it is family, friend or stranger. We give special thanks to the Family of these Men and Women as they so often take second place to the call of the fire alarm, they are a special class of people. This Web Page is provided as a service to residents of Union Mills Fire Protection District. The purpose for the site is to provide information as to the past, present and future status of the fire department and its function within the community. Every effort is made to provide family oriented material. Please check our Education and Safety Links for information provided by agencies such as US Fire Administration, National Fire Protection Association, NC State Fire Marshall's Office, American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association. Homestead.com provides space for this Web Page free. Visit our Tribute to the Firefighter and Family. A special thank you is also in order for the Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary for the dedication to the fund raising efforts through the past years. Visit each section listed in the menu below and at the bottom of each section to surf your way through the site. Check out the links listed in the Home Safety Link page for children's fire safety information and games, as well as adult level safety information and health care information. Visit our photo page for a few shots from the Children's Fire Safety Day at Pinacle Elementary School. Also found during this visit are a short history of the department, something about our area, and some financial facts about the operation of the department. Listed also are the churches and organizations within our response district. A page exist with links of interest to firefighters, these include NC State Firemen's Association, State Fire Marshall's Office, and Firehouse Magazine. A History of Union Mills Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. This history compiled and is updated by Dean Conner On February 07, 1971, a group of citizens met at the Union Mills Community Clubhouse to discuss the possibility of organizing a Volunteer Fire Department. The meeting was a result of a similar meeting in the Hudlow-Mt. Vernon area. Since a station located in that area would not help the residents of Union Mills, the plan was to organize here. After a lengthy discussion by some thirty-one local citizens, the plan was in motion. The motion to organize was made by Pete Flack, second by Leroy Young; the vote was thirty in favor, one not voting. As with any organization, a Board of Directors was chosen to seek a Charter and the necessary information needed to continue the operation. The temporary Board of Directors, elected by majority vote was V.T. Cooper, Chairman, along with John Briscoe and Leroy Young. On March 26, 1971, the Secretary of State granted a Charter to the organization to be known as the Union Mills Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. The organization was to operate as a tax exempt, non-profit, Corporation. After meeting with members from several other fire departments, a set of by-laws were composed, an eight member Board of Directors, a Fire Chief and five line officers were elected. Under the direction of Chairman V. T. Cooper and Chief Leon StClair, a fund raising program, a search for the permanent headquarters, purchase of fire apparatus, and a training program were under way. During the next few months, ham suppers, auction sales, hot dog sales, music shows and just plain door pounding became a regular routine. A Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary was formed to help with the planning of meals and other fund drives. A temporary headquarters was established in the old ESSO building at the crossing of Hudlow Road and Old Highway 221 [now Coney Island Rd.] The building was equipped with running water and a kitchen, painted and equipped with a sign designating it as the Union Mills "Voluntary" Fire Department. After land was offered by Guy Thompson and by the R. C. Flack family, the present location was chosen because of its accessibility and location in general. This property would soon see a temporary structure to house the fire truck through the winter, and later the permanent Firehouse and Corporate Headquarters. Under the direction of Building Committee Chairman Arthur E. Briscoe, a yearlong building program was begun. In May of that year the first fire truck was purchased and served for the next five years. A tanker truck was also purchased to carry the necessary water supply required by the N. C. Department of Insurance. Each of these vehicles was twenty years old when purchased. In the summer of l972, with the determination of local citizens and a loan of $12000 dollars, A. E. Briscoe made his building project become a reality. The moving of equipment began in September of 1972 while work continued on the building. The new Firehouse was a three bay garage with attached kitchen and meeting hall. The masonry work was done by vocational education students under the direction of Max Robinson, with the balance of construction completed by local citizens. Hot dogs and hamburgers were sold on Saturdays to raise funds to operate. Firefighters and their family would rotate weekends operating the kitchen. Other fund raising efforts were poor man suppers, spaghetti suppers, and the annual Ladies Auxiliary bazaar and bake sale. December of that year brought about the election of new officers. With the new headquarters complete and the equipment in place, a new challenge lay ahead. Newly elected Chairman A. E. Briscoe and Chief Dean Conner began the process of getting Union Mills Volunteer Fire Department rated and certified by the N. C. Department of Insurance. In May of 1974, this goal was achieved and the 9A-9Aarating was awarded. This rating meant that the residents within a 4 mile driving range of the Firehouse would be given and average of 15% reduction on their fire and lightening insurance premium. This rating also meant that the Rating Bureau would require us to maintain serviceable fire apparatus; a 24 hour manned alarm station; and a crew of no less than nineteen firemen participating in at least 36 hours of meetings, training and drills each year. Time to Replace the Fire Truck In the fall of 1976, a decision was made to replace the used pumper truck with a new unit in order to maintain our rating. The new truck would be a 1976 Ford chassis with and all aluminum pumper body and tank. Purchase price of the new unit was $42000, financed by a Farmers Home Administration Community Service loan. Emergency One Equipment Co. of Ocala, Florida supplied this unit, the first of its kind in western North Carolina. Two other used tanker trucks would be purchased before a new chassis was acquired in 1991. In 1978, a surplus Army truck was equipped with an old kerosene tank and a portable pump for use in fighting brush and grass fires. This unit served us until 1993, when it was replaced with another used vehicle. This vehicle was eighteen years old at the time of purchase, but was in good operating condition. In 1998, the tank and pump were replaced with a lighter, more efficient unit and the chassis kept in service. The Need for Financing As the firefighters and auxiliary became weary from the endless task of raising funds need to operate; a decision was made to apply for a taxing district. Signatures wire gathered to petition the Board of County Commissioners to call for a special vote of the area property holders to tax themselves to provide funds for fire protection. Two attempts were made before this vote was successful in 1989. With the tax revenue as a regular income, the Board of Directors led by President Steve Greene, began plans for future growth. The taxing rate began at eight cents per one hundred dollars of property evaluation. The current rate is set at five cents. A fund was started for the future purchase of a tanker truck. In l991 mechanical failure of the aging and ailing tanker truck forced an early decision about replacement. Money was available to purchase a new truck chassis but not a complete operating unit. A chassis was purchased and the older tanker body mounted on it. This move could be done without borrowed money. This truck still serves as our primary tanker truck. d |
Union Mills Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. 6791 Hudlow Road, Union Mills NC 28167 Ph. (828) 287-7118 E-Mail: umvfd@rfci.net Serving the Public Since February 1971 |
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