1959 Open
1959 Open Letter to Citizens

History of the King Fire Department

History of the King Fire Department

In the Winter of 1955, the only fire protection, in the King area, was a 50 lbs. dry chemical extinguisher on wheels.  Noticing that this was a major problem, the King Lions Club formed a committee to start a fire department.  In the Spring of 1955, construction began on a two bay, two story fire station.  All of the materials for the building as well as the labor were donated by the community. 

The original fire department roster consisted of 27 members.  There were two fire trucks.  One was a 1955 Chevrolet pumper and the other was a 1952 Chevrolet tanker with a homemade 1400-gallon water tank.  As the community continued to grow, so did the fire department.  In 1958, two additional bays were added along with a brush truck and Stokes County’s first rescue squad.  The rescue squad was a retired Krispy Kreme delivery truck. 

As business started coming into the area and more revenue was generated, more advanced turnout gear was ordered.  The department now had a whopping total of four airpacks.  In 1984 an additional bay was added to the fire station.  The fleet now consisted of: (3) Pumpers, (1) Tanker, (1) Rescue Squad, (1) Mini Pumper, and (1) Brush Truck.

Up until 1985 the only source of income for the department was gathered by door-to-door donations from the community.  In 1985, the community voted on a rated fire tax district.  In 1988, construction of the new fire station began.  The original station was converted into the current City Hall.  As the call volume for the 35 square mile district continued to increase, it was evident that it was taking a toll on our volunteers.  In 1995 the first full-time Fire Chief was hired.  Within three years an additional four firefighters were hired.  We now had 24 hour guaranteed response. 

In 2000 the City of King took over ownership of the department.  The Fire Department continues to grow as does the call volume.  In 1990 the call volume was 876 emergency responses.  In 2006 the call volume was 1984 emergency responses.

The members of the City of King Fire Department understand that this department was built and funded by the community.  We know that the community saw a need and went forward with this endeavor.  We strive, every day, to make sure that we serve this community with pride and dedication. 

 

TIME LINE OF SIGNIFICANT EVENTS FOR THE KING FIRE DEPARTMENT:

  • 1955

    • King Lions Club formed a committee to begin the King Fire Department.
    • 1955 Construction begins on the first fire station
    • two fire trucks are purchased replacing the 50 lbs. wheel fire extinguisher; 1955 Chevy Pumper and a 1952 Chevy Tanker with a 1400-gallon homemade tank

  • 1958

    • two additional bays were added to the existing fire station adding a brush truck and the Stokes County first rescue squad to the fleet.

  • 1984

    • an additional bay was added to the existing fire station for a new pumper truck

  • 1985

    • a fire tax district was voted in by the citizens enacting the first fire tax which would fund the fire department

  • 1988

    • construction began for a new fire station on West King St. The old fire station on S. Main Street was renovated into the current City Hall

  • 1994

    • Pierce Dash custom cab truck was placed into service

  • 1995

    • Craig Haigh was hired as the first career Fire Chief for the department

    • a career Lieutenant was hired by the Fire Chief

  • 1998

    • three firefighters along with part-time firefighters guaranteeing 24-hour response

  • 1999

    • three firefighters were hired increase staffing to two firefighters 24-hours per day

  • 2000

    • the King Volunteer Fire Department Inc. merged with the City of King dissolving the corporation. The fire department was now a municipal department

  • 2002

    • Wes Lail was hired as the second career Fire Chief replacing Chief Haigh who accepted a job in Hanover Park, Ill.

  • 2003

    • the department began providing Advance Life Support non-transport medial response at the EMT-Intermediate level of care

  • 2004

    • Randy Williams was hired as the department’s first Fire Marshal in a part-time capacity

  • 2005

    • Randy Williams was hire as the third career Fire Chief replacing Chief Lail who accepted a job with the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal

  • 2006

    • Matthew Thorpe was promoted to a newly created Assistant Chief’s position

  • 2007

    • Sutphen S3 custom cab 1500GPM/750 gal. engine was placed in service replacing a 1994 GMC Brigadier Pumper

  • 2008

    • Brad Cheek was hired as an Assistant Chief replacing Matthew Thorpe who accepted a job with the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal

    •  the fire department was awarded a FEMA grant under the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) allowing three new firefighters to be hired increasing staffing levels to four firefighters per shift.

  • 2009

    • Steven Roberson was hired as the fourth career Fire Chief replacing retiring Chief Williams

  • 2010

    • the fire department began offering high angle rescue response

  • 2011

    • Sutphen S3 custom cab 1500GPM/1000gal Pumper/Tanker was placed into service replacing a 1986 Mack Tanker

  • 2012

    • the fire department began offering water rescue response for all of Stokes County and northern Forsyth County
    • Fire Department Support Services Blake Luper received the "Employee of the Quarter" recognition by the City Council.

  • 2012

    • Captain Matthew Rohde received the Forsyth County Fire and Rescue Association Instructor of the Year Award

  • 2013

    • Engineer Glen Gillette received the City of King Fire Department Firefighter of the Year Award
    • Firefighter Jason Hill received the City of King Fire Department Rookie of the Year Award
    •  the department was awarded a FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) in the amount of $260,000 to replace all self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA)

  • 2014

    • Chief Roberson was appointed President of the Forsyth County Fire and Rescue Association

    • Firefighter Neild Pardue received the City of King Fire Department Firefighter of the Year Award

    • Firefighter Donnie McQuinn received "Employee of the Quarter" recognition by the City Council
    • Firefighter Michael Mosely received the City of King Fire Department Rookie of the Year Award

  • 2015

    • the fire department placed into service a 2015 F550 with a 14’ custom box rescue truck. The addition of the truck allowed the department for the first time to manage medical response and rescue incidents from one vehicle.

    •  Firefighter Neil Pardue receive the Forsyth County Fire and Rescue Association Firefighter of the year Award

    • 2015 Firefighter Mark Thorpe received the City of King Fire Department Firefighter of the Year Award
    • Administrative Assistant Barbara Thorpe retired from the Fire Department
    • Volunteer Firefighter Mickey Merritt retired from the Fire Department

  • 2016

    • Firefighter Mark Thorpe received the Piedmont North Carolina Firefighter of the Year Award

    • Firefighters Justin Newsome and Preston George responded as a joint group with Lewisville FD as part of a swift water deployment due to Hurricane Matthew

  • 2017

    • Sutphen S3 custom cab 1500GPM/1000gal Pumper/Tanker was placed into service replacing a 1994 Pierce Dash Engine

    • Chief Roberson received the Forsyth County Fire and Rescue Association Fire Officer of the Year Award

    • Battalion Chief V. Keith Handy received the City of King Fire Department Firefighter of the Year Award
    • Fire Chief Steven Roberson received the "Employee of the Quarter" recognition by the City Council

  • 2018

    • Chief Roberson was appointed the Northern Director on the Piedmont North Carolina Firefighters Association Executive Board

    • Firefighter Jason Hill received the City of King Fire Department Firefighter of the Year Award
    • Firefighters Jason Fariss, Patrick Branch, and Jason Hill along with members of the Rural Hall Fire Department were part of an Engine Company Strike Team to Pamlico County during Hurricane Florence.
  • 2019
    • The department took delivery of a Freightliner M2 chassis to respond as our Rescue Truck with the current rescue truck body.  The original rescue truck chassis, an F550 was repurposed unto a brush truck.
    • Assistant Chief Brad Cheek received the Community Service Award from the Forsyth County Fire and Rescue Association.
    • Firefighter Justin Ritchey received the Firefighter of the Year for the City of King Fire Department.
  • 2020
    • Chief Roberson was appointed at the Piedmont Director to the North Carolina State Firefighters' Association Board
    • Department took purchased a 2003 Sutphen Magnum 110' Platform ladder truck.
    • Managed the Covid-19 epidemic.
    • Firefighter Justin Ritchey received the Jerry Lewis Forsyth County Firefighters' Association Firefighter of the Year.
  • 2021
    • Assistant Chief Brad Cheek retired in May.
    • Engineer Robert Snyder retired in June.
    • Firefighter Jason Fariss was promoted to Engineer in June.
    • Brian Booe was hired as an Assistant Chief replacing Brad Cheek who retired in May.
    • Captain Jonathan Lane was promoted to Battalion Chief replacing Keith Handy who was promoted to the Planning/Zoning and Building Director.
    • Engineer Derek Hughes was promoted to Captain after the promotion of Jonathan Lane.
    • Firefighter Preston George was to Engineer.
    • Engineer Preston George received the Firefighter of the Year award for the City of King Fire Department
    • Firefighter Tyler Johnson received the Rookie of the Year award for the City of King Fire Department
  • 2022
    • Engineer Jason Fariss received the Firefighter of the Year award for the City of King Fire Department
    • Firefighter Logan Whitaker received the Rooke of the Year award for the City of King Fire Department
    • Firefighter Justin Newsome received is Grade 1 Firefighter
  • 2023
    • Engineer Jason Fariss received the Jerry Lewis Forsyth County Firefighters' Association Firefighter of the Year.