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- Calabash, North Carolina
- (910) 579-2355
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Calabash
Fire Department
Our goal: Zero Lives Lost. Zero Property Damage.
We are proud to provide high quality services to minimize the loss of life and property through fire suppression, fire prevention, emergency medical services, and helping during hazardous conditions in Calabash and Carolina Shores.
Stopping Fires. Saving Lives. Serving You.
The Calabash Fire Department was originally chartered in November 1973, when local merchants provided a generous donation to fund our operations. Together, Calabash residents rallied for their firefighters by holding fish fries, barbecues, oyster roasts, and turkey shoots. Individual donations were also provided. Together, the charitable gifts helped our Department purchase our first pieces of equipment: a 1974 Ford – John Bean 750-gallon pumper truck, a 2.5-ton GMC military-grade tanker that held 1000-gallons, and a half-ton truck to resolve brush and wood fires.
For the first two years we operated, the Department relied strictly on the charitable gifts and fundraising events held by the community, the volunteer firefighters, and the ladies’ auxiliary. In our country’s bicentennial year (1976), our Department received an $82,000 loan from the the FHA to purchase an acre of land to build a station (Station #1), and to pay off the balance on the 1974 Ford. The FHA grant provided the first revenue to come from outside of our local community.
Today, our budget is supported by the fire fees that each property owner in our fire district pays. In 2004, we were able to expand to a second station in previously unprotected parts of Brunswick County. Our second station was originally staffed by volunteer firefighters, but is now home to career firefighters 24/7. Overall, we are a combination Department with three 24-hours shifts consisting of an officer and three firefighters/EMTs.
The Calabash Fire Department is located in Brunswick County, North Carolina, near the Atlantic coast. The Calabash Fire District consists of the towns of Calabash, Carolina Shores, and a rural portion of Brunswick County that is unincorporated into any town and which does not include residential developments. We service a fire district that encompasses 29.7 square miles. Due to the proximity of many beaches and golf courses, the population nearly doubles from the normal 12,500 residents during the golf seasons, and our jobs are even more important to everyone who lives, visits, and enjoys our beautiful home.
Our History
The Calabash Volunteer Fire Department was originally chartered in November 1973. The merchants of Calabash donated a substantial amount of the funds needed to operate. Funds were raised through individual donations, fish fries, barbeques, oyster roasts, and turkey shoots. Our original firefighting equipment consisted of a 1974 Ford, John Bean 750 gallon pumper, 2.5 ton GMC Army type 1000 gallon tanker, and a half-ton truck for brush and woods fires. In 1976 the fire department received a loan through the FHA in the amount of $82,000 to purchase land [one acre], to build a new fire station {Sta. # 1} and to pay off the 1974 truck. Prior to this time the department operated from other temporary locations. During the period of 1973 – 1975 the fire department operated strictly from donations and fund raising events with the help of the volunteer firemen and the ladies auxiliary.
Most of our working capital now is received through fire fees paid by property owners in our Fire District. Our second station came on line in 2004 to help serve the territory that was previously an unprotected section of the county. Although it was primarily staffed by volunteers when it first opened, it is now staffed 24/7 by career firefighters. Today we are a combination depa
Personnel Update
July 2000 – First career firefighters hired. Coverage with one firefighter 7 days per week 6 a.m. – 6 p.m.
September 2001 – Second career firefighter hired, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
November 2001 – Increased career firefighters to 24 hours per day, 7 days per week. One firefighter per shift. Continued with a second firefighter, Monday to Friday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
January 2004 – Added one Officer and 3 FF/EMTs per shift.
December 2014 – Received a Safer Grant for part-time firefighter program
Apparatus Updates
- December 1999 – 1998 E-One 75 foot Quint placed in service.
- February 2000 – 1999 Spartan Salisbury Rescue Pumper placed in service.
- January 2004 – 2004 Fout’s Brothers 3300 gallon Tanker on Kenworth Chassis placed in service.
2016 – New 2016 E-One Engine purchased with a FEMA grant.
2018 – Old rescue truck replaced with a low mileage 1993 E-One Heavy Rescue/Pumper purchased from Lahaska, PA.
Other Milestones
- April 2002 – Response Rating System (ISO) Evaluation completed. Rating in hydrant area improved from a 7 to a 5.
- Emergency call volume increased annually from 127 calls in 1997 to 572 calls in 2003. For 2005, the call volume was 1058. For 2010, the call volume was 1300. For 2013, the call volume was 1539. For 2018 the call volume was 2230.
January 4, 2013 – Ground breaking of new Fire Station
November 1, 2014 – Moved into our new state-of-the-art Fire Station at 892 Persimmon Rd.
April 26, 2014 – Community-wide open house to dedicate our Fire Station TO THE MEMBERS, PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE
