EAST HOWELLSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
HISTORY
2007
In 2007 The East Howellsville Fire Department noticed a wall in the current fire department building has two large cracks in it. The wall is one of the main walls that supports the entire front of the fire department on the Tarheel Road side. The fire department had a structural engineer come out and look at the damage, and they determined that because of the weight of the fire trucks and the age of the building that something had to be done or the building would collapse. The fire department put together a building committee to consider the possibilities. A proposal was made to build a new engine room to house the fire trucks and repair the current building and remodel it with offices and community / training room. A community meeting was held and then the membership voted to pursue the proposal.
Below are photos that were taken through the new addition to The East Howellsville Fire Department.
The first ground was broken on 8/9/2007 for the new addition.
(Work Begins) Photos taken 8/14/2007
Finished ground packing and leveling. Photo taken 8/22/2007
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Taking down the old Siren 8/22/2007
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Before and after photos
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Setting the forms for the new foundation.
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Building the Steel Frames & Walls.
Framing complete and now comes the doors. 1/6/2008
These pictures were taken on 2/5/2008 after the front and rear concrete pads were poured.
The New Building is now Complete but we still have a lot of cosmetic work to do.
Visit this page again soon for more pictures.
More Work in Progress!!!!!
This is a picture of the new memorial that is being built at the East Howellsville Fire Department.
The Beginning
In the early seventies there was a barn fire in the community known as East Howellsville. The barn was lost and some local farmers and other community members came up with the idea to start a fire department. The East Howellsville Fire Department was founded in 1970 incorporated in 1972 and the first department building of East Howellsville Fire Department was built. As with the start of any organization the East Howellsville Fire Department was work in progress. The Fire Department built its first building at the intersection of Tarheel Road and Pridgen Road. The East Howellsville Fire Department's building is still located at the same location which sits approximately eight miles East of the center of Lumberton NC. The land was donated by Nellie Kinlaw & Jerry Kinlaw. Around the time of the land being donated there was a B.B.Q. to raise money for the purchase of the first fire equipment and the fire station. The land was cleared to build the new fire station on 9/16/1971. A special meeting was called on 10/18/1971 to vote on the by-laws of the newly formed East Howellsville Fire Department.
The first Fire Chief was Charles Paul.
Chief Paul served as Fire Chief from 1971-1972.
Chief Bryan served as Fire Chief from 1972- 1979.
Chief Rozier served as Fire Chief from 1979-1987.
Chief West has served as Fire Chief from 1987 to Present day.
Pictured above from left to right
Steven West, Bill Bryan and Charles Paul
Pictured above is a news paper article taken the day of the ribbon cutting.
The first fire truck was donated by a member of the community and was a 1945 model truck and tank. One of the first fire trucks the fire department bought was a used GMC pumper. Shortly after this purchase was a used 1947 convertible American Lafrance 700 series, 750 gallon per minute fire truck.
The first three house fires the fire department had after being formed were in the Littlefield subdivision and all burned on the same night at the same time.
The East Howellsville Fire Department formed a ladies auxiliary in 1973.
Pictured above are members of the Ladies Auxiliary in 1973
standing on and beside the fire departments 1947 convertible American Lafrance.
In 1979 the 1947 convertible American Lafrance fire truck was raffled off with tickets selling for $1.00. There were about five hundred tickets sold and Wilton Hardin won the raffle.
April 1986 taken in South Boston Virginia when accepting delivery of the first
New fire truck of the East Howellsville Fire Dept.
Look familiar check out the apparatus page and look at 721.
Our Fleet in 1997
Pictured above are members of the fire department during the 25th year Open House.
9/21/1997
The pictures below are of East Howellsville Fire Department's first ladder truck.
This ladder truck was a 1983 American Lafrance and it was purchased on January 16, 2006 and sold on October 7, 2006. This was the first ladder truck of the East Howellsville Fire Department.
The East Howellsville fleet in 2004.