Skip to main content
Search

Salisbury Fire Department celebrates upcoming 200th anniversary with historical marker and fire truck parade, Friday, Dec. 8

Salisbury Fire Department celebrates upcoming 200th anniversary  with historical marker and fire truck parade, Friday, Dec. 8

One of the oldest documented fire departments in the state of N.C., will celebrate its 200th anniversary, Friday, Dec. 8 with a historical marker dedication and a fire truck parade in downtown Salisbury.

Dating back to December 1817, 32 citizens pledged a total of $415 to start the process to purchase equipment “to protect the city from fire.” Thus beginning the formation of the Salisbury Fire Department (SFD).

To honor its 200 years of service from firefighters past and present, the historical marker in the form of a timeline plaque will be placed on the 100 block of E. Innes St., on the spot where the city’s first hook and ladder building once stood. The plaque dedication will begin at 10 a.m.

The anniversary celebration will continue with a nighttime fire truck parade beginning at 7 p.m., featuring dozens of fire vehicles, complete with blazing lights. The parade will travel through downtown Salisbury along Main St. from Kerr to Fire Station No. 5. 

“This anniversary celebration is 200 years in the making and we couldn’t be prouder of the service we’ve provided to Salisbury over that time,” said Fire Chief Bob Parnell. “We’ve seen a lot of changes in fire service even over the years that I have been fire chief, so you can imagine how we’ve evolved since 1817. This is a historic occasion in a historic city, and we are ever so grateful to be able to honor this occasion with our residents.”

“We are very proud of the Salisbury Fire Department and all our firefighters do to save lives and help protect our city, said City Manager W. Lane Bailey. “Our fire service is one of the top seven in the state in terms of insurance ratings alone. We are more than honored to celebrate 200 years of this well-respected establishment.” 

Throughout its 200-year history, the SFD has embraced a number of fire-related technological advancements with an emphasis on fire apparatus innovation. For example, in 1906 the city was one of the first to buy a steamer pumper, which was a horse-drawn, steam-building, coal-burning machine that pumped water to throw streams onto fires. The steamer cost $5,500, and was supplemented with a motorized hose wagon four years later. Motor-drawn by 1922, it was a reserve unit by 1931. The steamer was scrapped in 1942 during the metal drives of World War II. It is documented that the machine saved downtown Salisbury multiple times from potentially catastrophic fires throughout the early 1900s. In addition, in 1941 SFD was one of the first departments in the region to purchase an aerial device/ladder truck with a hydraulic ladder. The truck remains in inventory today and has been restored to its original specifications.

Some of the other advancements include the evolution from a combination fire service of paid and volunteer firefighters serving together to an all-paid fire department; a potential addition of a sixth fire station to keep up with city growth; and the collection of hybrid fire apparatus that can serve multiple purposes while fighting fires. 

Both anniversary events are free and open to the public.

For more information, call SFD at (704) 638-4457 or email Capt. Rodney Misenheimer at rmise@salisburync.gov

  • Gallery
  • 21 November 2017
  • Author: Fire
  • Number of views: 36060
  • Comments: 0
Categories: Fire News
Tags:
Print

Name:
Email:
Subject:
Message:
x

Media Kit

Media outlets and journalists can get helpful resources in one place.

Go to Media Kit
Para leer los boletines traducidos al español, visite: www.salisburync.gov/NoticiasEspañol

Monthly Newsletter

 TitleDescription
11/2024Holiday Events | Safe Shopping Tips | Toss The Grease | Greenway Committee | 130 S. Main St. Survey
10/2024Halloween Safety Tips | Sculpture Show Call For Neighborhoods | Recycling Do's and Don'ts | Leaf Collection Guidelines and Map | Fall Spruce Up Week
09/2024Downtown Sewer Rehab | BrewFest at BTG | BlockWork Volunteers | Neighborhood Beautification Grant | Legacy Mural
08/2024Take A Tree Tour | Officer Awarded For Saving Baby | Sculptures in the Spotlight | Go Out on a limb for the Tree Board
07/2024National Night Out | Footbridge Repairs | Approved City Budget | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Prep
06/2024EDK Awards | Street Repaving | City Budget | Rec/Senior Center Survey | Spruce Up Week
05/2024Cheerwine Festival: Band Lineup, T-Shirt Contest Winner, Free Shuttles, Safety Guidelines and Ways to Stay Connected.
04/2024Strategic Plan | Mental Health Crisis Line | BlockWork Call For Neighborhoods | Paint the Pavement Call For Artists | Meet the Sculpture Show Artists
03/2024Vote on Cheerwine Festival T-shirt Design | What to do for Water Line Breaks | Sign Up For RoCo Alerts | Spring Spruce Up Week
02/2024Sign Up To Steer Salisbury | Save the Date for Cheerwine Festival | City Begins Budget Process | Protect Your Pipes This Winter
01/2024Holiday Decor Contest Winners | MLK Celebration Weekend | Tour Wines and Downtown | Beautify Your Neighborhood!
12/2023Public Art | Holiday Decor Contest | Main Street Project | Winter Spruce Up Week
11/2023Holiday Events | Toss The Grease | Housing Survey | Bike Giveaway | Sculpture Show
10/2023Dixonville Cemetery Memorial Dedication | Halloween Safety Tips | Empowering Women in Law Enforcement | Leaf Collection and Map
09/2023Rowan Creek Week | Leaf Collection | BlockWork Volunteers | New Deputy City Manager | Bell Tower Brewfest
08/2023An Outdoor Art Adventure | Summer Program Inspires Youth | Salisbury Invests In Community | City Changes Up Departments
07/2023Hurricane Season | RoCo's Homeless Task Force | Waste Assistance Program | Citizen's Academy | Community Fair and National Night Out
06/2023Dive into Local Pool | Humanitarian Awards | Summer Spruce Up Week | City Budget Updates
05/2023Neon Trees Headline Cheerwine Festival | Summers Camps | Smoke Alarms | Lawn Tips | Street Resurfacing | May is Bike Month
04/2023Donations for Homeless | City Election Process | Landscape of the Month | Main Street Awards| Spring Spruce Up
03/2023Beautify Salisbury - Litter Sweeps, BlockWork, Adopt-A-Street, We Dig Salisbury | Cheerwine Festival | Salisbury311
02/2023Protect Your Pipes This Winter | Join A Board | City Begins Budget Process | Recycling In Salisbury | Recycling Calendar
01/2023Downtown Decor Displays Holiday Spirit | MLK Celebration | Humanitarian Nominations | Wine About Winter Tickets On Sale | Reader Survey
12/2022Sculpture Calls For Artists | Winter Spruce Up Week | Feedback On Our Future | Be The Difference With A City Career | Holiday Recycling
11/2022Holiday Events | Salisbury Youth Council Inducts New Members | Tips to Shop Safe | Toss the Grease
10/2022Tips for Trick-or-Treaters | United Way Rowan | Crime Prevention Month | 4th Cultivating Community Conversations | Leaf Collection
09/2022Bell Tower BREWFEST | BlockWork | Salisbury Police Foundation | Transit Month | Rowan Creek Week
08/2022Kudos To Lifeguards | Grant to Fund Flood, Road Sensors | Funds for Family Water Bills | City Awarded For Good Health
07/2022Sculpture Show | Citizen's Academy | Hurricane Season Tips | West End Survey | Council Approves Budget
06/2022Pool Opens For Summer | Reels and Riffs: Movie and Music Series | Wine About Winter ... In Summertime | Summer Spruce Up Week
05/2022New City Manager | Cheerwine Festival | Local Humanitarian Awards | BlockWork Applications Open
04/2022Two Headline Bands To Rock Cheerwine Festival | Spotlight on Fire Safety | Salisbury Locals Win Big at NC Main Street Awards
03/2022Cheerwine Festival Returns | 5 Ways to Pay Your BIll | SPD Receives Grant | Spring Spruce Up Week
02/2022Interim City Manager | Tips to Prevent Frozen Pipes | Apply For A Board | City Begins Budget Process | Employee Spotlight
01/2022Holiday Storefront Awards | Social District Proposed | EDK Nominations | Wine About Winter | Winter Spruce Up Week
01/2022Holiday Storefront Awards | Social District Proposed | EDK Nominations | Wine About Winter | Winter Spruce Up Week
11/2021Bell Tower Green Now Open | Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Shopping Tips For Black Friday
10/2021Fire Prevention Week | BlockWork Looking For Volunteers | Leaf Collection Map
09/2021Safe, Clean Transit | McCoy Road Culvert Replaced | Cheerwine Festival Music Lineup
08/2021Rowan Creek Week | Back-to-School Resource Fair | New Crime Information Center | Blockwork Awarded Lowe's Grant For $100,000
07/2021Salisbury Cease Fire | Citizen's Academy | Summer Spruce Up Week | Sculpture Show
06/2021Summer Camps | Transit Director Award | Hurricane Tips | Wine About Winter
05/2021City & Partners to Boost Minority Business | Festival Looks For Volunteers | BlockWork Nominations Open | Bike Safety Tips
04/2021School Officers | New Look For Downtown | Local Humanitarians Receive EDK Awards | Employee Spotlight
03/2021Dixonville Memorial Missing Connections | New Bill Pay System Coming | Spring Spruce Up | Stormwater Survey Seeks Solutions | Ring In Spring Event
02/2021New Fire Station & Memorial Event | Protect Your Pipes | Join A Board Or Commission | Save The Date For Cheerwine | Employee Spotlight
01/2021Holiday Storefront Winners, Celebrate MLK, Main St. Plan, Nominate A Local Hero, Funds For Fire Suppression
12/2020SRU Exceeds Water Standard | Bring On 2021 Virtual New Year's Eve | Public Input Wanted
11/2020Christmas Bike Program Returns | Showcase Your Art In Salisbury | Give The Gift Of Water | Be Safe This Black Friday
10/2020ACCESS16 Now WSRG-TV | Voting Coming Up Fast | Volunteer For BlockWork | RCUW Donates Cameras To SPD
09/2020Dixonville Memorial Phase 2 | Leaf Map | Census 2020 | ADA/Parantransit Service | Go Transit Month | Safe Exchange Zone
06/2020 Virtual Festival Is Big Hit | Hurricane Season | Spring Spruce Up | City Prepares Next Year's Budget | Flush Smart | 2020 Census
05/2020Virtual Cheerwine Festival | From The City Manager | Play At Home | BlockWork | From The Mayor | Alternative Bill Pay
04/2020City Response to COVID-19 | Helpful Resource | CAC/Tree Board Awards | Spring Spruce Up \ SPD Engages With Community
03/2020Be Part of the Cheer | EDK Awards | 2020 Census | Hurley Park Spring Celebration | Forward 2040 | Fire Station #6
01/2020EDK Nominations | Runner-Friendly Community | Start/Change Water Services | Cheerwine Applications | Employee Spotlight | Winterize Your Pipes | Winter Spruce Up
11/2019Bike Giveaway | Plan For Downtown's Future | Don't Get Clogged | Lost Families | Sculpture Show
10/2019Fire Prevention Week | City Park Lake | Forward 2040 | Fall Spruce Up | Be Ready To Vote | Employee Spotlight | Leaf Collection Map
09/2019Butterfly Release | Scoop the Poop | Dog Swim Party | Transit Month | Blockwork | Neighborhood Officer Map
08/2019Salisbury Youth Employees | New SPD Initiatives | Youth Baseball Camp | Brewbury Fest Returns | Recycling
07/2019Keep Salisbury Beautiful | Save The Date for Cheerwine Fest 2020 | Back To School | National Night Out | Beat the Summer Heat
06/2019Sculpture Show Returns | Summer Camps | Hurricane Season Tips | Weather Alerts | Pool Hours | #PositiveGossip | Employee Spotlight | Summer Spruce Up | Celebrate Garbage Man Day
05/2019Look Behind the Scenes | Cheerwine Festival | BlockWork Accepting Applications | #FeelingCuteChallenge | Watch Your Water Usage with EyeOnWater
04/2019Festival Music Lineup | Locals Receive EDK Awards | Business with the City | SPD Foot Pursuit 5K | City Nature Challenge
03/2019Celebrate Spring At Hurley Park | Runner-Friendly Community | Cheerwine Festival Volunteers | Employee Spotlight | SPD Ride-A-Long Program | Contact Directory
02/2019Cheerwine Festival Vendor Applications Open | Get Involved, Apply Now | Fair Housing Seeks Volunteers | Council Retreat Open to Public | Snow Safety | Employee Spotlight | Main St. Conference in Salisbury
02/2019Cheerwine Festival Vendor Applications Open | Get Involved, Apply Now | Fair Housing Seeks Volunteers | Council Retreat Open to Public | Snow Safety | Employee Spotlight | Main St. Conference in Salisbury
02/2019Cheerwine Festival Vendor Applications Open | Get Involved, Apply Now | Fair Housing Seeks Volunteers | Council Retreat Open to Public | Snow Safety | Employee Spotlight | Main St. Conference in Salisbury
02/2019Cheerwine Festival Vendor Applications Open | Get Involved, Apply Now | Fair Housing Seeks Volunteers | Council Retreat Open to Public | Snow Safety | Employee Spotlight | Main St. Conference in Salisbury
01/2019EDK Nominations | Holiday Storefront Awards | Celebrating MLK Weekend | Employee Spotlight | Winter Spruce Up Week | Transit Survey | New Tools Keeps An Eye On Water

Subscribe to our newsletter

También disponible en español

Subscribe
Copyright 2024 by City of Salisbury, NC Terms Of UsePrivacy Statement
Back To Top