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HISTORY
Black Mountain Members and Truck, 1921 at the original fire department location (click image for larger view) |
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An early morning downtown fire in 1912 served as a wake up call to Black Mountain Town officials. This fire which began in Brabhams Livery Stable, consumed most of the downtown business district around Depot and Cherry Streets. The most noticeable remnant of this fire is the rock foundation of what is now Cherry Street Antique Mall. As a result of this fire, on November 30,1912 the Town Board established the first Fire Limits. These limits regulated the primary fire district for insurance purposes. Many years and several small fires later, the Town Board at its October 1919 meeting, appointed R. E. Currier as the first official Fire Chief for the Town Of Black Mountain. Chief Currier was charged with the responsibility of forming a Fire Company which would provide fire protection to the Town, as well as, the surrounding community. Twenty community members met on October 14,1919 to form the The Black Mountain Fire Company. Interestingly, among those charter members present, was our current day Fire Chief Gary Bartlett’s grandfather, Leonard Swann. This group began weekly meetings in a old barn on Broadway, while attempting to find fire suppression equipment stored at various locations. The firefighters began working on fund raising, as well as, learning to properly extinguish fires. Part of the weekly training included a team drill of how fast the hand pulled hose cart could be taken to a specific location, and then the hose hooked to the hydrant, and stretched to the fire. Firefighters gave donations personally and also conducted many fundraising activities. Monies were earned from all types of activities including cakewalks, ugliest woman contest (this was actually firefighters dressed as women), baseball games, and social dances. The organization grew rapidly to a membership of 45 by September,1920. July 4th.1920 was a day of celebration in Black Mountain. This event was held to celebrate the completion of highway State #10 from Black Mountain to Asheville. Newspaper articles describe the road opening as a marvel. What had once been a day long journey could now be made in a few hours. The days activities included a Parade from the Blue Ridge Gate along Vance Avenue across the town square and continuing on to the Montreat Gate. After lunch, under the trees near the Black Mountain School, a ballgame and firefighters competition was held at the Town Square. Minutes, from the early years, indicate that the Fire Department was involved in many activities in town. This group encouraged the organization of the Women’s Club, Chamber of Commerce and other groups. Through the early years, typically, the mayor, board of alderman, pastors, and all community leaders were members.
The Fire Department continued to prosper buying property on State 10 for a new modern brick building which they moved into in May, 1921. Several years later, the firefighters purchased the town's first new motorized fire truck a 1926 American La France triple Combination Pumper. At a cost of twelve thousand five hundred dollars, the fire department could now respond rapidly to any fire. Chief Currier, who owned an Insurance Company, reported from the National Association of Fire Insurance Agents at their Hot Springs meeting, (with seven hundred (750) members present representing forty (40) states), that the Black Mountain Fire Department is the only fire department in the American Union owning its own building and equipment. A 1952 Ford American La France Pumper was the next new piece of apparatus purchased. This truck stayed in service until 1978 when it was sold to the Broad River community as they began to establish a Fire Department. In August of 1962, the members of the Black Mountain Fire Department made a critical decision to give their building and all equipment to the Town of Black Mountain. The Fire Department, in return, would receive funding from the town. Among the first improvements would be the hiring of a Fire Chief and Firefighter to work twenty four (24) hour shifts. These firefighters were responsible for all maintenance of equipment and station, answering fire calls, assisting the funeral home with ambulance calls, and dispatching police calls. The town provided funding for a new 1964 American La France Pumper thus allowing for the retirement of the 1926 La France which is now housed in the museum. When the 1980’s came, Black Mountain began several years of growth as a bedroom community. With this growth came many changes in emergency services requirements to meet the needs of the community. In 1981, a recognized fire tax district was established thus allowing county residents to support the fire department financially. This same year, an Emergency Medical Intermediate First Response program was initiated. In 1985, the Insurance Service Office gave the Fire Department a class 5 rating. North Carolina began firefighter certification in 1985 and Black Mountain joined in with its first certified firefighter in July of the same year. August, 1987, was a special time for Black Mountain as a new eleven (11) bay Public Safety Complex was completed. This facility allowed the Fire , and EMS to move from the dwelling they had occupied since 1926. Town leaders continued expanding facilities with a new Police Complex joining the Public Safety Complex in August 1991. The leadership of this organization continues striving for improvement with an Insurance Service Office Rating of class 4 obtained in 1993. The issue of a fire station south of the railroad came out of the plans to re-instate passenger rail service to Black Mountain. In the event of passenger service, downtown crossings would likely to be blocked for an extended time, at least twice a day. The sub station then became a part of the 5year capital improvement plan tied directly to passenger rail service. After Norfolk Southern closed the southern route out of Asheville and diverted all the train traffic to the east, we suddenly saw an average of 20 trains per day through the town. As a result we found emergency vehicles having to wait at the rail crossings in order to answer calls to the south. Station 2 opened June 15th 2004, and now houses one Engine, equipped also for medical and rescue calls and also one Tanker. We are staffing the station with one full time driver and relying on volunteers and off duty responders. The Black Mountain Fire Department presently serves a twenty seven square mile response area including, Town of Black Mountain, Town of Montreat, and a rural fire district. Included in the district are seven (7) conference centers, six (6) summer camps, numerous State Facilities including hospitals and nursing homes. This protection is provided with three (3) pumpers, one (1) pumper / tanker, one (1) tanker, one (1) brush truck, and two (2) rescue units. The staff includes seventeen (17) paid employees, eleven (11) part time paid, and forty (40) volunteers on call. We also provide medical first response at the EMT Intermediate level, rescue services at the North Carolina Rescue Technician level, and NASAR certified wilderness search as well as North Carolina certified structural and wildland fire suppression.
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