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History Main Page
Town of Apex History
Apex Volunteer Fire Department History
Chief Officers
Fire Apparatus
Click each photo to view a larger image, it will come up in a separate browser window. Some of the larger photos may take some time to load, especially over a dial-up connection, so please be patient. Many of the photos were un-dated, so I could only guess at the timeframes they represent. If anyone has more information on any of the photos or historical events, or has any corrections to anything that I have presented in this section, please email me and let me know!
Click these links to read about the history of our volunteer department.
Early Fires
The First Fire Company
The Birth of the Apex Volunteer Fire Department
First Wake County Rural Fire Service
Notable Events
In the early morning hours of June 12, 1911, most of the downtown district was again destroyed by what became known as the "Great Fire". At the time, the only defense citizens had against the conflagration was to form a bucket brigade, which proved to be sorely ineffective. Click HERE to read the article from the June 13th News and Observer.
Shortly thereafter the town also passed several resolutions to obtain firefighting equipment and facilities:
In late 1927, Whitson Benton was appointed as night fireman. He was to sleep in the firehouse and be paid $2.50 per month. By December 1927, a room was built and furnished as living quarters.
The Sanborn fire insurance map dated October 1928 listed Apex's fire department as volunteer with 18 men, one chief, one assistant chief, one paid man on duty night and day, one fire station, and one American LaFrance truck. The fire station was in what was then the Town Hall (below, left). Today, this building is home to the Parks and Recreation department (below, right).
THEN.... Apex Fire Station in Town Hall (1953) |
....and NOW Photo by Mike Legeros (2004) |
(The following is quoted from a research paper written in 1962 by Carol Mason Heelan, daughter of charter member Charles Baucom) "By the late 1930's, there was no official fire department in Apex; the firefighting squad consisted of anyone who heard the alarm and was willing to offer their services. The Town owned an American La France fire truck, but it was infamous for having to be towed to many a fire scene. In 1938, nineteen men from Apex met to address concerns about the lack of sufficient fire protection in the Town of Apex. The Apex Volunteer Fire Department was chartered in 1939. The volunteer fire department's first fire apparatus was a dump truck which they purchased for $35 and remodeled. It was housed in a one-stall building owned by the Town. In 1954, the volunteers completed construction of a three-bay brick firehouse in downtown Apex, pictured here, which today is part of Station 1. In 1961, two more bays were added onto the left side of the original structure. In the 1970's, the two long drive-through bays were added. The second story and the two rear bays which now house the weightlifting equipment were the final additions to the station."
| This photo of Apex firemen in front of the original fire station appeared in the September 12, 1940 edition of the North State News. I believe they are posing with the 1939 Ford Hunter - which still runs to this day and is displayed annually by the Firebelles in the Apex Christmas Parade. |
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The rural department owned two fire apparatus, which were housed in sheds in the rear of the town hall. In 1955, the volunteer firefighters begin construction on a new station at 210 North Salem Street (see photo above). The building measures 50' x 32' and is of brick veneer construction, with a 15 foot apron and three bays. Facilities are provided for "hose drying, mechanical maintenance and storage, as well as a meeting room". The cost is $20,000, with funds being raised partly by "soliciting citizens served by the rural service of the department".
Civil Defense Concerns (1957)
(Quoted from 12/3/56 minutes) "Civil Defense report was made by C. S. Schaub. We are to decide on our needs for the Fire Dept. Report was made on civil defense tower. Col Hardeson was seen about a ground observer corp. Home Demonstration club offered there (sic) services to furnish observers to help man the post. The town will cooperate with us in this project. Motion was made by C. F. Matthews & seconded by V. W. Tunstal to invite Durham Military Personell (sic) of the Civil Defense Corp to come down next Monday night Dec. 10, and inform us on our new adventure, Motion was carried with no opposition. The Stair way will be handle by the Building Improvement & Maintenance Committee, which consist of: C. C. Triplett, Chari. Virgil Ayscue, William Stephens, James Mason, Alton Ellis, E. C. Williams Jr., with the addition of C. S. Schaub. Committee decided to meet immediately."
In February 1957 the membership voted to begin construction on the civil defense tower. There was to be a steel stairway (at $0.07 per pound, not to exceed $75) and a trap door leading to it. In the photo at left (click the photo to view a larger image), one can just see the top of the civil defense tower on the right side of the station roof.
Radio Communications
In the 2/18/57 minutes it was noted that "Two-way radios will be available in the near future. We can get them for $50. Cost to change there (sic) frequency would be about $50.00." Later that year the county approved a county-wide radio system. C. S. Schaub gave a report on this system at the 12/2/57 meeting stating that it would cost "about $8000 for the entire project. Each unit in county 13 would take about $600." On 2/3/58, the membership voted to purchase one monitor unit at $51.75 for the fire station.
In the 10/6/58 meeting, it was noted that the bill for the radio system was received from Wake County Fireman's Association. 12 departments were asked to pay an installation fee of $5.10, and a three-month fee of $16.35 or $33.00.
On 11/5/74, the minutes state that the Town suggested changing the radio system to use the central communications center in Raleigh, but this was defeated by the membership.
On 2/25/80, the membership voted to purchase fire pagers for those members that wanted them.
Finances ALWAYS a Concern!
As far back as the department's history goes, it seems money has always been an issue. In a special-called meeting on 6/24/57, it was noted "The Fire Dept. Treasure is about to be depleated (sic), so to keep from going broke, C. S. Schaub donated the sum of .01c to the Department." On 4/7/58, "C. S. Schaub made motion, seconded by Nolan Cooke for the secretary to write each Fire Dept. in the County on the following subject: - Bring up before the next meeting of the Wake County Firemen Association suggesting that they appoint a committee to go before the County Commissioners and ask for a $50.00 increase per month to take care of the increase in expenses of each Fire Dept." In May 1958, "Ray Scott says county comm. want a report on what we are doing with the money we get from them." At the time, the department had a fire protection subscription program in which the citizens paid a fee for the department's services. In 1959, the fee for answering fire calls to out-of-city non-membership-paying citizens was increased from $25 to $50 to help cover expenses.
In the 1964 copy of Wake County budget appropriations, the Apex Volunteer Fire Department received $1,200 for the 1963-1964 fiscal year. In July 1966, it was reported that the Town of Apex would begin contributing an additional $600 per year toward department operations.
In 1978 the membership voted to present a letter to the Town of Apex requesting that annual funding be increased from $5,000 to $12,000. They also voted to send a letter to area residents requesting financial support.
Firefighting Equipment
On 5/5/58, the membership voted to purchase the department's first Scott airpacks.
Riot Concerns (1968 - 1969)
In 1968-1969, it seems there were concerns about riots and the safety of the firefighters. On 7/1/68 the minutes state that Apex Police Chief Connie Clayton suggested that fire department members be contacted for emergencies by telephone instead of siren so as not to alarm the public, firemen not use red lights nor park POVs in street, that fire department members not answer fire calls without police protection, and that they keep in contact with someone at town hall by radio.
Copyright 2005 Apex Fire Department
