November 29, 1909

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Mars Hill Fire Department

• November 29, 1909
• Serving the Community
• 100 Years

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Areas Served by the Fire Department

• Town Square
• Town Limits
• Town Limits and County
• Town Limits and Rural District, Insurance
  District, Tax District
• Mutual Aid to surrounding communities and counties

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Administration

• Town Board
• County Contracts Fire Protection from Town
• Fire Commissioners

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Funding

• Town
• College
• Fund Raisers
• Fire Tax
• Donations

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Round Bottom Buckets
These are similar to what Mars Hill had.
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Hose Carts

• 1- North Main in Garage above what is now the
  Town Hall
• 1- South Main in a Garage on side of Hawkins
  Store where the Mars Hill Retirement Center is
  now located

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Hand Drawn Hose Cart
Similar to what Mars Hill used.
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T-Model Fire Truck

• Unknown as to when this truck was bought or when
  it was taken out of service

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Similar to what Mars Hill used.
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1942 International K-5 Chassis with a Boyer Body
and Pump
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Similar to what Mars Hill used.
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• At some point, the Fire Department moved into
  space beside the Town Hall which they shared with
  the Library.

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• In April 1961, the Fire Department Town and
  College purchased a new 1961 Chevrolet American
  LaFrance Fire Truck. The Chassis was purchased
  through French Broad Chevrolet and delivered to
  American LaFrance in Elmira, NY. Mars Hill
  College agreed to help with the purchase if they
  could have a Co-Chief of the Fire Department. So,
  Carl Eller for Town and Jim Fish for the college
  were co-chiefs for a period of time.

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1970 Fire Department Re-Organized

• Participation in the fire department had fallen
  off, with Carl Eller basically being the only one
  doing anything. Buddy Cox had taken a great
  interest in the fire department re-organizing. So
  together Buddy and Carl put the wheels in motion
  and the department was reorganized and Buddy
  became the Chief. The department has been very
  active ever since.

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1972 Phil Briggs became Chief
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1972 Ford American LaFrance Truck purchased and
is still in service today. Chief Briggs and
members saw the need for a second truck. Boyce
Ford in Asheville had the 1972 Truck which was a
demo. They brought it to Mars Hill a couple times
for the Fire Dept. and Town Board to look at, and
the decision was made to buy the truck .The red
light had to be removed to get the truck in the
building.
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• Mid 70s, a 1965 Model Panel Van was purchased
  to haul equipment and personnel to calls.

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Similar to what Mars Hill used.
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• New Station is built. Is currently the Main
  Station. Built in 1975, moved in 1976.
• Once again Mars Hill College helped make this
  possible. Mr. Bryson Tilson negotiated and made
  it possible for the college to donate property
  for the building to the town.

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1976

• Bought 1976 Chevrolet One Ton from French Broad
  Chevrolet. Put Utility Body and water tank with
  pump slide in unit.

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1982 Gordon Randolph became Chief
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1983

• Fire Department Operated an Ambulance given to
  them by Madison County to run backup to the
  county ambulances. We operated the ambulance
  until 1988 and since then have done First
  Responder service.

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Similar to what Mars Hill used.
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1985

• Build first Tanker. Bought a 2 Ton GMC Farm
  Truck from Larry Cody and Bruce Buckner gave an
  old tank body off a 1950 Chevrolet truck he had
  bought from Old Fort. The members combined the
  chassis and tank making our first tanker.

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1984

• Purchased a 1984 Brigadier and contracted with a
  company in Raleigh to build our first Pumper
  Tanker. They went bankrupt and we had to
  re-negotiate with other companies and entered
  contract with Slagles Fire Equipment to build
  the truck. Delivery was made in 1985.

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Pumper Tanker 1
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1985 Eddie Fox became Chief
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Late 80s

• Built a trailer to haul portable pump to be used
  in rural areas to fill the trucks while fighting
  fires. The trailer also had a generator.

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1989 Gordon Randolph became Chief
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1988-1989

• Paying for the operation of the fire department
  became more than the town, fundraisers and
  donations were able to provide. The Town was
  forced to tell the surrounding communities that
  they would have to help pay for the costs or the
  town would be forced to stop serving areas
  outside the town limits.

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• On May 3, 1990, a Fire Tax Referendum was held
  and approved for those areas served by Mars Hill
  outside the town limits.

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• Mars Hill Township For - 337
• Against 44
• Beech Glen Township - For 367
• Against 61
• Petersburg Township - For- 147
• Against 68
• Total For 860
• Against 173
• A tax rate of .05 per 100 valuation was
  established and remains same now.

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Early 90s

• Bought a 1989 Chevrolet Caprice which was a used
  Highway Patrol Vehicle to be shared between the
  Town and Fire Department for going to meetings,
  trainings, etc.

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1991

• Bought 1991 Dodge 4x4 Ton Chassis and put
  utility bed on truck. Bought Slide-in pump and
  tank. Truck used for brush fires, wreck, etc.

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Brush 1
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Early 90s

• Acquired a 1984 International Bus through the
  North Carolina Forest Service Cooperative Program
  at no cost, to be used as a mobile command post.

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1992 Eddie Fox became Chief
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1993

• Purchased 1992 KME Pumper Tanker from Slagles
  Fire Equipment. This was a demo truck and was
  purchased on an emergency basis to replace the
  1961 American LaFrance when the pump failed.
• Cost 180,000

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Pumper Tanker 2
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Mid 1990s

• Purchased old box type ambulance from Mission
  Hospital which was used for a rescue truck which
  remained in service until late 90s when it was
  replaced by a truck bought from Weaverville Fire
  Department.

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Late 1990s

• Purchased a used 2 ton GMC Rescue Truck from
  Weaverville Fire Department which was sold to
  Marshall Fire Department in 2003.

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2000

• Bought used Pepsi Truck. It is used as a service
  truck which has extra equipment, traffic control
  devices, heavy cribbing, spill control materials,
  etc.

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Service Truck 1
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2002

• Designed and bought a new pumper tanker from
  Slagles Fire Equipment. This truck is also used
  on extrication calls. Truck has foam system which
  cuts water requirements by using 3x less water
• Cost 240,000

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Pumper Tanker 3
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2005

• Bought a new 4 wheeler and trailer to be used on
  rescue and wildfire calls.
• Cost 4800.00

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4 Wheeler Trailer
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2007

• Bought a used 2001 Chevrolet Pickup to be used
  on first responder calls etc.
• Cost 8500

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Truck 1
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2006-2007

• Built new annex building on Ivy Street to house
  equipment. 4200 sq. ft. of space
• Why did we do this instead of building a new
  department?
• Cost 238,700

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2007

• Bought a used 1997 GMC Jimmy to replace 89
  Caprice
• Cost 1200

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2007

• Replaced International Bus with Camper Trailer
  through the North Carolina Forest Service
  Cooperative Program at no cost.

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Command Post
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2008

• Received a portable slide in unit with foam and
  400 gallon water free through the NC Air-guard
  and Asheville FD. Bought a used 1994 Ford 1-Ton
  4x4 and put unit on it for our second brush truck
  
• Cost 15,000

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Brush 2
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2008

• Received a 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe from the Madison
  County Sheriffs Department at no cost. This
  vehicle was originally a drug confiscation
  vehicle which was used to transport drug dogs for
  several years until it was passed on to the
  department.

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Car 1
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2009

• Bought a 1994 KME 75 Firestick Ladder Truck from
  Brumley Mountain Fire Equipment through Asheville
  Fire Department for 17,000
• After the truck was equipped and repairs made the
  department will have 45-50,000 in the truck.

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Ladder 1
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Communications

• Bell on pole behind Town Hall
• Siren on Town Hall then on Pole at New Building
• Phone System
• 1987 Dispatch from Sheriffs Department
• 1995- 911

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Calls per Year

• 1973 11 calls
• We now answer each year on average 560-700 calls
  service per year

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Fire Chiefs

• N.S. Whitaker First Chief, Nov. 9 1909
• Roy Tillery
• L.C. Lambert
• Carl Eller
• Jim Fish
• Jimmy Holcombe
• David Pate
• Buddy Cox 1970-1971
• Phil Briggs 1971-1982
• Gordon Randolph 1982-1985
• Eddie Fox 1985-1989
• Gordon Randolph 1989-1992
• Eddie Fox 1992

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Past Known Members 1909-1970

• NS Whitaker, First Fire Chief
• Roy Tillery
• Carl Eller
• Jim Fish
• W.B. Zink, Sr.
• B.W. Grigg
• Sam Randolph
• Albert Ponder
• Harvey Ponder
• Bryson Tilson
• David Pate
• Jimmy Holcombe
• Paul Tugman
• Leonard Briggs
• Ralph Briggs
• Johnny Anderson
• Jake Grigg
• Fanklin Anderson
• Donald Cox, Sr.

• David Metcalf
• Joe Mack Burnette
• Owen Tilson
• Bruce Murray
• Hal Carter
• Rev. Charles Davis
• Bill Bennett
• Bill Silvers
• Richard Anderson
• Forest Ponder, Sr.
• Luther Wells
• Ralph Chandler
• James Holcombe
• Donald Higgins
• Jack Carter
• Garner Hutchins
• Dell Woody
• Tilson Fleetwood
• Hershel Holcombe

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Past Members 1970-2009

• Dennis McCurry 71-80
• Ken Hembree 71-75
• Wayne Proffitt 71-80
• Finley Johnson 1971
• Bob Hernandez 71-82
• Greg Briggs 71-72
• Johnny Griffin 71-73
• Buddy Cox 70-72
• Harold Taylor 1972
• Randy Proffitt 72-73
• Byron Chandler 72-73
• Allen Arrington 71-73
• Dan Vines 1972
• Jim Arrington 72-75
• Robert Briggs 73-75
• Lane Merrill 73-80
• Skip Easterling 73-77
• Paul Yocum 73-76
• Larry Edmonds 71-75

• Mike Burchette 75-76
• Jeff Ling 1975
• Jay Edwards 75-78
• Terry Arrington 75-80
• Rick Small 76-79
• George Kevill 76-78
• John Swagger 76-77
• Tim Elkins 77-78
• David Buckner 78-82
• Mike Evans 78-80
• Alex Johnson 78-80
• Greg Brown 78-82
• Scott Wilkinson 77-78
• Allen Powell 89-82
• Dana Snyder 1980
• Bill Leatherwood 80-84
• Jimmy Huffman 80-83
• Richard Tilson 1982
• Mark Griffin 81-82

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Past Members 1970-2009

• Allen Coates 82-84
• Shane Coates 1991
• Steward Coates 83-03
• Michael Cody 89-91
• Robert Collins 2003
• Ron Crouter 1987
• John Coffey 1998
• R.J. Cutshall 74-86
• Andrew Davis 05-08
• Mark Debruhl 83-90
• Doug Deitz 1991
• Tim Dillingham 97-99
• Chris Dodd 93-99
• Jim Dodd 93-94
• Edgar Edwards 79-85
• Mark Edwards 82-86
• Graham Edwards 97-00
• Randall Edwards 85-86

• Ricky Allen 93-94
• Patrick Allen 05-06
• Bruce Anderson 88092
• Vonna Anglin III 1989
• Ricy Arrington 89-95
• Rodney Arrowood 85-86
• Mark Ball 80-04
• Will Ball 90-90
• Janet Baxter 92-00
• Regina Bishop 2001
• Bobby Scott Blackwell 90-94
• Bobby Blackwell 89-91
• J.C. Brazil, Jr. 90-93
• Phill Briggs 70-08
• Jimmy Briggs 89-96
• Grayson Briggs 1989
• Scott Briggs 90-96
• Herbert Buckner 70-90
• Larry Burda 2001

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Past Members 1970-2009

• Anthony Griffin 00-06
• David Grindstaff 91-95
• Rev. Dean Grindstaff 91-95
• Brian Hanrahan 2006
• Buddy Harwood 93-94
• Rick Haynes 85-86
• Waynd Hendrick 1985
• Jeremy HJensley 98-02
• Wayne Hensley 01-08
• Donald Higgins 90-90
• Dewayne Hilemon 96-02
• Deanna Holcombe 92-96
• David Holcombe 86-90
• Ron Hollifield 94-99
• David Honey cutt 72-75
• Michael Honey cutt 89-96
• Nicky Honeycutt 1989
• Desmond Jamerson 1989
• Jany Johnson 2006

• Kenneth Metcalf 1997
• Robert Metcalf 96-08
• Ray Moore 71-84
• Jeff Morgan 1992
• JC Moss 72-88
• Jeff Noe 85-97
• Bryan Norris 06-07
• Howard Norton 86-90
• Charles Payne 80-86
• Kevin Peek 05-07
• Larry D. Peek 88-90
• Raleigh Peek 91-92
• Tim Peek 90-03
• Edwin Phillips 83-86
• Lane Ponder 83-85
• Daniel Porche 1999
• Jonathan Poulin 08-09
• Billy Poewll 70-90
• Jeff Randolph 83-88

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Past Members 1970-2009

• Mattew Roberts 2004
• Billy Roberts 85-87
• Randy Robinson 88-08
• Josh Shelton 02-04
• Donald Shepherd 85-86
• Jason Shepherd 94-95
• Richard Shepherd 2008
• Jason Sigmon 2001
• Richard Smith 1998
• Kenneth Sprinkle 03-08
• Michael Summerfield 2003
• Jeremy Swann 89-90
• Dewayne Tweed 1989
• Mark Wallin 1993
• Chris Ward 05-06
• Patrick Ward 05-06
• Jonathan Ward 89-90
• Chris Webb 95-96
• Morris Wheeler 70-89

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Current Members November 2009

• Asheley Davis 2009
• Steven Davis 2000
• Eddie Fox 1977
• Jeremy Fox 1994
• Bobby Gosnell 2008
• Claude Griffin 1991
• Matthew Griffin 1990
• Dino Grindstaff 1991
• Dana Holcombe 2009
• Beverly Hopps 2009
• Bryan Hopps 1995
• Rev. Cecil Hopps 2003
• Ray Kievet 1993
• Jimmie Kirkland 1989

• Tim Metcalf 1981
• James Metscher 2008
• Chris Parks 1999
• Jason Pearman 1999
• Gordon Randolph 1970
• Charlie Stanton 1988
• David Stanton 2008
• Casey Tweed 2005
• Nathan Waldrup 1994
• Randy Williams 2001
• Clayton Willis 1974
• Bill Zink 1970

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Mars Hill Fire Department looks forward to
serving our community in the future!