| Tradition Matters. |
| HISTORY 1968 - PRESENT |
| THE EAST SIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS FORMED ON APRIL 1, 1968 AND CHARTERED AS THE CENTRAL RANDOLPH VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. CENTRAL RANDOLPH IS STILL THE OFFICIAL NAME OF THE DISTRICT BUT WE OPERATE AS EAST SIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE DEPARTMENT WAS FORMED BECAUSE THE AREA WAS BECOMING MORE POPULATED AND THE CITY OF ASHEBORO DECIDED THAT IT COULD NO LONGER PROVIDE ADEQUATE FIRE PROTECTION TO THE AREA. OUR FIRST FIRE TRUCK WAS A 1944 PIRSCH WITH 50 FEET OF HOSE AND NO OTHER EQUIPMENT. THIS TRUCK WAS HOUSED IN A GARAGE BEHIND RAYMOND PURVIS'S HOUSE UNTIL A STATION COULD BE BUILT. THE FIRST FIRE THAT EAST SIDE RESPONDED TO WAS AT WRIGHT'S CEDAR WORKS ON US HWY 64. IT WAS RAINING SO HARD THE THE DRIVER COULDN'T SEE, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE FIRE TRUCK WAS A CONVERTIBLE AND HAD NO ROOF AT ALL. EAST SIDE WAS ASSISTED BY FRANKLINVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT ON THE CALL, A RELATIONSHIP THAT CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. WHEN IT WAS FIRST FORMED, FUNDS FOR THE THE OPERATION OF THE DEPARTMENT WERE RAISED THROUGH FISH FRIES, HOT DOG SUPPERS, AND GOSPEL SINGINGS. IN 1979, THE MEMBERS OF THE EAST SIDE FIRE DISTRICT VOTED IN A FIRE TAX WHICH WAS INITIALLY SET AT SIX CENTS PER $100.00 TAX VALUE. TODAY, THAT RATE HAS ONLY RISEN TWO PENNIES TO EIGHT CENTS PER $100 TAX EVALUATION. IN OCTOBER OF 2003, A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW OF OUR OPERATION WAS CONDUCTED BY THE NORTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF INSURANCE. FOR FOUR DAYS, OUR ABILITY TO HAUL WATER TO FIRE SCENES, TRAINING RECORDS, CALL RESPONSES, AUTOMATIC AID AGREEMENTS WITH NEIGHBORING DEPARTMENTS AND EQUIPMENT WAS EVALUATED BY DOI INSPECTORS. AS A RESULT, OUR INSURANCE CLASSIFICATION DROPPED FROM A 9s TO A 6/9. THIS SAVED THE MEMBERS OF OUR FIRE DISTRICT LOTS OF MONEY ON THEIR INSURANCE BILLS. IN MANY CASES, THE SAVINGS ON INSURANCE WAS MORE THAN THEIR TAX BILL TO THE DEPARTMENT. THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HAVE BEEN A TIME OF TREMENDOUS GROWTH FOR OUR DISTRICT. WHERE THERE WERE ONCE FARMS, THERE ARE NOW HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS. WHERE THERE ONCE WERE WOODS, WE NOW HAVE BUSINESSES. EAST SIDE FIRE DEPARTMENT IS WORKING HARD TO MEET THE CHALLENGES OF THE PRESENT WITH AN EYE TOWARD THE FUTURE. |
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