In September of 1979, a community
meeting was held at Underwood School to discuss the need
for fire protection. The result of this gathering was a
newly appointed board of directors charged with starting
a “first-class fire department.” The community members
made a commitment to pay for quality firefighting
equipment. The Underwood-Petersville Volunteer Fire
Department was formed with a motto of “For the People,
By the People.”
Members of the newly formed fire department immediately
went to work purchasing equipment and training every
night at Florence Fire Department’s training center on
Chisholm Road. The first fire truck was purchased in
October and was temporarily stationed in a building on
Taylor Road. Almost 65 volunteer firemen took turns
sitting shifts and sleeping in a camper owned by one of
the department’s members. This make-shift station was
manned 24/7, a tradition that continues to this day.
After securing a 99 year lease on property adjacent to
the school on Cloverdale Road in late October,
construction began on the new fire station. Charter
members of the department worked every day until the
station was complete in late December. The original
four-bay, 4,200 square foot building was built with
all-volunteer labor, and with the support of the
community, the materials were paid for without borrowing
any money.
Soon after moving in to our new facility in January of
1980, we purchased three additional firefighting
vehicles. In 1989, an additional 2,400 square feet was
added to accommodate additional equipment. Again in
1991, a full commercial-grade kitchen was constructed to
meet the demands of a popular Fish Fry fundraiser which
is held 10 times annually.
With the continued support of the community and local
elected officials, the Underwood-Petersville Volunteer
Fire Department continues to provide first-class
protection for more than five thousand people in a 14
square mile coverage area. The department maintains a
class “4” insurance rating, saving residents hundreds of
dollars each year in insurance premiums. In addition to
fire suppression, members are now trained and capable of
responding to a wide variety of situations, including
motor vehicle crashes and extrications, search and
rescue operations, and medical emergencies. The
all-volunteer department now maintains a fleet of seven
emergency vehicles, and responds to more than 400 calls
each year.
|
|
The Board of Directors meets on the first Tuesday of
every month at 6:30 PM.
The Monthly Meeting for all members is on the second
Thursday of every month at 7:00 PM at the station.
Visit the TRAINING page to download an annual training
schedule. |
|
