Stanley firefighters mark 75th anniversary with two-day event

By Randy Arrington

STANLEY, Sept. 21 — In 1955, the Stanley Volunteer Fire Department purchased a ’46 Chevrolet fire engine for $3,000. A new engine today can run from $500,000 to nearly a million. In 1948, when the organization was formally founded, training was hands-on and “as you go”. Today, volunteers sacrifice three days a week for six months to graduate from a Firefighter Academy. In the early 70s, the department saw about one call a week; today, these volunteers answer more than 600 calls a year.

While much has changed, Chief Terry Pettit says the dedication of the volunteers and the support of the community have remained a constant over the past 75 years.

“We have an unimaginable…and not just in Stanley, but in all three departments in the county…dedicated members that give their all,” Chief Pettit said earlier this week.

On Friday and Saturday, Company 24 is hosting an “Open House” and “Fun Day” to mark three-quarters of a century since the founding of the department in September of 1948 (the exact date is still a bit of a mystery). Friday’s open house will focus on the fire hall on Main Street, with station tours, apparatus tours, demonstrations, drills, memorabilia, door prizes and coin sales taking place from 6 to 9 p.m.

Saturday’s activities will be centered at Ed Good Memorial Park just down Main Street, with live music, bounce houses, face paiting, cornhole, dunk tank, train rides, snow cones, popcorn, and door prizes comprising the “Fun Day” from 4 to 9 p.m.

Chief Pettit says the two-day event “is a way to give back to the community,” which has shown unwavering support for the department since its start.

“When I joined in the 70s, we had community support…we’ve always had community support, through everything we’ve done and that has never changed,” he said.

Since he joined in 1972, Pettit has answered more than 22,000 fire calls…and he still remembers his first.

“It was a grass fire on what used to be Schoolhouse Road…now it’s Aylor-Grubbs…but it was a grass fire, and I was so excited when I jumped off the truck, I just looked around and asked, ‘What do I do?’,” Pettit recalled. “One of the guys said well just grab that hose and pull back that handle.”

Pettit chuckles as he recalls struggling with the water pressure that a fire house produces, and how he fell for a “rookie” firefighter prank on his first call. But it’s moments like those, as well as others that are not nearly as light-hearted, that build bonds of brotherhood among these volunteers.

“It is a brotherhood that is hard to match,” the chief said. “When something happens, you have 60 family members…when it affects one, it affects all.”

He believes that getting more youth into the department is the key to its longevity, as it always has been. However, he acknowledges the difficulty, when not only are they asked to dedicate six months to training and then volunteer to risk their lives, but they must also volunteer to dedicate numerous hours to fundraising activities to keep the organization solvent.

“The training requirements have increased tremendously,” Chief Pettit said. “It’s a big commitment now.”

While the county has increased its contribution to Company 24 from $53,000 to $100,000 — now about two-thirds of the agency’s $150,000 annual budget — the volunteers must still raise more than $50,000 annually through food sales at the fire hall, the fair and homecoming, as well as rental of the fire hall. While insurance alone can cost up to $100,000 a year, a new self-contained breathing apparatus that is needed runs about $10,000 to $15,000, and the department needs 25 units. A price tag totaling about $300,000.

Company 24 currently has about 60 members, and 10 auxiliary members.

“We have been very fortunate for being consistent with keeping members,” the chief said.

This weekend’s two-day event is a culmination of community support, volunteer dedication and a long legacy of the two working together for the betterment of all.

“Everybody at some time, in some way, will use or need the fire company,” Chief Pettit said. “When I started, we had basically one call a week, on average…by 1980 we hit 100 and I remember thinking, how are we going to keep up with all of this?…Now, we answer over 600 calls per year…and we still keep up.

“In nearly 50 years I’ve been here, it’s been there… [that community support, that dedication by the volunteers, and the brotherhood],” Pettit said. “It’s always been there…it’s hard to describe…and it includes our family members…we are there for each other.”

In case of bad weather forecast for Saturday, a decision may be made on Friday to postpone those activities for “Fun Day” to a later date. Friday’s open house is happening, rain or shine.

“I was here for the 50th…and I’d like to say ‘ll be here for the 100th…but this weekend’s 75th anniversary celebration is a way to give back to the community,” Chief Pettit said.

“We appreciate you.”

Visit Company 24’s Facebook page.

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