1975
June - Provisional Fire Department organized under Connestee Falls Development
Corporation. Total Calls: 5
1976
March - 1976 Dodge mini-pumper purchased by Connestee Falls Development Corporation
(CFDC) - $36,000
Rosman Volunteer Fire Department donated 1951 International oil truck converted into
fire tanker (replaced)
Al Evatt appointed Fire Chief by CFDC
April - First Fire House (Connestee maintenance Garage)
July - Connestee Falls Volunteer Fire Department (CFVFD) Chartered
November - Connestee Fire District established with 4 mile radius; Rated Class 9A;
Earl Jenkins elected Chief by membership; 26 firefighters
1977
May - Treasurer's report cash on hand $1,134.
June - Connestee Falls Volunteer Fire Department (CFVFD) incorporated. Total calls:
7
1978
February - CFVFD Auxiliary organized, a uniquely chartered support group comprised
of community non-fire department members of men and women. Total calls: 12
1979
November - Chevrolet fuel truck acquired and converted to fire tanker (replaced)
- cost: $6,100
1980
May - 1980-81 budget: $11,420
September - First permanent fire station completed and leased from CF Maintenance
Corp. Equipment had been housed in corporation buildings. Total calls: 14
1982
February - First Transylvania County First Responder (EMS) program started, serving
southern portion of Transylvania County.
April - All fire personnel issued pagers and radios
September - EMT class of 18 students at fire station- Instructors: David Carter,
Larry Host
1983
February - Total Fire Calls: 27; medical: 61
November - Larry Host elected Chief by membership of CFVFD
1984
April - First Transylvania County owned ambulance, a 1970 Chevrolet - housed
at fire station and operated by members of CFVFD
May - CFVFD Fire Tax District established; tax rate .080
June - Junior Firefighter program started
1985
March - 1985 GMC 1500 gallon Fire Tanker delivered (Tanker-95) - Cost: $77,000
(Still in Service)
GMC 750 gallon Fire Pumper delivered (E-93) - Cost: $119,000 (Still in Service)
October - Land at East Fork, site of current fire station, transferred from CFMC
to CFVFD
1986
May - Fire Station completed (started 11/85); Total calls: 20
1989
Southern Transylvania Emergency Medical System (STEMS) formed by EMT members
of Connestee and Cedar Mountain Fire Departments. Donations by area residents provided
major funding for a new ambulance
1990
September - 5 mile fire district established; Total emergency calls - 24
1991
July - 1990 International 1250 gallon Fire Tanker purchased (TK-97) - cost $105,671
November - Keith Owen elected Chief by membership of CVFD
1992
High Band VHF radios/voice pagers to comply with county system - cost $26,912
1995
September - Building mortgage paid off
KVA Generator for building purchased - cost $10,865
Total annual calls - 232
1996
February - 1996 Freightliner Class A 1000 gallon pumper delivered (E91) - cost
$213,000
June - Station air-conditioned, heating system renovated - cost $10,000
First BINGO
night supported by CVFD Auxiliary (06/21/96)
August - 1996 Ford 4WD (Rescue 94 still in service) first responder vehicle delivered
(Cost: 34,000)
1996-97 budget - $99,400; tax rate - .048
1997
Smoke house constructed - cost $18,800
Total annual calls: 245
1998
AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) and rescue tools purchased - cost $36,000
1998-99 budget - $167,735; tax rate - .0625
Dive Team trained
Freightliner 500 gallon rescue pumper delivered (E96) - cost $213,000
Total annual emergency calls: 235
1999
November - Randy Owen elected Chief by membership of CVFD Total annual emergency
calls: 244, including 25 motor vehicle accidents
2000
Storage building erected at training grounds - cost $70,569
2000-2001 budget - $178,441; tax rate - .0625
August - Corporation name changed to Connestee Fire Rescue, Inc.
October - 2000 Ford Excursion all-wheel vehicle for transporting personnel purchased
(R99) - cost $39,091
Total fire/medical calls November 1999 - October 2000: 244
November - 2000 Freightliner 1800 gallon tanker delivered (TK98) - cost $211,012
2001
November - Keith Owen elected Chief by CFR membership
Total calls from November 2000 - October 2001: 311
July - Connestee Fire & Rescue received $75,000 FEMA grant
2002
January - Air compressor purchased with Auxiliary donations
February - Three additional
AED’s purchased
2003
July - Received $75,370 FEMA grant for fire operations and safety (25 sets of
turn-out gear, new pagers and 2 way radio equipment, Personal PASS devices, Thermal
Imaging Camera)
2004
January - ISO insurance rating lowered from 9S to Class 6
March - 2003 Freightliner/American LaFrance 1250 gpm pumper (Engine 92 still in service)
purchased
2005
April - 2005 Freightliner/American LaFrance 1500 gpm pumper (Engine 94 still
in service) purchased
July - Lot next to Connestee Walnut Hollow Gate purchased for substation (Cost: $10,000)
2006
July - Received $126,977 FEMA grant for fire operations and safety (air packs
and spare bottles)
Nov - 2006 Smeal/Altair 75' Aerial Ladder (Ladder 9 still in service) delivered
Total Calls : 400
2007
May - Construction on substation began
Chiefs
Al Evatt: 1976 (appointed by CFDC)
Earl Jenkins: November 1976 – November 1983
Larry
Host: November 1983 – November 1991
Keith Owen: November 1991 – November 1999
Randy
Owen: November 1999 – November 2001
Keith Owen: November 2001 – Present
Lifetime Members
Ed Hathaway – December 17, 1996
Larry Host – February 4, 2000
Pat Bertlshofer
– December 12, 2003 (Passed Away January 4, 2007)
Bob Nelson – December 10, 2004
