This is a very brief history of the Westside Volunteer Fire Department. In trying to relate the forming and growth of the department it is almost impossible to recall of the incidents and frustrations that have occurred since the beginning. We do think it is important to name the people that were and still are involved in the formation and operation of the Westside Volunteer Fire Department.

There was a home destroyed by fire early in 1968. The home was on the West side of Highway By-Pass 220 and was just outside of the Asheboro City Limits. The City Council had recently enacted an ordinance that their fire fighting efforts should be confined to the homes within the city limits. This was due to the growth of the city, along with the growth on the outside of the limits. 

A group of concerned citizens meet at Brower Memorial Church on Mack Road, to initiate plans for a volunteer fire department. In the meantime, a group of citizens in the Ulah area were meeting for the same purpose. The steering committee decided that since the two areas overlapped, the area south of approximately the McDowell Road should be in one district and another district should be formed for the West Side of Asheboro.
 

In early spring of 1968 a group of citizens met at West Bend Methodist Church and a new steering committee was formed. We had four meetings and at the fourth meeting we had the following persons present: Paul Myrick, Buren Lanier, J.D. Skeen, William Black, Cecil Story, Nelson Burcham, Eugence Kearns, Rev. Donald Beaty, Charles Hoover, Welsey Pierce, Roy Bullins, Thurman McBride, Alan McDaniel, B.D. Greene, and Wade Walker.
 

On May 13, 1968, a meeting was held at the West Bend Methodist Church. Rev. Don Beaty briefly outlined the proceedings of the Steering Committee; he introduced the Chairman, William J. Black.
 

William Black presented the minimum needs of a fire department and Cecil Story explained the method by which the necessary money could be raised. There were 71 people present and $3,405.00 was pledged and $245.00 was paid at that meeting. It was decided with that much support the West Side Volunteer Fire Department was organized.
 

The following officers were elected: Alan Holt, President, Buren Lanier, Vice President, Don Beaty, Secretary and Cecil Story, Treasurer. The Board of Directors was William Black, Roy Bullins, J.D. Skeen, Wesley Pierce and Leonard Watson.
 

At this same meeting we had 22 persons volunteer to help solicit money and 23 persons to sign up to be firemen and take training
 

On September 9, 1968 a general meeting of all member s and interested persons was called. By that time we had all paid for. We also had 40 firemen enrolled in a basic fire fighting course at Randolph Technical Institute. After much searching we finally secured the lot where the fire station is now located. The lot was donated by Hurley Wrape for $100.00 and other considerations.
 

At our first annual meeting the same four officers were reelected except Reid Kearns replaced Rev. Don Beaty, who was moving out of town. Three new directors were elected, Dempsey Delk, Harold Briles and Willis McBride.
 

In July of 1968, were officially incorporated by the State of North Carolina. Allen Holt and Rev. Don Beaty are to be commended for their hard work in getting the charter and in preparing the constitution and by-laws of our department.
 

In November, 1968, we moved our fire truck to a building belonging to Bill Draughn, since it was getting cold and needed protection. It had been parked at Fire Chief William Black’s home. In January, 1969 a building committee was appointed by President Allen Holt consisting of Cecil Story, Chairman, Buren Lanier, William Black, J.D. Skeen and Willis McBride. In March, 1969, Bob Howell was authorized to contact an architect to draw up plans for a fire station. In April 1969, preliminary work was begun on the fire station. In August a loan was negotiated for $20,000.00 but the bank would not accept our building and equipment as collateral. The firemen and Board of Directors had to sign a personal note in order to secure a loan.
 

After securing the loan, we paid off our indebtedness and got down to the business of operating the fire department and raising the necessary funds to meet our monthly obligations and make the two payments each year totaling $5,000.00. At this time, September 1973 we have been able to accomplish this and now only owe $5,000.00 on our building. At today’s prices our building and equipment is worth approximately $100,000.00.
 

This brief history would not and could not have taken place without the generous support of the people in our district and also numerous merchants, manufactures and friends that do not even live in our district. Next comes our dedicated firemen who have sacrificed their time and spent considerable money on uniforms and supplies in order to furnish fire protection to our community. We owe these men a debt of gratitude for their having done a great and noble service for their community and neighbors.
 

It was stated at the beginning of this history that an ordinance was passed prohibiting the Asheboro Fire Department form leaving the city limits. It must be said that in February 1969 all adjoining fire departments signed a mutual aid pact and we have had help from three department since that time, including the Asheboro Fire Department..

To this day we receive aid from the Farmer, Tabernacle, Eastside, Ulah, Sophia, New Hope, Guil-Rand, and Franklinville Fire Department.

In the mid 1980's to help reduce response time and increase the department's fleet, department leaders opened our second station at 3141 Plainfield road. It is near the 3 way intersection of Old County Farm, Lake Lucas, and Plainfield roads. 

In 2006 we opened our third station on Old NC Hwy 49. This station was built so that an area that was not within 5 miles of a current station would have better coverage and get insurance benefits.
 

Today, the department is happy to provide fire suppression, emergency medical and rescue services to our district of approximately 49.6 square miles. We have grown to have 3 full time employees, several part time employees and over 60 volunteers.