Department Profile[]
The Hickory Fire Department is an all career fire department that provides fire suppression, non-transport emergency medical services (EMS), technical rescue, hazardous material mitigation, water rescue, life safety education, and fire prevention and investigation to the citizens and visitors of Hickory, North Carolina. The department protects more than 43,000 people over 30 square miles in and around the corporate limits of the City of Hickory. Major roadways include Interstate 40, US Route 70, US Route 321, and NC Route 127. The department is composed of 139 uniform and civilian staff. The department holds an ISO Class 1 rating and responded to 6,740 emergency calls in fiscal year 2018-19. The department staffs six engine companies, two ladder companies, one rescue company, one ARFF truck, and two Battalion Chiefs 24 hours a day, seven days a week out of seven fire stations. The department also maintains various support and reserve fire apparatus.
Rank Structure[]
- Chief
- Deputy Chief
- Battalion Chief
- Captain
- Fire Apparatus Operator
- Senior Firefighter
- Firefighter
History[]
The Fairbrook Volunteer Fire Department merged with the Hickory Fire Department in 1988.
The Viewmont Volunteer Fire Department merged with the Hickory Fire Department in 1988.
Fire Stations[]
| Station | Address | In Service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 3rd Street NW | 1921-1961 | Former city hall and fire station; repurposed as a community theatre |
| 5 | 1425 21st Street Drive SE | 1990-present | Also houses training and apparatus maintenance staff |
Apparatus Roster[]
All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.
Fire Station 1 (Headquarters) - 19 2nd Street Drive NE[]
Built 1961, 2003 reno
- Engine 1 - 2017 Rosenbauer RBM Commander (1500/700/30F) (SN#18539)
- Rescue 1 - 2019 Spartan Gladiator / SVI walk-around (SN#1107)
- Squad 1 - Chevrolet Type III ambulance (Ex-Catawba County EMS)
- Battalion 1 - 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4
Fire Station 2 - 1305 9th Avenue NE (Highland)[]
Built 1983
- Engine 2 - 2009 Spartan Gladiator / Rosenbauer (1500/500/30F) (SN#2675)
- Ladder 2 - 2015 Spartan Gladiator / Smeal (2000/300/105' rear-mount) (SN#4416)
Fire Station 3 - 135 11th Street NW (West Hickory)[]
Built 1984
- Engine 3 - 2015 Spartan Gladiator / Smeal (1500/500/30F) (SN#4415)
- Ladder 3 - 2018 Spartan Gladiator / Smeal (2000/350/105' rear-mount)
Fire Station 4 - 3101 9th Avenue Drive NW (Hickory Regional Airport)[]
Built 1998
- Engine 4 - 2016 International 7400 4x4 / Rosenbauer Airwolf Class 3 crash tender (250/500/60F/500 lbs. DC) (SN#104235)
Fire Station 5 - 1425 21st Street Drive SE (Fairbrook)[]
Built 1990
- Battalion 2 - 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4
- Engine 5 - 2022 Spartan Metro Star EMFD / Smeal (2000/750/30F)
- Tanker 5 - 1991 International 4900 / EEI (400/1200) (SN#8621) (Ex-Tanker 6)
Fire Station 6 - 3036 North Center Street (Viewmont)[]
Built 1989
- Engine 6 - 2004 Spartan Gladiator / Rosenbauer (1500/500/30F) (SN#2412)
- Tanker 6 - 1993 E-One Cyclone TC (1500/1000) (SO#12365) (Ex-Engine 7, ex-Reserve Engine 14) (Ex-Fairbrook Volunteer Fire Department)
Fire Station 7 - 465 Catawba Valley Boulevard SE (Southeast Hickory)[]
Built 2003
- Engine 7 - 2011 Spartan Gladiator / Rosenbauer (1500/500)
- Tanker 7 - 2000 Freightliner FL 80 / Quality (1250/1500) (SN#M-1295) (Ex-Tanker 5)
Reserve Apparatus[]
- Reserve Engine 11 (Parade) - 1979 American LaFrance Century (1000/500)
- Reserve Engine 13 - 1999 Spartan Gladiator / Quality (1500/500/25F) (SN#M-1305) (Ex-Engine 1)
- Reserve Engine 14 - 2003 Spartan Gladiator / Rosenbauer (1500/500/30F) (SN#2347) (Ex-Engine 5)
- Reserve Ladder 16 - 1999 American LaFrance Eagle (1500/500/75' LTI rear-mount) (SN#9806174) (Ex-Ladder 1, ex-Ladder 3)
Retired Apparatus[]
- 2010 Chevrolet Type III ambulance (Ex-Catawba County EMS) (Donated to Catawba Valley Community College in 2021)
- 1995 Spartan Gladiator / Quality (1500/750/30F) (SN#M-969) (Ex-Reserve Engine 12, Ex-Engine 3) (Sold November 16, 2023, GovDeals)
- 1995 Spartan / 2007 Anchor Richey EVS walk-around rescue (Ex-Rescue 1) (Sold to Matthews Fire & Emergency Medical Services (North Carolina) in 2021)
- 1995 Ferrara Invader pumper (1250/500) (SN#BR-567) (Ex-Reserve Engine 16)
- 1990 GMC TopKick 4x4/ E-One crash tender (600/600/75F/450 lbs. DC/150 lbs. Halon/TAU) (SO#8189) (Ex-Engine 4, ex-Reserve Engine 4) (Sold in 2020)
- 1990 International 4900 / Hackney (Ex-Unit 54) (Ex-Fairbrook Volunteer Fire Department)
- 1989 E-One ? Hush pumper (1500/750/15F) (SO#6961) (Ex-Reserve Engine 12) (Sold to Western Piedmont Community College, NC)
- 1975 Dodge W-300 / Ansul Magnum 440 TAU (200F/450 lbs. DC) (Ex-Rescue 1, Hickory Regional Airport)
- 1948 American LaFrance 710-PEO pumper (1000/500)
- 1948 American LaFrance 7-65-AO aerial (-/-/65' mid-mount)
- 1936 American LaFrance Type 412 pumper
- 1914 American LaFrance Type 10 pumper
Future Plans[]
The City of Hickory has plans to construct three new fire stations in the coming years according to budget documentation.
Two existing fire stations, Fire Station 2 and Fire Station 3, will be replaced with new facilities. Replacement of Fire Station 2 was funded for FY 2023. Land acquisition for Fire Station 3 is expected in FY 2025 and construction to begin in FY 2027.
An additional fire station, Fire Station 8, is also planned. The general location of this station was not specified. Land acquisition is expected in FY 2024 and construction to begin in FY 2025.