Overview[]
The Town of Matthews Fire & Emergency Medical Services (EMS) is a combination department providing fire, rescue and medical first responder services to the Town of Matthews and surrounding unincorporated areas. The department responds to approximately 4,000 calls for service a year. The department has an ISO class rating of 1.
History[]
The Matthews Fire and EMS Department traces its roots to the Matthews-Morningstar Volunteer Fire Department, Matthews Rescue & EMS, and U-Meck Rescue. The Matthews Fire Department was established in 1953 and provided fire protection for the small town of Matthews and surrounding area. In 1971, U-Meck Rescue was established and they provided rescue and ambulance transport services for southern Mecklenburg County and Union County.
On April 6, 1977, the Matthews Fire Department was renamed Matthews-Morningstar Volunteer Fire Department. The name Morningstar comes from the township which includes unincorporated areas.
In the 1990s, NC counties started to assume responsibility for EMS services forcing U-Meck Rescue to reassess and reevaluate their role. When the plan to merge with the Mathews-Morningstar FD fell through, U-Meck Rescue became Matthews Rescue & EMS in 1991 under the Town of Matthews.
In 2005, the Town of Matthews hired 6 full time fire fighters who worked for the Fire Department that was still a separate, independent entity. Then, in 2008, the Matthews-Morningstar VFD Board voted to turn the department and its assets over to the Town of Matthews, making the department municipal department. Once under the Town, their first paid Chief Matthew ‘Trim’ Sawtelle merged the Town’s Rescue & EMS and Fire Departments into the Matthews Fire & Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
In 2016, Station 2 was opened on Crews Road. In addition to housing Matthews Fire & EMS. that building also houses the Matthews Police Department headquarters and the Crews Road Recreation Center.
As the Town of Matthews grew, some of the eastern portions of the town were served by the neighboring Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department, operating under a contract with the Town of Matthews.
In 2025, Station 3 was opened on Matthews Mint Hill Road near Purser Hulsey Park in the eastern section of the town. During the planning phase, the department coordinated with the Mint Hill Fire Department who was also planning a new station to cover the western side of Mint Hill. As a result, when both departments completed their new stations, the need for the Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department was effectively eliminated. Idlewild VFD disbanded on March 30, 2025, with assets being split by the Matthews and Mint Hill Fire Departments.
Apparatus Roster[]
All pump/tank measurements are in US gallons.
Fire Station 1 - 236 Trade Street[]
- Rescue 8 - 2022 E-One Typhoon 22' walk-around
- Engine 12 – 2018 Spartan / Smeal (2000/500) (SN#4781)
- Operations Support 13 - 1995 Spartan / 2007 Anchor Richey EVS walk-around rescue (Ex-Hickory Fire Department (North Carolina))
- Ladder 124 – 2010 Spartan / Rosenbauer Central (2000/500/101' rear-mount platform) (SN#727010)
- Bobcat UV34XL
Fire Station 2 - 1201 Crews Road[]
Opened 2016
- Battalion 1 - 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe
- Squad 2 - 2019 Ford F-250 4x4
- Engine 3 (Reserve) - 2007 Seagrave Marauder II TB70DA (2000/750/20A/20B) (SN#78E01) (Ex-Engine 12, ex-Engine 221)
- Engine 22 - 2016 Spartan / Smeal (2000/500) (SN#4615)
- Squad 229 (Reserve) - 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 4x4
Fire Station 3 - 3017 Matthews-Mint Hill Road[]
Opened 2025
- Engine 3 - 2017 Ferrara Igniter (2000/750/30A) (SN#HS-6072)
- Engine 92 - 2010 Spartan Gladiator / Rosenbauer (1500/750)
- Engine 121 (Reserve) - 1982 Duplex D-350 / Grumman Firecat (1500/1000) (SN#17101) (Ex-Engine 1)
- Brush 126 - 1990 Ford F-350 4x4 / American LaFrance (200/200)
- Kawasaki Mule UTV
Command Staff Vehicles[]
- Car 9 (Fire Chief) - 2022 Chevrolet Traverse
- Car 10 (Deputy Chief) - 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe
- Car 18 (Training Captain) - 2019 Ford F-250 4x4
On Order[]
- Ladder 4 - 2027 E-One Typhoon HR100
- Engine 1 - 2027 E-One Typhoon
- Engine 2 - 2027 E-One Typhoon
- Engine 3 - 2026 E-One Typhoon
Retired Apparatus[]
- 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe 4x4 (Ex-Squad 129)
- 1999 American LaFrance / Hackney walk-around
- 1997 AM General Hummer H1 / Fire Attacker brush (250/250) (Sold to Mount Penn Fire Company)
- 1992 International PayStar 5000 / 4 Guys tanker (1500/1500) (SN#F-1496) (Sold to Shoal Creek Fire Department (Alabama))
- 1992 KME pumper (1500/1000) (Ex-Engine 2)
- 1987 Duplex D450 / Grumman AC-102 aerial (1500/500/102' Aerialcat rear-mount platform) (SN#17488) (Ex-Platform 1)
External Links[]
Matthews Fire & Emergency Medical Services