Fire Department

By early 1950, the town formally organized its first fire crew.

• P.H. Lefler Jr. was appointed the department’s first Fire Chief.
• Harry Peeler served as Assistant Chief.
• Luke Canup served as Secretary and Treasurer.

The department originally sought to maintain a volunteer force of 50 members, ensuring that at least 10 firefighters were always available for emergencies.

The first fire station was located on South Main Street, attached to the north side of Lyerly Grocery Store near East Lyerly Street. This modest building featured two apparatus bays and a small meeting area. Throughout the 1950s–1970s, department meetings rotated among the fire station, town hall, and the American Legion building.

By the late 1970s, town leaders and fire department officers recognized the need for a larger, more modern facility. Planning began for a combined fire station and town hall at the site that still houses both municipal services today.

The department’s fleet expanded steadily:

• A second fire engine was added in the mid-1950s
• A third engine joined the fleet in the early 1980s

Mutual aid responses to surrounding communities continued, although the department limited out-of-town deployment to one engine and crew to ensure ample coverage within town limits.

During the 1980s, the department further broadened its operational capabilities with the acquisition of a converted delivery van used as a service unit and a minivan dedicated to training, administrative duties, and transportation to fire schools.

For more than 50 years, the Granite Quarry Fire Department functioned entirely as a volunteer agency. In the early 2000s, the department introduced part-time staffing during daytime hours, while volunteers continued to cover nights and weekends.

Over the past 15 years, this model has been transformed into a fully staffed, continuous-service operation. Today, the department includes:

• Three full-time firefighters working 24-hour shifts
• Approximately 15 part-time personnel
• A dedicated team of volunteers

This staffing structure ensures uninterrupted fire and emergency response coverage—24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

In 2021, the Granite Quarry Fire Department reached a historic milestone by earning an ISO Class 1 rating—the highest possible public protection classification. This prestigious accomplishment marked the first time a single-station fire department in North Carolina had received such a distinction.

The ISO Class 1 rating stands as a powerful testament to the department’s professionalism, operational excellence, and unwavering dedication to the community it serves.