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History

Series of "mysterious fires" destroy two schoolhouses, one church, and two residences in New Light Township. Buildings believed burned as reprisals for destruction of eight whiskey plants in community.  Fires occur in Hurricane neighborhood, some twenty miles from Raleigh.  Destroyed are L. J. Sears school, Stoney Hill school, West Grove Baptist Church, Leo Ray's residence, and Lonnie Harrison's dwellings.  Community is located in the eastern part of the township and northwest of the Falls of Neuse. (March 12, 1921) ^rt12mar21

1958, organized as Stony Hill Fire Department.  Incorporated as Stony Hill Rural Fire Department Inc. (June 12, 1958) ^sos

1958, charter members:

1958, first fire station is two-bay tin shed located beside 2713 Durham Road, behind and beside present Falls Lake Grocery.  Sign on building misprints Stony Hill as Stoney Hill.  Misspelling persists for decades. ^fdr

1958, first fire apparatus: ^oh

• 1951 Chevy pumper, 500 GPM, 750 gallons, front-mounted pump

• 1950 (?) Autocar tanker, 3000 gallons, no quick dump, former military aviation tanker (firefighting, w/dual rear pumps?).

1958 (?), later apparatus includes: ^wcfar

• 1954 Jeep brush trucks (2)

• 1956 GMC / Alexander (of Raleigh) pumper / tanker, 500 GPM, 1250 gallons

1963, new fire station constructed at 7025 Stony Hill Road. Property donated by Bill Ray, nearby resident, with stipulation that ownership reverts back to him if no longer used for fire station. ^{fdr, oh}

1966 (?), apparatus delivery: 1966 Ford brush truck w/PTO pump, 140 GPM.

1966 (?), apparatus delivery: 1966 GMC pumper / tanker, 500 GPM, 2000 gallons, tandem-axle with quick dump, only second quick dump in County (after Cary), later sold to fire department near Southport, NC.

1974, first barbecue held.  Becomes semi-annual event on same Saturday in April and October.  Fire department averages $16,000-$17,000 profit per cookout (in later years?). Food qualities average (in later years?):

• 3,000-3,500 pounds of beef

• about 800 whole chickens

• 1,600 pounds cabbage

• 800-1000 pounds.

During first year, food runs out by 2:30 p.m.  During second year, food runs out by 3:30 p.m.  By fourth or fifth year, correct food quantities determined. Barbeque continues for twenty or twenty-years, until discontinued around 1996. ^oh

1974, apparatus delivery: 1954 Mack B75 / Howe pumper, 750 GPM, 750 gallons.  Cost $10,0000.  Original owner Independence, NJ.

1979 (?), apparatus delivery: 1979 Ford-250 brush truck, 250-300 gallons.

1980, old lodge building burns across from Woodland Chapel on SR 1922.  Fire is believed suspicious, with several old abandoned houses and barns burned in the last few weeks.  Wake Forest, Bay Leaf, Rolesville, and Falls fire departments respond as mutual aid.  All are returned to quarters except Wake Forest. (December 11, 1980) ^ww

1981, Texas Supper held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (April 25, 1981) ^yfdr

early 1980's, fire department publishes cookbook of favorite recipes. ^oh

1983 (?), apparatus delivery: GMC 7000 / FMC / Bean tanker, 250-300 GPM, 1250 gallons.

1984, department establishes tax district with Wake County, enabling funding as percentage of property tax. ^fdr

1984, station additions: two more bays and / or rear meeting space.

1984 (?), apparatus delivery: Chevy 3500 / E-One first-responder / brush truck, 300 gallons.

1985, beef barbecue held. (November 2, 1985) ^wcfar

1987 (?), apparatus delivery: Ford 8000 / FMC pumper / tanker, 1250 GPM, 1000 gallons.

1991 (?), apparatus delivery: 1991 Chevy 30 step van, purchased from Rolesville Fire Department.

early 1990's, siren at Station #1 discontinued. ^oh

1993 (?), apparatus delivery: 1993 KME / Hale pumper / tanker, 1250 GPM, 1000 gallons.

1995-96, last barbecue held.  Fundraising no longer necessary with changes in tax districts. ^oh

1997, Station #2 completed at 15633 New Light Road. ^fdr

1999 (?), apparatus delivery: 1999 International 4900 / KME pumper / tanker, 1250 GPM, 1000 gallons.

See Wake County apparatus register.

• ^fdr Fire department records

• ^oh Oral history

• ^sos NC Department of the Secretary of State

• ^wcm Wake County Board of Commissioners minutes
• ^wcfa Wake County Firemen's Association records
• ^yfdr Yrac Fire Department records

Last updated: June 10, 2004