Southwood Vol. Fire & Rescue

While attending a first aid course in the fall of 1973, Bruce Loftin had thoughts of a community need for a fire department in the Southwood community. Sharing his idea with his instructor it was agreed that the community would benefit from a fire service.

Mr. Loftin next carried his idea of a fire department to a member of the Southwood Ruritan Club. His idea was wildly accepted. The Southwood Ruritans soon sponsored a organizational meeting to be located at Southwood School. The meeting was well attended by members of the community, who themselves agreed that there was a need in the community for a fire department. An official form the North Carolina State Fire Insurance Agency was present at this meeting and presented all present attendees of the meeting how to go about starting a department. At the end of this meeting donations were accepted to get the new department up and running.

On March 24th, 1974 Southwood Vol. Fire Department was founded. In the early life of the department 2 pieces of apparatus were purchased and were stationed at 2 members houses. Towards the end of '74 a piece of land was purchased and the founding members started building what would eventually become the first station. This building was constructed just about half a mile behind the current building on Elijah Loftin Rd and was a small 3 bay building. The building is now home to PECO electric company.

In 1982 as the department out grew its current location the need for a bigger station was required. A piece of land was purchased at 1556 Hwy 58 South and a new building was erected. The new building was a larger 3 bay building that included office space, a kitchen, bathrooms and a meeting room. Today this is the current home of the fire department.

As trucks and equipment got bigger the need to once again expand the department became evident. In 2009 new construction on a piece of land directly beside the existing station was started. A large metal building was constructed with 5 drive through bays, expanding the building from what was 3 to now 8 bays. Construction on this project was completed in 2010