History of the Silk Hope VFD
Since 1965
In 1965, the Ruritan Club of Silk Hope saw need of a fire department to service the area. As a primarily agricultural community and being unincorporated, they went to the nearby towns of Snow Camp and Eli Whitney for advice on starting their new station. Snow Camp and Eli Whitney both advised that a board of members be selected as a governing body for the new service and so 12 men were chosen from the community to fill those positions. Van Thomas, Clyde Reed Perry, James A. Lindley, Jerome Johnson, Ben Ingle, Devoy Lindley, Hugh Johnson, Harold Hackney, Welford Campbell, Joe Smith, Irvin Lindley, and Howard Moon. 11 of these men donated $100.00 to the treasury of the department upon the first meeting on April 4th, 1965 and the chairman of the board, Van Thomas, acquired the services of attorney Jack Moody to charter the Silk Hope Volunteer Fire Department on July 6th 1965
The First Years 1967-1977
During its first decade in service, the department achieved many milestones including the construction of the first station between 1969 and 1970, purchasing the first engine in 1967 and establishing a ring down emergency telephone system for the community. SHVFD answered its first call in March of 1967 with its first brush fire being on Flint Ridge Road and its first structure fire at the Residence of Mr. Epps Clark
Growth Toward the New Millennium
The last two decades of the 20th century saw major growth at the department with the construction of Station 13 in May of 1986 and the purchase of three new apparatus between 1992 and 1999. It was also during this time that SHVFD received its first Class 6 ISO inspection rating which, at the time, was the highest rating of any fire department in the county.
Into the 21st Century
In 2004, Silk Hope purchased its first dedicated service truck for response to wrecks, entrapments, and fire support. Shortly after, in 2008, the department began construction on the new Station 7. This would give the Ruritan Club and the Fire Department their own separate buildings for the first time since the department's founding. The new station was completed in 2009. In 2016, the department purchased its newest engine, numbered 716, bringing the active fleet roster to 8 apparatus.
A Grateful Department
The future is bright for the SHVFD and for the people we are proud to serve. We continue to innovate in our effort to protect the lives and property of the people of Silk Hope and northwestern Chatham County and are humbled by the confidence they have placed in us. Thank you.