"To Protect Life and Home"
TVFD was established in the early 1970's. Before, when homes in the Thurston area caught fire they usually just burned to the ground because there was no local fire department or organized group to assist. So a group of Thurston citizens got together and organized a volunteer fire department. It was orginally housed in a barn and  served between 800 - 1,000 homes in the Thurston and surrounding areas. Their first piece of equipment was a 1967 International Load Star tanker. Chief Ed Slaughter said the first exciting call was in 1976 when the city of Greenville caught fire and they were called to assist. When asked what Chief Ed Slaughter's first devastating call, he replied: " When I had to pull a man from a home completely engulfed in flames, and perform CPR".
Now, TVFD has their own Fire Station, with approx 24 volunteers. They have:
- 3 engines
- 2 tankers
- 2 rescue units
- 1 rescue boat
In total they have 6,050 gallon water capacity. They are able to draw water from a 36,000 gallon swimming pool in 24 minutes with a single truck. TVFD now serves the entire west end of the county as well as the Thurston community. "We also assist any other departments and districts when called", stated Chief Slaughter. Now, TVFD serves over 5,000 homes in the Thurston and surrounding area.
TVFD serves the community in education as well and Captain Richard Hickmon said, " We want an outreach to the youth of our area and do fire safety for Camp Thunder and West Wood School. We are also going to have a Open House and Fall Festival here at the station." Chief Slaughter also responded, " We want the community to know that we need their support, both in their annual fire dues and other support."
The fire dues are $25.00 |
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