09/16/2026
Department History.
Bessemer City Fire Department in 1966, as profiled in the Bessemer City Record on April 28, 1966, via Digital North Carolina Newspapers. Here's the article text:
STAND READY TO FIGHT — Pictured above are members of the town’s fire department who stand ready to answer fire calls around the clock. From left to right are pictured half of the fire department’s fighting force: Jim Schofield, Chief; David Price, an auxiliary, Jim Kiser, Dee Ballard, Buddy Horne, Bryte Goodnight, Chavis Ballard, C. E. (Tye) Horne, assistant chief, Tom Hoyle, Calvin Guffey, and Douglas Cobb. (Photo by Johnny Goins).
Fire Fighters On The Go…
Fire Department: 21-Man Team
Following the recent death of town commissioner Harry Lee Davis, who had served ten years as Assistant Fire Chief, several changes have taken place in the fire department.
The fire department now has twenty-one active members and one auxiliary. The members are Jim Schofield, Chief; C. E. (Tye) Horne, 1st Assistant Chief; Glenn Stalcup, 2nd assistant Chief; Roy Franklin, Captain; Clyde Strutt, Lieutenant; Roy Bullard, secretary and treasurer; Buddy Horne, statistician; Dee Ballard, Bryte Goodnight, Calvin Guffey, Tom Hoyle, Jim Kiser, Ted Hoyle, Johnny Landford, Bain Lingerfeldt, Earl Sarvis, Johnny Goins, photographer, Chavis Ballard, Don Carpenter, Frank Shuford and Douglas Cobb.
David Price is the auxiliary who is learning fire-fighting techniques prior to becoming a regular member of the force.
Douglas Cobb is the newest member on the force. Both he and Guffey served auxiliary tenures prior to being full-fledged members.
Chief Schofield and Captain Franklin hold longevity of service on the force, both having become members in 1937. Assistants Horne and Stalcup joined the force in 1940.
In recent years, each year has registered an increase in the number of fire calls answered by the department.
In 1964, the fire department answered thirty-eight calls. A number of these were to vacant houses which had been condemned in the Algadon Community. These houses and other condemned have now been razed and removed from the community.
In 1965, the fire department answered fifty-one calls, an increase of seventeen.
The calls were made to sixteen residences; three to manufacturing plants; three to warehouses; nineteen to grass fires; four to autos; two for false alarms; and two to residences located outside of the city limits.
Statistics on the fires, to date, for 1966 have not been compiled. Although fire calls to residences in 1966 have been few, the department has received a number of fire calls for grass and woods fires.
Unusual high winds have contributed to the number of fire calls received to date this year to grass fires.
In 1965, the month of November had reports of the greatest number of fire calls with ten fires reported. April, June and October had the least, with each having one fire call during the month.
The fire department’s GMC truck purchased in 1961 is kept in condition to be ready at any hour for a fire call. The truck stays gassed-up and in the winter months when weather forecasts predict snow, ice or sleet, chains are put on the truck tires.
The town’s 1949 Ford fire truck is also kept in go-condition. It is used in addition to the GMC for larger fires.
In recent years, the town has completed projects which have greatly increased the fire-fighting efficiency for the fire department. A number of new fire hydrants have been installed. Also new water lines laid. When the water tank located to the east of town was constructed, it helped to increase water pressure for the areas in the east sections. The west section of town, especially in Vantine Community, has been improved for fire-fighting conditions.
In addition to extra fire hydrants installed, new water lines have been run. Among these are on Boston and Pinchback Avenues and the Lincoln High School road.
Read digital edition at https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/2023240040/1966-04-28/ed-1/seq-1
