our history

On a Friday night in 1962, nearly 100 community members gathered at the old Beaverdam School with a shared vision: to establish a fire department that would protect the North Hominy, Beaverdam, North Canton, and Thickety communities within a four-mile district. The meeting was a success. Within a week, a board of directors was formed, trustees were elected, bylaws were adopted, and an application for incorporation was submitted to the North Carolina Secretary of State. Soon after, the North Canton United Volunteer Fire Department was officially established.

The next challenge was funding equipment and staffing the new department. The community once again stepped up. Through donations, bake sales, and tax revenue, enough funds were raised to purchase a brand-new American LaFrance Pumper capable of pumping 750 gallons per minute and carrying 500 gallons of water. A converted tanker truck was also acquired to support operations. In November 1963, North Canton responded to its first structure fire. At that time, due to limited funding, firefighters wore only hard hats as protective gear.

Today, the North Canton Fire Department has grown to 45 dedicated members and serves approximately 4,000 residents within an expanded six-mile district. The department now operates 11 apparatus: three engines, two tankers, one mini pumper, one brush truck, a medical response vehicle, a chief’s vehicle, and two UTVs. North Canton maintains mutual aid agreements with nine departments across Haywood and Buncombe counties, ensuring strong regional cooperation.

Although we are now better equipped and better funded than the original group of North Canton firefighters, we continue to carry the same passion, commitment, and drive to serve and protect our community that began in 1962.