This is a milestone event. Here is some department history:

· On November 20, 1882, the Roanoke Fire Company #1 was organized by concerned citizens. This blazed the trail for other volunteer fire companies to form including the Vigilants, Juniors, Friendship and Alerts.

· On March 31, 1907, the volunteer departments disbanded and the Roanoke Fire Department became a fully career department under the leadership of Chief James McFalls. The firefighters were housed at the current Fire Station 1 on Church Avenue and at Fire Station #2 which was located at Fourth and East Avenue. These men worked six days a week and were allowed to alternate going home for lunch and dinner.

· The Fire Department doubled in size in 1911 by adding three new stations and by 1918 all horse drawn apparatus were replaced with motorized equipment. By 1929 the department consisted of 10 fire stations.

· In 1995, the Roanoke Fire Department merged with the Roanoke EMS Department to form the current Roanoke Fire-EMS Department. Today the Department staffs 266 uniformed and 7 civilian personnel. The Department has become Nationally Accredited with an ISO rating of 2.

Refreshments will be served courtesy of WB Webb and Mill Mountain Coffee & Tea.

Please join us for this wonderful time of fellowship and reminiscing. For more information, please contact Tiffany Bradbury at 853-5785.

Roanoke Fire-EMS encourages all Roanoke residents to practice fire safety steps every day. Remember, fire safety is your personal responsibility and fire prevention precautions DO make a difference!