History of Our Department

Following a tragic fire during the Christmas season of 1971, the concept for the Dyer’s Store Volunteer Fire Department was conceived. Children were sleeping in the upstairs part of the wood frame house located in the Leatherwood area, in the middle of the night when a kerosene heater, placed at the bottom of the stairs ignited a blaze. That fire, in which three children perished, initiated conversation among local residents about the need for a fire department that would serve the residents of the Dyer’s Store and surrounding areas of Henry County.

From early conversations at Young’s Grocery by Mike Creasy, Harry Kirks and Jerry Young to more and more conversations involving many others, the concept headed to reality. Early meetings were held in the basement of the house belonging to Harry and Christine Kirks. Following a meeting at the Dyer’s Store Ruritan Club, many local residents pledged financial support to fund the early phase of the fire department. Harry Young was placed in charge of the organization of this early phase of the department. Many donated $100 each and the search was on for the first fire truck. That fire truck, a 1949 GMC tank truck (a double clutch vehicle), had a capacity of 1000 gallons of water.

Having a truck meant there was a need for a building to house the truck. The tasks involved finding land and then constructing the first “department.” That land was donated by Harry Kirks on land just north of his residence on Dyer’s Store Road. There were a number of people who donated the time necessary to construct the building that housed two vehicles. The area was so blessed to have Max Kendall supply the lumber for that building. He told the firemen that he would supply the lumber if the logs were brought to his lumber yard. Those who hauled the logs included Charles Gravely (after pulling his third-shift job), Pete Martin and Harry Young. Gary Dove and Jerry Young wired the building and many others were involved in the manual labor needed to build the department. While the construction was occurring, the wives cooked the meals for the men.

Following the construction of that building, which still stands on Dyer’s Store Road, meetings were held on the dirt floor—after the trucks were pulled out of the building. The second truck had been bought—a 1951 Chevrolet pumper. The third truck was a 1956 Dodge, and not long after that, a World War II, deuce-and-a-half, (2 ½ ton) tanker was purchased. Joe Bryant bought a 1961 Chevrolet, originally painted white and the firemen painted it red. The first new truck was a 1973 Ford, which was bought new from the Slagle Company for a little less than $50,000. The county donated $2000 toward that purchase. It had a 429 engine with a 5-speed transmission. After Jerry Young tested and Doug Dove drove it and gave it his stamp of approval, the truck found a home in Dyer’s Store.

Much of the early training of the firemen was led by Frank Creasy, a Dupont employee, who was the brother of Mike Creasy (one of the men whose early conversations led to the construction of the department). Many of the firemen worked their regular jobs and dedicated their weekends to fire training.

As the department continued to grow there was a need for a larger and more modern department to be built. Fred Martin donated land on the south side of state route 57 East that became the permanent home of the Dyer’s Store Volunteer Fire Department. Many, many local residents pitched in to construct the building—including Henry Hairston who laid the block.

Since the initial construction of the three bay department, additions have been added. The department continues to grow as the most recent addition is under construction.

Some of the early firemen who had a hand in the early years were Harry Young, Raymond Wray, Luther Philpott, Charles Gravely, Jerry Young, Jerry Stultz, Harry Kirks, Mike Creasy, Doug Dove, Doug Lawrence, Howard Niblett, Bill Lester, Dud Young, Pete Martin, Lewis Redd, Burton Smith and Gary Dove.