The Rutherfordton Fire and Rescue Department is a combination department comprised of ten full-time, five part-time, 13 volunteers, and two junior firefighters. The department is a municipal fire department responsible for providing service to the Town of Rutherfordton, Town of Ruth, and the Rutherfordton Fire District.
The total response area for the Rutherfordton Fire and Rescue Department is thirty-four square miles. Our insurance classification is a 4/9e and we provide fire, rescue, hazardous materials, and medical responder service to the citizens in our jurisdiction as well as mutual aid to other fire and emergency service organizations.
Besides emergency response, the department places emphasis on fire prevention by conducting fire safety presentations for church, civic, school groups, and by bringing the children's fire safety house to the public schools in October of each year. In addition, the fire department is responsible for conducting fire inspections in local businesses and industry for the Town of Rutherfordton and Town of Ruth.
The current apparatus operated by the department is two engines, an engine/tanker combination, 78 ft. quint, one brush truck, one UTV, and a utility truck.
The fire station is located at 144 N. Mitchell Street and is an eight-bay 9500 square feet facility which was built in 1996.