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Public buildings and services

Rural fire protection

In Hillsborough. 3 dated events, 1951–1977.

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In the chronology

  1. Orange Fire Protective Association buys Orange County's first rural fire truck Because Hillsboro's town fire truck was restricted to calls within about a mile and a half of town, rural residents formed the Orange Fire Protective Association and raised money through one-time memberships of $10 for a house and more for farm buildings. By March 15, 1951, 260 members had given $4,500 and a Ford fire truck for the countryside had arrived, crewed by the town's volunteer firemen.
  2. Efland and Orange Grove volunteer fire departments are incorporated As the Orange Rural Fire Department's board worked from 1971 to set up fire districts covering the whole county, rural communities formed their own departments: the Orange Grove Volunteer Fire Department in 1972 and the Efland Volunteer Fire Department on September 8, 1972. New Hope followed in February 1973.
  3. Caldwell and Cedar Grove volunteer fire departments are incorporated The Caldwell Volunteer Fire Department was incorporated on December 6, 1977 and the Cedar Grove Volunteer Fire Department a week later, on December 13, extending local fire protection across the northern townships.

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Illustration by Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell, gifted to the Friends 2026