1950 to 1974

In 1950 a Government surplus fire engine was purchased for $775 and overhauled for an additional $850 and was used for a time and sold to the Banks Fire Department.

In 1952 the fire department acquired its first two-way radio equipment which consisted of a base station and one mobile unit. This kept the station and fire engine in contact at all times as well as with other fire apparatus in the county. Today, the modern Cornelius fire engine is equipped with sophisticated communications equipment including mobile and portable 64-channel 800-MHZ trunking radios, cellular telephones, and touch-screen computer mobile data terminals (MDTs.)

In 1953 the City started work on a new Hall to house fire department apparatus and to accommodate a Fire Department office, a Library, a City office, a meeting room, and a kitchen. At one corner, a 55 foot ship mast was installed to support a new five-horsepower siren and radio antenna. This mast is set in 8 feet deep block of concrete. The building was finished and dedicated in September 1954. This same year the department purchased a Ford pick-up with a front-mounted pump, 250-gallon booster tank, ladders, and another mobile radio unit.

Shortly after the Fire Department moved into the new station, the Rural District provided a new, fully equipped class "A" fire engine assembled on a Dodge V-8 chassis with a 1,000-gallon booster tank and a 600 GPM pump. This unit was housed in the station and staffed by firefighters for both city and rural calls and formed a part of the contract terms with the City and Rural Districts. This engine was sold to Swan Island in 1984 to make room for a tanker with 3,000 gallons of water.

In 1956 the City purchased an electric hose dryer to take better care of the fire department hose and since this date, all hose used at fires is washed and dried.

In 1963 there was a need for additional space to house additional fire engines, so the City and Rural District enlarged the station with an addition on the West side of the fire station. Library and City offices were moved into this new part of the building, giving the Fire Department another truck bay. The Rural District purchased a used 1946 GMC 1,350-gallon tanker that was housed in the expanded fire station.

In 1964 the City purchased a new Western States 750 GPM class "A" pumper with a 600-gallon booster tank and equipment to replace the 1941 Ford pumper.

In 1966 the Rural District purchased a new 750 GPM class "A" pumper with a 1000-gallon booster tank.

In 1971 the Cornelius Rural Fire Protection District purchased a conventional Ford fire engine with a 1000 GPM front-mount pump and a 2000-gallon booster tank from Western States Fire Apparatus in Cornelius. This engine replaced the 1350-gallon tanker thus becoming an engine-tanker combination.

In 1974 the Cornelius City/Rural Fire Department broadened its services to include emergency medical response. The first Rescue unit was a 1965 Dodge van donated by GTE and built by the volunteer firefighters. In this same year, the fire department took in a 1953 GMC military 6 by 6 and converted it into a brush rig.