The History of New Hope Fire Department

Recognizing the need to have improved fire protection in their community, the New Hope Improvement Association started to create the New Hope Volunteer Fire Department in 1970. Establishing the fire department was the Association's first major project after its own organization in the fall of 1969. New Hope received its official charter to operate from Orange County in 1972.

The original fire station occupies the lower portion of the association building on Whitfield Road in the northern part of Chapel Hill , and underwent a major renovation and expansion in 1999. NHFD also opened a second station in 1977 located on Hwy 86 between Chapel Hill and Hillsborough with the help of a low cost land lease provided by The New Hope Presbyterian Church.

Station 2

NHFD expanded its service in 1991 by adding emergency medical services at the First Responder level, which it continues to provide with its fire protection service.

In 2004, due to the increasing demands placed upon the department by its growing call volume, two full time personnel were hired. Eddie Walker and Jason Hackler were NHFD's first full time personnel.

NHFD district boundaries have decreased significantly since 1972 as the surrounding municipalities of Chapel Hill, Carrboro, and Hillsborough, have grown, but we still remain one of the busiest county fire department in Orange County.

NHFD has had eight fire chiefs in its history. They were
Stanford Whitfield
Linwood Crabtree
Mike Tapp
Cliff Carroll
Walter Mills
Mike Bordeaux
Eddie Walker
Bob Dennis
Mike Bordeaux
And the current chief is Mike Tapp
New Hope Fire Department is Proud to do its part in making the New Hope Community a great place to live.

Former Chief Walter Mills and Former Chief Mike Bordeaux