IN THE BEGINNING... (Jan 30th 1939 - 1960)
The History of the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department
 

Written by: FF Clay Vaughan (Excerpts taken from: "The History of the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department" by Capt. Jason Stallings)
 

The Great Fire 1921

    In 1921 a fire in the Town's waterfront area destroyed the majority of the peanut industry. This fire was labeled "The Great Fire of Smithfield". It was still quite some time before the department was established. 

The people of Smithfield were in need of Fire Protection...

A Department was born...

It all started on January 30th 1939 when our charter members came together and decided that there was a need in the community for fire protection. These 30 men, mostly prominent business owners in the town of Smithfield, established the Smithfield Volunteer Fire Department, Inc.
 
    There have been many "firsts" for this organization. The SVFD was the first fire department in Isle of Wight County. "Station 1" covered all of Isle of Wight County and the run district extended into portions of Surry and Southampton Counties. The first piece of motorized fire apparatus in the county, Engine No. 1, was purchased by the department in 1939. "Maude" is a 1938 Ford/Oren that has a 500 Gallon Per Minute Pump and 150 Gallon Water Tank. The department still has Maude and it is used in parades and special events to this day.

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