2000-2009

2001, Station #2 dedicated. Ceremony starts at 2:00 p.m. (April 8, 2001)

2002, After 9-11-01 the members of WFFD were inspired to raise money and donate to the FDNY Widow and Children's fund. A t-shirt was designed and sold throughout the community. In March of 2002 members of WFFD traveled to the FDNY Training Center and presented a check for $70,000.

2002, Members design a new department patch. The new patch has Binkley Chapel, an iconic building in Wake Forest, in the center with the dates 1922, 1955, 1983 under it. The dates are important in department history (1922- town department organized, 1955-rural department formed, 1983-town and rural merge.) The patch also features a black and gold border to honor the heritage of Wake Forest College that was in the town until 1956.

2002, Parade and memorial service held at Station #1 for one year anniversary of 9-11-01

2002, Engine #433 overturns on Christmas Day while responding to a fire alarm activation at a home on Kimball Ridge at 1:20 p.m.  While en route from Station #2, the pumper slips off the shoulder of Ligon Mill Road, continues sliding off the roadway due to wet soil, strikes a concrete culvert, and becomes airborne.  Three firefighters are injured after the 40,000-pound fire truck flips two and a half times. The most seriously injured is Thomas Howell , with a broken left leg, left arm, and right wrist.   Shawn Thomas is also hospitalized at Wake Medical Center with a broken leg. A third firefighter, Jeremey Blake, is treated and released at the scene.  Fire Chief Jimmy Keith requests mutual aid.  Rolesville answers the fire alarm and Bay Leaf, Falls, New Hope, and Stony Hill stand by to assist as needed.  The 1996 E-One pumper, 1500 GPM, 1000 gallons, is the sister truck to Engine #65,  quartered at Station #1.  Both were delivered in July, 1996. The replacement cost of the fire engine is about $350,000. (December 25, 2002)

2003, Chief Jimmy Keith is hired as the first full-time Fire Chief in the history of the Wake Forest Fire Department. Chief Keith was a volunteer for 33 years prior to his employment.

2003, WFFD takes delivery of a 2003 E-One. This engine has a 1000 gallon tank and 1500 GPM pump and replaces the 1996 E-One that was wrecked a year earlier on Christmas Day.

 

2004, After 34 years of service at Wake Forest Fire Department Chief Jimmy Keith lost his battle with cancer in July. A large funeral was held at Binkley Chapel with a processional to Pine Forest Memorial Garden where Chief Keith was laid to rest.

2004, David Williams is named Fire Chief (August)

2005, Fire in a residential building at the corner of N. Allen Rd and Spring St. All 10 residents living in the 800 square foot house made it out alive.

2005, Sleeping quarter renovations completed at Station #1 that added six bedrooms and two bathrooms.

2006, A dispatched fire alarm at a residence on S. Main St turns out to be a working house fire with two elderly people trapped. Firefighters Matt Harrison and Troy Gardner make entry and successfully rescue the elderly couple. The two are recognized with the departments Silver Star Award.

2006, Delivery of new fire engine. It is a 2006 Pierce Contender with 1000 gallon tank and 1500 GPM pump..

2006, Chief Williams resigns as Fire Chief and the Board of Directors hire Jerry Swift from Gastonia Fire Department in Gastonia, NC as the new Fire Chief. Chief Williams serves as Assistant Chief.

2007, Five full-time firefighters hired as Recruit Class #1 and participate in a department run mini-recruit academy, bringing a total of five 24-hour personnel at Station #1 and four at Station #2. The five new employees are: FF Richie Capps, FF Paul Croteau, FF Ben Davis, FF Matt Strawbridge, and FF Bryan Wright.

2007, At a residential structure fire on Orchard Oriole Dr Rolesville Firefighter Jacob Butler and Wake Forest Fire Chief Jerry Swift were assigned to conduct a primary search on the second floor to locate a victim reportedly trapped at that location. While searching rooms on the left side of the second floor hallway, Firefighter Butler located the victim in a master bathroom and summoned assistance. In dense smoke conditions, Chief Swift and Firefighter Butler removed the victim from the floor of a large walk-in closet off of the bathroom. At the top of the stairwell, the victim was transferred to a fresh crew advancing up the stairs. Once removed from the building, the victim was transported to a local hospital by Rolesville EMS. The victim reportedly sustained critical injuries and was transferred to the Chapel Hill Burn Center. Both Chief Swift and FF Butler were recognized for the life save in Firehouse Magazine.

2007, On June 17th, 2007 the Charleston, SC Fire Dept lost 9 firefighters in a commercial structure fire. Members from the Wake Forest Fire Department showed their support for their fallen brothers by attending their funeral and visiting the site where the nine lost their lives.

2007, Ten firefighters hired in order to staff two engines and the ladder truck.The first ever full fire academy that taught NC Firefighter level 1 and 2 to the recruits was conducted. The nine recruits in Recruit Class #2 were: FF Alex Brown, FF David Collins, FF Kevin English, FF Jordan Hill, FF Chris Lewis, FF Randy Privette, FF John-Caleb Sadler, FF Craig Salvesen, and FF Christopher Wilkins. The academy lasted 3 months.

2007, Engine #3 goes in service with 24-hour staffing. The temporary fire station is a three bedroom house located at 1412 Forestville Rd. Engine #3 would stay at the house during daylight hours before returning to Station #1 for the evening. The temporary house would eventually be removed and a new fire station built on the empty lot.

2008,  Engine #2 taken out of service and Ladder #1 moved to Station #2

 

2008, On a Sunday afternoon, several hundred acres burned across Franklin and Granville county. Units from Wake Forest responded mutual aid and assisted for over 8 hours battling the blaze, mostly in Youngsville and Franklinton.

2008, Chief Swift resigns as Fire Chief and Deputy Chief David Davis serves as interim Fire Chief until the process to hire a new chief can be completed.

2008, In May the Wake Forest Fire Department sent an engine and a brush truck with 6 personnel to Hyde County, NC to assist the NC Forestry Service in battling the Evans Road Forest Fire. The inferno lasted over 2 months and used firefighters from all over the state. The crew from WFFD stayed a week and bunked at the local high school.

2008, Retired City of Raleigh Battalion Chief Freddy Lynn is hired as the Fire Chief of Wake Forest Fire Department. Retired Battalion Chief of Portsmouth Fire Department Ron Early is hired as a Deputy Chief.

2009, The new Town Hall catches fire while under construction.

2009, The saying "Saving lives, our prime goal" is officially adopted as the Wake Forest Fire Department slogan. This quote was used often by former Fire Chief Jimmy Keith and after his death in 2004 was incorporated into his monument at Station #1.

 

2009, Nine firefighters hired and put through the second full fire academy in department history. Upon graduation, these nine firefighters will bring full staffing on Engines 1, 2, and 3 as well as Ladder 1. Engine #2 goes back in service at Station #2 and Ladder #1 returns to Station #1 downtown. The nine recruits that graduated from Recruit Class 0309 are: FF Brandon Brown, FF Jeff Hannum, FF Garrett Jackson, FF Chris Kimley, FF Josh Main, FF Kyle Mangum, FF Jonathan Mestas, FF Bryon Timberlake, and FF Jonathan Whitley.

2009, Fire Station #3 construction is completed and the dedication is held on August 10th. The Station is located at 1412 Forestville Rd.

2009, New training center constructed on the grounds of Station #1. The training center is known as "Holbrook Village" named for Training Chief Waylon Holbrook.