Salem Fire Rescue moves into state-of-the-art station after a decade of planning

The wait is over.

For 10 years, the Salem Fire & Rescue Board of Directors has been saving money for the construction of a new Station 1 building, located at 1315 Salem Road. They celebrated the start of construction in early 2023 and moved into the new facility in June of this year.

Chief Charles Autrey said to allow room to expand, the board bought two neighboring properties in the Salem area.

“The two old houses on those properties were burned for training,” Autrey. “We started talking seriously about construction in 2022 and formed a building committee that went out and looked at a number of new fire stations and EMS stations built by different contractors.”

After research and a recommendation from the committee, the board decided to contract with Wilkie Construction and finance the building through Civic Federal Credit Union.

The new building has three bedrooms, a large training room, more engine bays, a bigger kitchen, and other amenities.

The Salem community passes this building every day, but there’s more to the story than the community might realize.

TAX RATES & FUNDING

In 2022, the board requested an increase of 10 cents to their fire tax rate to help with funding the construction.

“Salem’s fire tax rate has historically been one of the lowest, if not the lowest, in Burke County,” Autrey said. “The board stated then that if there was a substantial increase in the upcoming property revaluation, the rate would subsequently be decreased. That’s exactly what happened.”

During the 2023 revolution of the tax rate, Salem saw an increase in their tax rate and requested to go back to 7 cents, which was approved.

Rep. Hugh Blackwell and Senator Warren Daniel also assisted with funding for the new building.

“In January 2024, we were notified that the NC Senate and General Assembly had granted about $4 million to Burke County fire departments and that Salem’s share of that would be about $311,000, so that gave us a good cushion as construction was wrapping up, for which we are very thankful,” Autrey said.

Additionally, the department received donations of gently used office furniture, filing cabinets, a kitchen table, and vending machines from Telco Federal Credit Union. Farm Bureau, located on Jamestown Road, donated three office desks.

The department voted to use donated money from their firefighter fund to buy interior and exterior flags along with recliners and sofas for their dayroom. The fund is from money contributed by the firefighters.

The departments repurposed furniture and other items like an air compressor from their old location.

“Our firefighters are very proud of our new fire station, and very happy to be responding out of it,” Autrey said. “We are so thankful to our community, and to the entire county, for all the support they have given us during the recent fires and emergencies we have faced.”

The sounds of construction – or more appropriately, destruction – are still floating in the air. Demolition of the old building began Thursday, July 25. Removing the old building will make room for more parking.