Our History

Built by Neighbors, for Neighbors

Broad River Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department was organized after several area homes burned in October 1976. Those fires made it clear that the Broad River community needed local fire protection closer to home. Community members came together, began the work of forming a department, and Broad River received its charter about six months later.

By 1977, the department was serving the community, and public records show the nonprofit organization in place by 1978. From the beginning, Broad River was built on a simple but important idea: neighbors protecting neighbors.

Growing to Meet the Needs of the Community

What began as a volunteer fire department has grown into a modern fire, rescue, and first-responder organization serving a rural mountain district in the Black Mountain area. Over the years, Broad River expanded its capabilities, equipment, stations, and training to meet the changing needs of the community.

Buncombe County records document Broad River operating from a main station and a Shumont station by 2017. The department later added a third station near Gold Anchor Lane to improve response coverage for residents in the northern part of the district.

Today, Broad River operates from three stations and continues to serve a challenging mountain response area with fire protection, rescue services, emergency medical response, wildfire operations, and community support.

A Department Rooted in Family and Community

Broad River’s history is closely tied to the families and volunteers who helped build and sustain the department. Public reporting has documented multiple generations of service within the Gilliam family, including early members who helped when the department was first being organized.

Original founding members identified in department remembrance include Luny Gilliam and Gene Lytle. Ruby Gilliam was among the early volunteers who stepped forward to help, and Virgil Gilliam later represented another generation of service to the department.

That family and community spirit has remained part of Broad River’s identity. Through the years, the department has been supported by community suppers, pancake breakfasts, toy drives, bingo events, annual meetings, and gatherings connected to the Broad River Community Center. These traditions reflect the department’s role not only as an emergency service provider, but also as a gathering place and source of support for the community.

Service Through Fires, Storms, and Change

Broad River has served through some of the region’s most difficult events. County planning documents note that the department sustained damage during the July 2005 Tropical Storm Cindy event. In 2016, Broad River served as a community meeting point during the Party Rock Fire, helping residents stay informed during a major regional wildfire.

The department has also faced the unique challenges of responding in a rural mountain district. In 2019, a Broad River firetruck became stranded when a bridge collapsed while crews were responding to a fire on White Bridge Road. No firefighters were injured, but the incident demonstrated the access and terrain challenges that emergency crews can face in the Broad River area.

After Hurricane Helene, Broad River remained part of the community’s response and recovery efforts. The department’s work during and after major storms reflects its long-standing commitment to serving residents in both everyday emergencies and large-scale disasters.

Modern Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Response

In recent years, Broad River has continued to strengthen its service to the community. A federal grant awarded in 2015 helped support the purchase of a multi-use light rescue truck for brush fires and other emergency responses. The department has also developed modern capabilities such as unmanned aircraft system support for search and emergency operations.

In 2024, Broad River announced an improved Class 4/9E Department of Insurance rating, a milestone connected in part to the department’s continued investment in stations, equipment, training, and response coverage.

From its volunteer beginnings to today’s combination fire-rescue service, Broad River has continued to adapt while staying true to its original purpose.

Broad River Today

Broad River Fire & Rescue remains a community-rooted department serving residents, visitors, and neighboring agencies across a rugged mountain district. The department’s members continue to respond to fires, medical emergencies, rescues, wildland incidents, storms, and public service calls.

More than four decades after local residents came together to form the department, Broad River’s mission remains grounded in the same spirit that shaped its beginning: neighbors helping neighbors, protecting the community, and preparing for the needs of tomorrow.