History
Established in 2002
Auslin’s Chapel VFD was established in 2002 following several meetings by local residents at the B & R convenience store on CR 804. The original members were Chief Rayford Edmondson, Jean Mitchell, Marie Cline, Wallace Murphee, Stella Benefield, Charles Johnson, Brandon Floyd and Elaine Blake-Ritcherson. The first Board of Directors were Rayford, Brandon, Jean, Stella, Wallace, Charles and Elaine.
Equipment
Forestry loaned us a brush truck and Rock Mills VFD gave us an old fire truck tanker. Several stations donated turnout gear( which we now know was outdated - 10 year usable life).
Funding
Elaine submitted our application to the IRS for our non-profit 501(c)3 status in April 2003. She also wrote our first grant request in late 2003, which was granted in 2004. We received new turnout gear and upgraded the old tanker. Members did a big fund raising effort by calling neighbors for donations to build our first station adjacent to the Auslin’s Chapel on CR 804. Several BBQ fundraisers were held to obtain tables and chairs.
Facilities
Local builder Brandon Floyd and his crew completed the concrete slab work and they helped erect the Auslin’s Chapel fire station on the concrete slab. Wallace may have a few old pictures on the station being built.