South Fork Fire Department

10/17/2026

Busy day!!!

Members completed quarterly joint training with North Gaston and Crouse Fire Departments. South Fork also assisted Lincolnton Fire Department during the Apple Festival.

10/14/2026

PRESS RELEASE

South Fork Fire Department Responds to Tree Collapse with Two Occupants Trapped

At approximately 9:19 p.m. yesterday, South Fork Fire Department was dispatched to reports of a tree that had fallen onto a residence, with a report of one person trapped inside. Due to the unknown nature of the rescue efforts, Lincolnton Fire Rescue 2 was added to the response to assist with potential extrication operations.

Engine 70 arrived on scene in under two minutes and found a large tree that had fallen through the roof of a single-wide mobile home. Upon further investigation, crews discovered two occupants trapped inside the residence and unable to escape.

As firefighters worked to extricate the trapped occupants, an additional hazard developed when a fire ignited inside the residence, creating another challenge for crews operating in difficult conditions. Personnel staged nearby quickly deployed a handline and worked to contain the fire while rescue operations continued.

Through coordinated efforts, both occupants were successfully removed from the residence and turned over to Lincoln County EMS for medical evaluation and transport.

This incident highlights the importance of rapid response, coordinated rescue operations, and the ability of firefighters to adapt when conditions change during an emergency. South Fork Fire Department appreciates the assistance of Lincolnton Fire Department and Lincoln County EMS in bringing this incident to a successful conclusion.

No further information regarding the occupants’ conditions is available at this time.

10/09/2026

09/17/2026

09/17/2026

🚨 SCAM ALERT 🚨

South Fork Fire Department has been made aware of a scam involving shirts being advertised using our department’s name.

Please do not fall for this scam! South Fork Fire Department is not affiliated with these sellers. Do not click on suspicious links or provide any personal or payment information.

If you have any questions about whether something is legitimate, please message the South Fork Fire Department page directly so we can help verify it.

Please share this post to help spread the word and protect our community! 🚒

08/25/2026

The Board of Directors, Fire Chief Derek Parks, and the members of the South Fork Volunteer Fire Department are proud to announce that our department has officially improved its insurance rating to a Class 3, effective December 1, 2026.

This milestone is a direct result of the dedication of our members, the ongoing support of our community, and strong working relationships with our neighboring fire departments.

This upgraded rating reflects enhanced fire protection capabilities and may help homeowners and business owners within our district qualify for reduced fire insurance premiums. Additional details regarding how property owners can take advantage of these savings will be shared soon. Furthermore, Fire Chief Derek Parks and department staff will host a community meeting in the near future to discuss the full benefits of this new rating. Please stay tuned for date(s) and time(s) of these informational sessions.

Our department thanks the Long Shoals, Laboratory and Salem Church communities for the continued support.

08/22/2026

⚠️ Traffic advisory: Gastonia Hwy is reportedly shut down between Long Shoals Road and Brady Hoffman Road

Update South fork has cleared use caution workers are still in the area 

08/18/2026

The South Fork VFD held its annual community meeting last night, featuring department and operational updates from Board President David Mays and Fire Chief Parks.

Community members re-elected 3 board members.

08/12/2026