When the Carrollton Volunteer Fire Department first launched in 1966, it had one truck: a surplus World War II civil defense vehicle.
The 1942 model was kept at Reid's Auto Service on Route 17 off of Sugar Hill Road, where owner Bill Reid – a founding member of the fire department – had attached an air raid siren that alerted volunteers about fires, according to Albert Burckard, a 14-year volunteer firefighter and the organization's unofficial historian.
Today, volunteers use a cell phone app called "I Am Responding" that tells them where the fire is and exactly who is responding.
A lot of tangible things have changed in the department in its 50 years, but the volunteer spirit is unscathed, said Sam Cratch, senior firefighter. He estimates the department gets five applications a month from people seeking to be volunteers and gain experience for a full-time career. It has 50 active members, with several more honorary members, many of whom have full-time jobs at fire departments outside of the county.