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Norton Branch Fire Department History

    In 1973, due to numerous brush fires that damaged property and a train derailment Norton Branch Fire Department was formed. The residents and Norton Branch Community Development Club decided there was a need for a fire department.

Once the department was started it had 25 members and 2 fire trucks. One of the trucks was a 1946 Chevrolet Pumper truck donated by Cannonsburg Fire Department. This truck was kept in a one bay garage loaned to the department by the Shawhan family which was located just up the street from the fire house. The other truck was a 6x6 Military truck loaned to the department by the Kentucky Division of Forestry, which was kept at one of the firefighters home until the new station was built in 1975.

Until 1979 when Carter County dispatch center started paging over radios, people would call a firefighter’s home if there was a need in then the firefighter would come to the station and set off the siren, which was added to the station in 1976, so the other firefighters would know of the call.

A lot of things has changed over the years new people on the department, some new trucks and equipment. But the mission has been the same since day one, to serve and protect our community.