Prior to 1972, when citizens of the Holly Springs Community had a fire, they would rely on local peach farmers to bring their old irrigation water trucks and do what they could.   Sometimes a call was placed to former Welford Mayor Hubert Odom and the Welford City Fire Department would be gracious enough to come out of their city limits and help.    If you had a medical emergency or needed rescuing, the old Rescue 1 (no longer in existence) out of the Arcadia community near downtown Spartanburg would respond, usually around 30-45 minute response time.  There was no 911, citizens would dial 0 for the operator and hoped for the best.

In 1972 members of the former Holly Springs Ruritan club lead the initiative to form our own fire district after devastating fire at the former Bruce residence at Highway 357 & Grand Canyon Road. Partnering with local legislators, the Piedmont Rural Fire District, which was a division formed under the Holly Springs Community water department (aka Piedmont Rural Water District), which merged with SJWD in 1985, was formed under the South Carolina General Assembly.  Equipment and firefighters would spend the next 3 years accumulating and establishing a fire department.  

The first fire apparatus acquired was a 1964 Military 1 ton pick up known as “Little Red” using equipment provided by the S.C. Forestry Commission and was housed in the barn located at Palmers Claytons house who was also the very first Fire Chief appointed.  This truck would serve the community until 1985.   The very first documented fire call was a brush fire on Jordan Road.  It was reported that when the pump was first started, the fire hose busted.   Over the next 2 years, the fire district would acquire 2 more military 2 ½ ton 10 wheeled trucks known as “Big Red” & “Gold Tanker”.

In 1975, partnering with S.C. Legislators, the official name was changed to the Holly Springs Volunteer Fire Department.   1978 brought a lot of changes to the community & fire department.  The first manufactured fire engine was purchased in the amount of $48,000.  A 1978 Ford F700 Beam Fire Engine with a 750gpm pump and 750 gallon water tank.  This truck would serve the community until its retirement in 2003.   The original 40’ x 70’ fire station was constructed at the intersection of Hwy 357 (formally Holly Springs Road at time of construction) and Edwards Store Road where the headquarters sits today.   911 was introduced to the area and citizens no longer had to dial 0 for the operator or try to call someone connected with the fire department in order to get help.  At this time, volunteers would be notified of an emergency by civil defense siren, still used today for tornado warnings, or a call tree of citizens.  Each citizen was tasked with calling 2 volunteers before they would respond to the station.

In 1982, the Fire Department obtained its first Tanker apparatus with portal dump tank for water hauling.  A 1982 Ford F700 1500 gallon tanker.  At this time, the entire community only had 5 fire hydrants to cover the 40 square miles.   Water had to be hauled in on every fire.  In 1985 the first quick response unit was put into service and in 1988, auto extrication was added and firefighters were all trained as medical first responders.  This was also the year Holly Springs FD & Gowensville FD began an Automatic Aid agreement that is still active to this day making this the longest servicing Automatic Aid Agreement between two fire agencies in Spartanburg County.

In 1990 the department added a 3500-gallon super tanker to handle water supply for a growing community that still had the limited fire hydrant problem.  In 1995, the first quad cab 1250gpm pumper was added that could carry more firefighters with greater pump capacity.   In 1999, the first Service & Rescue company was added to handle the growing rescue calls in the area. 

The early 2000s saw another significant amount of changes.  Part Time firefighters were added to help cover gaps when volunteers were not available as call volume continued to increase.   The new 13,000 square foot headquarters replaced the old 40’ x 70’ building.  This new station was equipment sleeping quarters, maintenance area, full kitchens, office space, training room, a community room, & an exercise room.   Low angle and water rescue was added to the mission and training became more advanced.   The district added its first full time Employee and grant funding & donation partnerships became a driving force to help fund a growing community.   In 2005, the official name was changed through the S.C. General Assembly to the Holly Springs Fire-Rescue District.

Today, Holly Springs is a leader in fire & rescue initiatives.   Substation was added to the Holston Creek area, dive team with rescue boat with firefighting capabilities, with multiple certified SCFA instructors on roster.  Todays fleet consist of 4 Pumpers, 1 Heavy Rescue, 1 light Rescue, 1 brush truck, 2 boats, & 3 support/supervisor vehicles, 7 full time staff, 15 part-time staff, supported by 20 volunteers handling over 1000 calls per year.