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Below are some of the more Historic Fires since the Cowpens Fire Department was organized in 1947. We have tried to list the year in which the fire occurred, the name of the business, in some cases a few details, and the location. While we do not take pride in the loss of life or property due to fire, we do realize this is some of the history that forms so much of the pride that past, present, and future Cowpens Firefighter's carry with them. While it is our goal to prevent further loss of life and property, we realize that unfortunate incidents of this type will continue to occur. 1974 Gary's Florist Corner of Main St. & Cemetery St. 1977 Richard Roy Cash's Main St. 1980 Meat Skin Company Main St. 1986 Moore's Cleaners, Brocks, & Old Bank Main St. This fire is known as the "Main St. Fire." During a hot summer day in June a fire started in the rear of Moore's Cleaners. It quickly spread to two other adjacent businesses. The Old Brock's Department Store had been closed for sometime along with the Town's First Bank. The fire department was assisted by a number of fire departments from the area. 1987 Old Cotton Gin Building Church St. & Linda St. A suspicious fire to say the least, this incident was originally reported around 10:45 pm. The fire department responded and found a pile of rags burning in the floor. The rags were removed and extinguished. As all members were just returning home approx 30 minutes after the original call, a second call to this location was dispatched. Firefighters arrived to find a fully involved structure fire this time. 1988 General Store Church St. & Brown St. As firefighters were attending a training class sponsored by the South Carolina Fire Academy just a few blocks away, they were dispatched to a structure fire at this location. As firefighters arrived to the station only light smoke was showing from one window. When firefighters arrived to the scene just one block from the station flames were already showing through the roof. 1989 Cowpens First Baptist Church Church St. As contractors removed paint from the steeple of First Baptist Church, cob-webs were accidentally ignited inside the steeple. Hose lines were stretched inside the sanctuary and through the attic to stop the advance of a dramatic and fast moving fire. The fire department kept the fire in check and saved the the entire church with the exception of the area in the balcony and around the steeple. 1997 Cherokee Textiles North Main St. 1999 Cowpens Mill Linda St. As firefighters battled a residential structure fire two blocks away, embers from the house settled in the mill property igniting the interior of the building where the roof had previously collapsed. Firefighters from area fire departments battled the fire well into the afternoon and evening before finally bringing it under control. During the height of the fire five - 5" supply lines were utilized to battle the massive blaze. Firefighters remained on the scene throughout the week. 2007 Freedom Textiles South Main St. Firefighters were dispatched to a commercial structure fire at 5025 South Main St. When the initial responding engine turned out of the station they knew it was going to be a long day. Smoke visible from the station over a mile away was also visible nearly forty miles away. 11 fire departments from both Spartanburg and Cherokee Counties responded and utilized a shuttle operation and three 5" supply lines to bring the fire under control within about four to six hours. Firefighters remained on the scene well into the night and returned back several times throughout the week to extinguish hot spots in the hundreds of cloth bales that burned.
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