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The Cowpens Fire Department has a long and rich history in the Fire Service. Organized in 1947 it was one of only four fire departments in Spartanburg County along with Spartanburg City, Woodruff, and Inman. When the department was formed the original piece of apparatus was a 1929 Model A Fire Engine. It was Cowpens' first motorized piece of fire equipment. It can be seen on the Apparatus Page. The fire department later purchased the 1940 piece of equipment that can also be seen on the Apparatus Page. It was purchased in Columbia, South Carolina from World War II Surplus equipment. The fire department officially joined the South Carolina State Fireman's Association in 1960. The Cowpens Fire Department assisted the Spartanburg City Fire Department many times in the early days. Two of the more memorable fires the fire department assisted Spartanburg with were the Community Cash Grocery Store Fire on East Main Street and the Woolworth's Department Store Fire on Main Street in downtown Spartanburg. During the Woolworth's Fire, Cowpens was the only department in Spartanburg County to have an engine equipped with an engine cooler supplied by the pump on the apparatus. This enabled the unit to pump over long periods of time without overheating. It was also the only engine with fog nozzles at the time. As the Cowpens Engine pumped flawlessly at the front of Woolworth's, the Spartanburg Engines fought the fire at the rear of the structure. To view photos of this engine go to the Apparatus Page. Cowpens was also called to Gaffney in the early days to assist Cherokee County's only fire department at the time. Some of the more memorable fires the department assisted Gaffney with were the Old Goucher School and Hotel Carroll located in downtown Gaffney. Below are two links that will allow you to view two separate pages concerning History and News involving the Fire Department. Each contain interesting information about Historic Facts of the Cowpens Fire Department.
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