Covering the largest fire district in North Carolina at 135 square miles, the Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department carries a substantial responsibility, making equipment upgrades especially crucial. In 2025, the department received three new fire trucks and a skid steer, helping improve response times and expand capabilities.
In 2020, the department originally ordered three fire trucks from Peterbilt, a truck manufacturer, but was forced to order from International Trucks instead after a year and a half due to staffing shortages at Peterbilt. Cashiers-Glenville Fire Department funded the trucks through its budget at a total cost of $1.3 million.
“One of the new trucks is a four-wheel drive, full-size pumper, and it’s sitting here with chains on every wheel right now, like if we had to go to the top of Old Edwards or somewhere,” said Cashiers-Glenville Fire Chief Randy Dillard. “During the last snow, we were able to run them a lot.”
The tanker and one pumper are International E-Ones. The other pumper is a 4x4 E-One.
The department prioritized purchasing new trucks to comply with the National Fire Protection Association’s recommendation to replace apparatus on a 20-year cycle.
The department’s most recent upgrade was the acquisition of a new CAT 365 skid steer. Dillard said the department receives 60 to 70 calls each year for fallen trees blocking roadways, with crews typically using a winch to remove them. However, he said the department could not justify purchasing a skid steer until Hurricane Helene relief funding became available.
The first round of relief funding arrived in September 2025, with the department receiving $50,000 for future storm response. A second round of $71,000 arrived soon after and covered Helene recovery efforts. The combined cost of the skid steer and its trailer totaled $114,000.
“The difference is going to be that, depending on the time of day and the state’s availability, we could have a deal where a road could be blocked for one to two hours,” said Dillard. “Now, it’s going to be blocked as long as it takes for us to get there and open the road. It’s going to be better for everyone.”
Dillard said the department also purchased pallet forks to assist with unloading materials and piling snow using the skid steer. He now has his sights set on a 300-gallon hydraulic pump attachment that could be used to fight major fires. While nothing is finalized, the attachment would cost around $30,000 and could potentially be funded with grant money.
“The total use is going to be awesome,” said Dillard. “It’s going to have a place and with this firefighting unit, we’re expecting another bad spring fire season.”
All three trucks and the skid steer are currently located at Station 1 in Cashiers.
- Mitch Stone
reporter@highlandsnews.com