As far as we can tell The Beaufort Fire Department was established in 1907 chartered as the Robert E. Lee Fire Company.  Recently discovered documents however may suggest there were earlier accounts of an organized fire department in Beaufort.  Hand scribed minutes of the County Commissioners meeting dated June 3, 1895 gives The Town of Beaufort permission to erect a building on the public square for the purpose of housing a fire engine.  We have found no evidence to date that any such building was ever erected, however research is on going.  The picture is the earliest known photograph of the Robert E. Lee Fire Company posing with their hand operated pumper and play pipes, in front of an extinguished house fire at the corner of Ann and Turner Street.

Today the Beaufort Fire Department is comprised of highly trained professionals both career and volunteer personnel with state of the art equipment and an annual budget of nearly $700,000.  At present we operate out of one station with three Engines, one Heavy Rescue/Command Vehicle, and one 3000 gallon Tanker.  The Beaufort Fire Department is very proud of it’s past and is committed to it’s preservation, as we look forward and plan for the future.