Jan. 4. By Dave Vieser. The 2023 Cornelius-Lemley Fire Rescue Fund Drive is underway. The department, which conducts a fund drive annually, which has served the town and surrounding communities since 1951, responded to 3,445 calls for service in 2021, the most recent year for which statistics are available. There were 1,534 fire calls, while 1,911 were emergency medical calls.

The department is a 501c4 organization that relies on financial contributions from the town, Mecklenburg County and MEDIC, as well as residents and business owners, to fully fund operations.

Contributions are tax deductible and may be sent to Cornelius-Lemley Volunteer Fire and Rescue, PO Box 311, Cornelius 28031.

Pursuant to a 2018 study performed by the International City/County Management Association’s Center for Public Safety Management, the department is transitioning to a paid municipal department. Currently, there are nine full-time firefighters in Cornelius, and more will be forthcoming as the transition continues.