General Info:
Idlewild is historically a volunteer organization. Our volunteers carry pagers to alert them to calls when they are not at the fire station. Volunteers are encouraged to pull duty shifts at the station where sleeping quarters are available. When they are not at the station they respond from home or work. Beginning in January, 2005, a small number of paid part-time staff are on duty on weekdays when fewer volunteers are available. Idlewild has a command structure comprised of a Chief, two ( 2 ) Assistant Chiefs and five ( 5 ) Captains all of whom are volunteers. Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department is located at 10241 Idlewild Road, south of the Margaret Wallace Road intersection. Our station provides fire suppression and emergency medical and rescue services to the residents of Matthews, Mint Hill and surrounding areas of Mecklenburg County. Each year we respond to approximately 2, 000 calls for service, including both fire and EMS related incidents. Our department is organized as a private, non-profit corporation. The corporation is governed by a 10-member board of directors elected by the community and operates under formal contracts with Mecklenburg County, the town of Mint Hill, the town of Matthews and the Mecklenburg EMS Agency ( MEDIC ). Our budget is funded by contributions from area residents and businesses in the form of Fire Dues along with subsidies from the contracting governmental agencies. Idlewild Volunteer Fire Department, Inc is classified as non-profit under section 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) of the IRS code. The fire station building on Idlewild Road has undergone several renovations and additions since it was first constructed in 1975. In addition to five apparatus bays, the facility includes a meeting and training room with kitchen area, day room, an office suite and sleeping quarters for up to ten personnel. An emergency generator can power the entire building during power failures. Laundry and decontamination facilities are available and a computer network aides administrative tasks.