Gerton Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue, Inc. was founded in 1974 out of a need for fire protection for the Gerton community. This need was recognized after a member of the community lost his home to a devastating fire. Fire departments from Buncombe and Rutherford counties responded and stopped at the county lines and watch the house burn.  Eventually fire departments from within Henderson County did arrive to extinguish the remains of the home. 

The residents of the Gerton community met and with creativeness and donations from many, the Gerton Fire Department was born. We built a homemade brush truck from a 1972 Ford truck. We then were able to get a 1941 Seagraves pumper donated from Orangeburg, SC. With the donation of turnout gear from some fire departments, we were able to achieve our status as a recognized fire department. The Upper Hickory Nut Gorge Community Center donated space to house our trucks.