• The city purchased it’s first fire truck in 1949 and first Fire Chief was Joe Smith until 1958. Perry McCalman was appointed in 1958.
• In 1951 another fire truck was purchased.
• April 1963, the largest fire in the city’s history where the local high school and gymnasium burnt to the ground.
• 1949 to September 1997 - All Volunteer Fire Department
• In 1988, the Ellis County Fire District #3 was established to cover areas beyond the city limits of Red Oak. 
• October 1997 established a combination fire department (Volunteer & Paid). 2 part time firefighters working 8am-4pm
• In 2001, began 24 hour coverage utilizing part time personnel. 
• In June 2004, ROFR adopted their first state approved Emergency Management Plan.
• In 2004 became a certified training facility through the State of Texas.
• In 2004, the Department became a charter member of the EDUCT Group (Ellis Dallas Unified Cooperative Team), a 10-city collaborative team for training, risks assessment, and responses. This team’s goal is to bring unity to the departments within the region.
• In 2005, Ellis County Fire District #3 changed their name to Emergency Service District #4.
• In 2006, Red Oak Fire Department changed its name to Red Oak Fire Rescue because of expanded services.
• In March 2006, the State of Texas approved Red Oak’s advanced Emergency Management Plan.
• In 2007, the Red Oak Firefighter Association was established becoming a charter member of the IAFF Local #4533 (International Association of Firefighters).
• In January 2008, ROFR opened Station 2 at 1201 Pierce Road.
• In 2008, ROFR became a part of TIFMAS (Texas Intrastate Fire Mutual Aid System) and established an All-Hazard statewide task force response team. 
• In October 2009, a Regional Communication Center (covering Midlothian, Ovilla and Red Oak) was established.
• We received a Brush Truck on a Texas Forest Service Grant in 2009.
• In 2011, we constructed the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
• In 2012, we created the first department Honor Guard.
• We received a new custom Spartan ERV Engine in 2013.
• We received a new custom Spartan ERV 103' Ladder Truck in 2014.
• 2015 CareFlite Ambulance service began
• 2015 Received Mobile Incident Command Unit MIC-181 shared with ROISD
• 2016 AMR began as our ambulance provider
• 2016 Received Best Practices Recognition
• 2017 Received new Pierce Enforcer Fire Engine Pumper
• 2017 First Battalion Chief's Position established
• 2019 Received TIFMAS Brush Engine from Texas Forest Service
• 2019 Chief Eric Thompson retired
• 2020 Received Rescue 181

The above picture was taken of some of the Red Oak Volunteer Firefighters that were filmed in the movie "Bonnie and Clyde".