During 2007 and 2008 the Town of Cornelius and the Cornelius-Lemley Fire Department worked together to replace Cornelius Fire Station #1 with a new flagship station for the Town.  The old facility was outdated and overcrowded;  the increased demand for fire service and new apparatus has overwhelmed the current station.

The grand opening of the new Cornelius Fire Station #1 occurred on June 25, 2008.