Tag Archive for: #stovallfiredepartment

Hicksboro Firefighters Handle Two Calls On Thomas Road With Mutual Aid, Forest Service Helicopter

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The Hicksboro Fire Department got two calls within a 2-hour period on Wednesday afternoon – both on Thomas Road – but were able to take care of them with minimal property damage, thanks to a quick response, mutual aid and a helicopter from the Forest Service.

Hicksboro Chief Chad Blake said the first call came at 3:03 p.m., most likely from someone passing by the area. Gusty wind conditions apparently caused a brush fire to get out of control of the person burning yard debris. The second fire call came in at 4:43 p.m. after a tree fell on a power line that caught some pine straw and vegetation on fire, Blake told WIZS News Thursday.

“They were both fairly large fires,” Blake said, adding that together the fires burned about 20 acres and several sheds – one at the first fire and two at the second fire.

But there was no major property loss and there were no injuries, he reported.

The N.C. Forest Service brought in a plow and a helicopter to assist with the first fire, and when the second call came in, Blake said it went back and forth, dumping water on both fires.

In addition to the Forest Service, Hicksboro got help from Vance County Fire Department, as well as Townsville, Stovall and Bullock volunteer fire departments.

“We do have people at our station who are ready to respond 24 hours a day, 6 days a week,” Blake said. “We got there pretty quickly.”

Stovall FD Earns ISO Rating 5 In Most Recent Inspection

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The Stovall Fire Department reports that it has earned an ISO rating of 5 following its most recent state inspection.

“This rating reflects our department’s training, equipment, and ability to protect our community,” according to a message on the fire department’s social media page. “For a rural volunteer department, a 5 is a strong achievement and a testament to our firefighters, officers, and supporters.”

The post also included a letter from the office of the State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor. The rating becomes effective April 1, 2026, it stated.

The Insurance Services Office rating scale goes from 1 – the highest – to 10 – not recognized as a certified fire department by the state. The ratings are used to help insurance companies set property insurance rates.

“While lower ratings do not necessarily indicate poor service, a higher rating does suggest that a department is overall better equipped to respond to fires in its district. Higher ratings can also significantly lower homeowners’ insurance rates in that fire district,” the letter stated.

The state conducts inspections as part of the North Carolina Response Rating System on departments that serve populations less than 100,000.

The routine inspections look for proper staffing levels, sufficient equipment, proper maintenance of equipment, communications capabilities and availability of a water source.

In the letter, Taylor extended congratulations to Stovall Chief Kevin Douglas Mote for the department’s commendable performance.

“The residents of Stovall and Stovall Rural Fire District(s) can take comfort in knowing this highly capable team of firefighters from the Stovall Volunteer Fire Department, Inc. is safeguarding them and their belongings in the event of an emergency,” Taylor said.

OSFM inspections are designed to assess various aspects of fire depts, including equipment, training and emergency response capabilities.