Tag Archive for: #vancecountyfiredepartment

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.”

The Local Skinny! VC Fire Dept. Provides Certification Update At Commissioners’ Meeting

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Vance County Fire Chief Marvin Harrison got something Monday from the Vance County Board of Commissioners that he may not have been expecting: a standing ovation.

Harrison shared with commissioners the recent certifications members of his department had received in the areas of medium and rescue and emergency medical responder from the N.C. Rescue and Emergency Management Services Commission.

Commissioner Tommy Hester commended Harrison for his efforts. “The job you’ve done here (is) outstanding in moving this forward. Your leadership has made this happen,” Hester said.

In prepared remarks, Harrison thanked commissioners for their support “to build a strategic plan and follow through with action.”

In the past few months, the county’s fire department has acquired equipment that has strengthened its operational capabilities in measurable ways, Harrison said.

“Vance County Fire is not keeping pace,” he continued, “we are positioning ourselves to lead in public safety and service delivery.”

He said he is proud of the fire personnel for continuing to pursue additional training and certifications that will raise the professional standard of the department. He included the volunteer department’s staffs as well, saying they were making the same commitment.

“It speaks volumes about the culture we are building,” Harrison said. “Rooted in service, accountability and pride in protecting Vance County.”

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Vance County Fire Department Announces State Certifications In Medium Rescue, Medical Responder

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The Vance County Fire Department has announced a couple of state certifications that it has earned. In a Facebook post on Jan. 2, fire officials offered thanks and appreciation to county leaders and staff.

“We are proud to share an important milestone with our community. Vance County Fire has officially earned state certifications for Medium Rescue and Medical Responder. This achievement reflects months of hard work, sacrifices, and perseverance by our dedicated personnel. Despite challenges and doubt, our team stayed focused and let results do the talking.”

The post also said, “Thank you to the Board of Commissioners, Assistant County Manager Jones, and County Manager Perry for standing with us and believing in what we are building. The Future of Vance County is Bright.”

That quote is becoming the signature quote of Vance County Fire Department Chief Marvin Harrison.  He’s been saying so for a while and also said so recently on WIZS TownTalk.  If you missed that show or the replay of it, check it out at WIZS.com and click on TownTalk or go to facebook.com/wizsradio and scroll down a few posts.

TownTalk: Vance County Fire Chief Recaps First 7 Months, Looks Ahead To Future Plans

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Vance County Fire Chief Marvin Harrison has accomplished a good bit since coming on board in April.

From equipment purchases and rebranding efforts to training exercises and team-building opportunities, Harrison can check off quite a few boxes on the “to-do” list.

Like most good leaders, Harrison took some time to think about the future of the department and evaluate what it would take to make sure the department remains ready to serve the community in the long-term.

From that process comes this realization for Harrison: “The future of Vance County is bright.”

Harrison discussed his first months on the job on Thursday’s TownTalk, reflecting on where the department had been and how he hopes to lead it into the future.

Over his career, Harrison said he’s learned from mentors about goal-setting and being prepared. He said he’s got a five-year plan and a 10-year plan for the fire department. It’s just how he operates, he said. And although he’s happy with the state of things as they are now, he’ll probably never be satisfied – things can always be better, he said.

There are just a couple of openings right now, if you don’t include a few more positions that weren’t funded, he said. Coming from a larger department to Vance County, Harrison recognized that there simply aren’t the same number of firefighter positions available to a department this size.

“You can never have enough personnel,” he added. Sending a couple of dozen firefighters to a fire call simply doesn’t happen here – it’s more like between 5 and 10.

And because departments have to be ready to cover each other and respond to calls, Harrison said strengthening collaboration is critical.

“In Vance County, we have been asked to do a lot more with less,” he said, adding that he is impressed with the commitment he sees from firefighters in the area to be willing to step in to provide mutual aid.

“Their call can become my call,” Harrison said. “We all have to do our best and always ensure we are communicating with each other to provide the best public service we can.”

As for equipment, Harrison emphasized that purchases his department makes is for equipment that can be used by any of the volunteer departments when it’s needed.

“If we purchase equipment, we want to make sure that all departments know they’re not just for us, they’re for everybody – for every one of the other departments in the county if they need it.”

There’s already a new boat and a couple of UTVs and hopefully some dive equipment will be selected soon. And certainly plans are still underway for a new station, he said.

“Day by day, week by week, we are getting better…We have a game plan (and) we are working to get more,” Harrison said. “We need a lot more, honestly.” Part of that equipment includes trucks. “We need a new fleet in here in our department as soon as possible,” Harrison said.

“We’re just trying to cover all areas and thoroughly planning for the future in Vance County because we want to be mentioned with the ‘best of the best’ when it comes to fire departments and public service.”

 

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Marvin Harrison Named Vance County Fire Department Chief

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Vance County has named Marvin Harrison as chief of the Vance County Fire Department.

Harrison begins the new job on Monday, April 21, according to information from County Manager C. Renee Perry.

With more than 14 years in the fire service, Harrison brings experience in leadership roles as well as operational expertise along with a deep commitment to public safety.

His previous department is accredited by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International and Harrison served in key leadership roles, including interim Division Chief of Budget and Logistics and Battalion Chief. His experience in a CFAI-accredited organization has given him firsthand expertise in high-level operations, strategic planning, and fiscal responsibility.

“I am honored to lead the Vance County Fire Department and to serve the residents of this great community,” Harrison said in a press statement. “My experience in an internationally accredited department has prepared me to guide this organization forward with a focus on professionalism, operational excellence, and community trust. I look forward to building upon the strong foundation already in place.”

Chief Harrison has outlined a forward-thinking leadership agenda that includes strengthening recruitment and retention, expanding diversity within the department, and prioritizing professional development for all personnel.  He also emphasized the importance of building strong relationships with the community and ensuring firefighters are supported with the tools, training, and leadership necessary to succeed.

“This is a historic moment for Vance County. Chief Harrison brings an exceptional blend of experience, education, and vision that aligns perfectly with our goals for the future of public safety. His leadership in an internationally accredited department and his passion for service make him the right person to move our fire department forward. We are excited to welcome him to the team and look forward to the positive impact he will have on our community,” Perry said.

A native of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Harrison holds a bachelor’s degree in Fire and Emergency Services Administration from Fayetteville State University. He also earned an associate’s degree in emergency management from Nash Community College and an associate’s degree in healthcare administration from the University of Phoenix.

TownTalk: Joint Public Safety And Fire Commission Meeting

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Plans should be in place by summer 2025 to send an additional fire department to structure fires in the county, a move that has the potential to save lives and property, not to mention having a possible positive effect on the county’s insurance rating and property owners’ insurance premiums.

Brandon Link, president of the Vance County Firefighters Association and chief of the Watkins Volunteer Fire Department, said the idea of sending a fourth department on calls was solidified at a recent joint meeting of the county’s public safety committee and the fire commission.

Although a work conflict prevented him from attending the Nov. 20 meeting, Link said he was briefed by others in attendance.

The county commissioners had earlier given the green light, but the plan “had been in a holding pattern for a while,” Link said, partly because the county was conducting a fire study to consider restructuring the county’s fire departments, all but one of which are volunteer departments.

Link said he believes the Vance County Fire Department will remain the lone fully staffed station to provide support to departments when they get dispatched to fire calls.

When that additional department is dispatched, it means there will be more trucks, more water and more personnel on scene to more quickly extinguish fires and get control of the situation.

Those are the three main criteria that are factored in to determine a county’s insurance – ISO – rating. A better ISO rating translates into lower premium bills for property owners.

“It’s something we’ve all been asking for, close to five years now,” Link said.

Unfortunately, those premiums won’t be going down for this five-year cycle, he said, adding that the decision was “bittersweet – we knew it was going to make a difference… we missed the boat (this time) but hope to get it next time.”

Making the necessary changes to get that fourth department included on calls takes a little doing. The 911 dispatchers use a response matrix to determine the order that departments are called to fires, Link said.

“It is exciting, (but) it’s a long process,” he noted, adding that a good bit of the groundwork has been laid – now it’s just a matter of getting that information put into the system.

Link said there’s a good mix of seasoned and new, or newish, chiefs of the various departments who are “walking in lockstep together, which to me is a good sign.” Everyone wants what is best for the county, and his colleagues are willing to do whatever they can to provide the best service possible.

County Manager C. Renee Perry and the commissioners have heard their needs, requests and options for providing fire service, he said. “They understand our love and passion and desire to do our job.”

As for the fate of the Vance County Fire Department, Link said local fire officials have expressed their desire for it to stay in place and that the county would be “taking a step backwards” if changes are made to the way it operates. “They are vital to us in what we do,” he said of the paid firefighters at that station.

And while appreciative of all the part-timers and volunteers that are the backbone of the other departments across the county, Link said that’s not enough coverage. Part-timers and volunteers have jobs or other commitments. “They’re not obligated to respond,” he said, but “they’re committed to respond – when they’re available.”

The state requires a minimum of four firefighters to respond from the primary fire department dispatched to a call, but Link said there could be as many as eight or nine who show up.

Add four that come from VCFD – plus the chief if it’s a daytime call – and another three or four from the secondary department and now from that fourth department, and there could be upwards of a couple of dozen people on the ground to combat the fire.

But that number could just as easily be halved, he added, depending on the number of volunteers and part-timer firefighters who are available.

Having more people and equipment responding to a fire call could help when it comes to ISO ratings, Link noted.

Drewry maintained its ISO rating of 5. Epsom improved to a class 4. The Watkins department improved its rating to 5 this year. Several other departments have been evaluated but haven’t gotten their score yet, and the last three departments should be completed in the next few months. The results are a report card of sorts to reflect performance.

 

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TownTalk: Brandon Link Discusses County Fire Services

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–UPDATED Wednesday, Dec. 20–

It looks like the county’s Public Safety Committee is going to recommend to the full commission that the county fire department be given the green light to purchase needed safety equipment, to the tune of about $70,000.

The committee met Wednesday afternoon and Vance County Firefighters Association President Brandon Link was in attendance. Link told WIZS News that the meeting was “very positive, very fruitful.”

The unanimous decision to move forward with the recommendation to the full board was exactly what Link said he expected to happen. “It’s positive for everybody,” he said of the committee’s action. “Everybody got a win for that…we’re grateful for the outcome.”

The department plans to purchase three sets of turnout gear to replace damaged gear, as well as four new sets of gear that are reaching the end of their 10-year “shelf life.” They also will get new air packs to replace older units that lack the universal connection for buddy breather systems, which would be used to assist firefighters in distress while battling a blaze.

The recommendation is set to go before the full commission for consideration at the Jan. 8, 2024 meeting.

 

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The Vance County Commissioners’ Public Safety Committee is scheduled to meet Wednesday at 3 p.m. and at least one item up for discussion has gotten the attention of fire services officials whose job it is to keep safe the county’s residents as well as fire personnel.

The commissioners sent to that committee an issue regarding purchase of equipment and turnout gear, which was frozen in the most recent county budget that was passed.

Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright had requested that the freeze be waived so the department could purchase needed gear, and County Manager Renee Perry presented that request to commissioners at their December meeting, but it was referred to the Public Safety Committee for discussion.

Commissioners are awaiting the results of a fire study that should be released in early 2024, which could result in some changes to how the county’s fire departments are structured.

Brandon Link is president of the county firefighters association and he said getting the best turnout possible is important to protect personnel and employees.

“We order gear every year and it’s considered part of our operating costs,” Link, assistant chief at Watkins Fire Department, said.

Departments like his, he said, are bound by the National Fire Protection Association, to remove and replace turnout gear every 10 years.

The gear is custom fit, and sometimes it takes months for an order to be filled – especially since COVID-19.

“That gear and those air packs – without those, we’re useless,” Link said. “Without that protection, we’re useless.” He said some of the turnout gear is approaching the end of its 10-year lifespan in mid-February.

The commissioners’ next meeting in Jan. 8, so that leaves precious little time to place an order before being out of compliance with NFPA guidelines.

“It should have already been ordered,” Link said.

When a firefighter is injured in the line of duty, Link said his gear is “bagged and tagged” so it may be inspected for its level of protection.

There’s an outer shell, a moisture barrier and then an inner liner – all of which serves a purpose to protect the firefighter who’s wearing it. If any section is compromised, the safety of the firefighter is, too.

“It’s just like a suit (of clothes),” Link said. “You don’t wear a set of turnout gear that’s not custom fit for you when you do your job.”

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Public Safety Committee Set To Review County Fire Department Needs For Equipment, Protective Gear

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The Vance County Fire Department needs six sets of turnout gear and four air packs, at the very least, to make sure firefighters have adequate protection when they are fighting fires, according to Chief Chris Wright.

But this year’s county budget included a freeze on capital improvements that has the procurement on hold, so far.

The issue was discussed at last week’s county commissioners’ meeting, with support and recommendation for lifting the freeze by County Manager Renee Perry, but it was referred to the Public Safety Committee, which is scheduled to meet on Dec. 20.

“We’re looking to replace three sets of gear,” Wright told WIZS News, because of damage or wear. Another three sets are for newer employees, who have been using turnout gear that doesn’t fit properly.

“It’s big and bulky on them,” Wright said. “You don’t want to have but so much void space between you and your protective gear. If you have too much void space, too much thermal heat, that’s when firefighters start to get steam burns” he said.

TownTalk: Public Safety Expo This Saturday

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There will be a lot of action on the lot of the former Boyd auto dealership on U.S. 158 bypass in Henderson as law enforcement agencies from across Henderson and Vance County converge to take part in a Public Safety Expo this coming Saturday, Sept. 30.

Vance County Fire Chief Chris Wright said the expo will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will include representatives from a wide variety of agencies that promote and protect public safety.

“It promotes a positive atmosphere for all public safety coming together,” Wright said on Tuesday’s TownTalk. “We come together in emergency situations so coming together outside of that…promotes positivity through the county,” he said.

Kids can take part in a bike rodeo through Safe Kids. And there will be a bike helmet giveaway while supplies last. Two bicycles will be raffled off as well.

Those in attendance can enjoy free hotdogs, chips and drinks while they last and the Kona Ice truck is scheduled to join the festivities, too.

“We’re trying to promote something positive here in Vance County, along with the City of Henderson, and partnering with all these agencies,” Wright explained. “It’s an all-around activity for kids and adults.”

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Vance County Public Safety Expo Set For Sept. 30

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The Vance County Fire Department is partnering with Vance County Schools to present a Public Safety Expo on Saturday, Sept. 30 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come out to the former Charles Boyd Chevrolet dealership on US 158 bypass to see and hear all about public safety resources in the area.

Kids, there will be a bike helmet giveaway, so get there early because supplies are limited! There will be many interactive displays for the whole family to enjoy, and there will be a bicycle safety course set up, too, so you can show off your skills and knowledge about bike safety.

Admission is free and the entire community is invited to come out and participate in the event.