Waynesville boosts fire protection

fr firemenWaynesville’s 2016-17 budget includes funding for eight new full-time firefighters, effectively doubling staffing, shortening response times and increasing firefighter safety at a cost of about $530,000 per year over three years.

Waynesville board works to plug budget hole

fr waynesvilleA sparsely-attended special meeting held June 7 at the Waynesville Town Hall was meant to serve as a public hearing on the town’s proposed $29.7 million budget for fiscal year 2016-2017, but instead talk centered mostly around things much more elemental — namely, fire.

Waynesville mulls adding eight firefighters

haywoodWaynesville town leaders will decide this month whether to raise property taxes to hire additional firefighters, and if so, by how much.

More firefighters needed, but is it worth a tax increase?

haywoodWaynesville leaders will face a big decision this budget year: whether to increase property taxes by 10 percent to pay for additional firefighters.

As volunteer fire cavalry wanes, quick response hinges on a core of paid staff

fr firefightersWaynesville town leaders heard something they didn’t necessarily want to hear last week.

Franklin hires new fire chief

maconKevin Rohrer, a captain with Morrisville Fire and Rescue Department, has been hired as Franklin’s fulltime fire chief to replace former interim chief Warren Cabe.

Canton Fire Department earns better insurance rating

fr cantonfiredeptNow that the North Carolina Department of Insurance issued the Canton Fire Department a Class 4 rating this week, Canton homeowners should see a little savings on their fire insurance premiums.

Desperate for recruits, volunteer firefighters hope to change the perception that their brotherhood is a boys’ club

fr fire2Despite the stereotype of volunteer firefighters as Type A alpha males, knowing your Nascar drivers and driving a pick-up truck isn’t a prerequisite for being a volunteer firefighter.

When duty calls: A critical shortage of volunteer firefighters threatens a time-honored American tradition

coverLittle boys worship them. Bruce Springsteen memorialized them. The helpless count on them. 

Volunteer firefighters are a symbol of American strength and determination, pillars in their community who answer the call of duty when friends and neighbors need them most.

SEE ALSO: Desperate for recruits, volunteer firefighters hope to change the perception that their brotherhood is a boys’ club

Franklin to hire fulltime fire chief

franklinAs the demand for services continues to grow, Franklin will begin its search for a full-time fire chief to run the Franklin Fire Department.

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