Departments warn the county’s expectations don’t match rural distances, volunteer staffing, or current funding levels
BRUNSWICK COUNTY, NC — Brunswick County leaders are considering a new countywide requirement that fire departments respond to emergencies within 14 minutes, a benchmark that several fire chiefs say is unrealistic under current conditions. The proposal, still in discussion, would apply to all departments across one of the fastest‑growing counties in North Carolina.
The county has not released enforcement language or detailed how the standard would be measured. Even so, the idea has already sparked concern among departments that say the geography, traffic, and rapid population growth make a uniform response‑time mandate difficult to meet.
Concerns From the Fire Service
Calabash Fire Chief Keith McGee says the public messaging around the proposal does not reflect the concerns raised directly with county officials, emphasizing that the fire service is not opposed to standards but to the lack of baseline data and realistic alignment with a rural, volunteer‑dependent system.
He said many departments cannot meet the expectations without full‑time staffing levels that current funding does not support, and the standards fail to account for long travel distances, ISO‑recognized service‑area limits, traffic, and construction delays. McGee also pointed to unresolved questions about how performance will be measured, how automatic‑aid staffing will count, how funding and community‑built assets will be protected, and how a clause allowing the County to assume operational control could affect long‑term stability.
He warned that tying the agreement to a one‑time funding source makes it impossible to responsibly hire personnel without guaranteed recurring revenue, adding that performance expectations, staffing, and funding must align or risk destabilizing the system rather than improving it.
Growth Outpacing Fire Infrastructure
Brunswick County’s population has surged over the past decade, with new subdivisions appearing faster than stations can be funded or built. Many of these neighborhoods sit 12 to 18 minutes from the nearest fire station even under ideal travel conditions.
Fire chiefs note that while growth brings new tax revenue, it does not immediately translate into new stations, paid staffing, or additional apparatus. Several districts still rely heavily on volunteers, especially during daytime hours when turnout times are slower.
Traffic and Road Conditions Add Delays
Even fully staffed, paid crews living at the station cannot guarantee a 14‑minute response across the county. Response time includes call processing, dispatch, turnout, and travel and travel is where Brunswick County’s challenges are most visible.
US‑17, NC‑211, and major corridors in Leland, Shallotte, and Calabash routinely experience congestion. Construction zones, seasonal beach traffic, and limited alternate routes can trap fire engines behind long lines of vehicles with nowhere to move.
Departments say these conditions alone can push response times beyond the proposed limit, regardless of staffing levels.
Rural Districts Face Distance Barriers
Large rural districts — including Winnabow, Bolivia, Ash, Supply, and Exum cover wide areas with long drive distances between homes. Even with paid firefighters on duty, the physical distance between stations and residents makes a 14‑minute standard difficult to achieve.
Some chiefs argue that the proposal does not account for the county’s mix of rural and suburban development patterns.
What Happens If Departments Fall Short
County officials have not outlined penalties or corrective actions for departments that miss the proposed benchmark. In other counties with similar standards, consequences can include:
• funding pressure or reduced allocations
• mandatory improvement plans
• district boundary changes or mergers
• increased county oversight of independent departments
Fire chiefs worry that departments could be labeled “non‑compliant” for factors outside their control, such as road congestion or new subdivisions built far from existing stations.
A Standard Without the Infrastructure to Support It
Several departments have publicly questioned whether the county can enforce a 14‑minute requirement without first investing in additional stations, staffing, and road improvements. Some chiefs describe the proposal as aspirational rather than achievable under current conditions.
County leaders have not announced a timeline for adopting or revising the standard.
© 2026 BCDollarSaver.com. All rights reserved.
Be the first to comment