County officials say EMS response capabilities remain fully intact.
Updated Statement on Fire Incident Involving EMS Ambulance January 18, 2026
BOLIVIA, N.C. — Fire crews responded to a structure fire at 11:28 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Building C of the Brunswick County Government Center in Bolivia. Firefighters encountered heavy smoke coming from the garage area, where an ambulance parked in one of the bays was actively burning. Crews quickly contained and extinguished the fire before it could spread further.
There were no reported injuries, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.
One ambulance was totaled, and damage was limited to the immediate area surrounding the affected bay. The destroyed unit was not one of the newest ambulances added to the County’s EMS fleet in Fall 2025. The remainder of the building—including the garage, office space, and the Emergency Operations Center—has been assessed as structurally sound, with physical damage limited to the area around the impacted bay.
Three additional ambulances and two quick response vehicles (QRVs) were inside the garage during the incident; no damage has been identified to those vehicles.
Brunswick County EMS emphasizes that this incident will not hinder emergency medical operations. The department maintains a robust fleet and multiple ambulance stations positioned countywide to ensure timely and effective response to all emergencies.
County staff and a restoration contractor will be on site in the coming days to begin cleanup, assess undamaged vehicles, and conduct further inspections for any repair needs.
Brunswick County extends its gratitude to the Bolivia Volunteer Fire Department and mutual aid partners from Fire Stations 4, 6, 13, 18, and 37, along with EMS and law enforcement responders, for their quick and diligent response.
The County will provide updates as new information becomes available.
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