Fire-EMS departments to unify

Emerald Isle Announces Joint Fire-EMS Department

The Town of Emerald Isle will combine its Fire and EMS operations into a single department, known as the Emerald Isle Fire Department, effective by January 1, 2023. 

Following more than a year of extensive data analysis by an internal Emergency Services Task Force committee and Town leadership, it was decided a combined department will be the most effective model to serve the community moving forward. Employees will be trained as both firefighters and EMTs, AEMTs or Paramedics. 

“By having a sole Fire/EMS department with cross-trained personnel, we anticipate enhanced patient care and emergency call response times, the ability to have a second fulltime ambulance available year-round, and a variety of other life-saving improvements,” said Bill Walker, Fire Chief.

No existing jobs will be eliminated as a result of the merger, and all current staff will be given until July 1, 2024, to obtain needed certifications. The department will be fully staffed with 26 personnel.  

The department will operate three shifts that work 48 hours on, and 96 hours off, with staff rotating between the two existing fire stations. Eight personnel will be on shift per day, with four at each station. 

 The daily safety operations and employees will be quartered out of Stations 1 and 2. The current EMS building, at 7604 Emerald Dr., will be utilized as administrative offices and training space.

Additional information can be found below, through two informational videos. 

For  media interviews, please contact:

Anna Smith, Town Clerk/Public Information Officer