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Beloved Rolesville fire chief passes away in his home at 67 years old

The beloved Rolesville Fire Chief passed away in his home Wednesday morning, according to a statement from Wake County.

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By
Maggie Brown
, WRAL multiplatform producer
ROLESVILLE, N.C. — The Rolesville fire chief passed away in his home Wednesday morning, according to a statement from Wake County.

Rodney Privette, 67, was an admired member of the Rolesville community, said Darrell Alford, director of Wake County Fire Services.

According to a release from Wake County, Privette had been serving as fire chief since 1992 and had been a volunteer with the fire department since 1975.

When he first started working for the fire department in the '70s, he told WRAL's Tar Heel Traveler in 2020, his department only responded to about 50 calls a year. Now they respond to around a 1,000 each year.
"Times have changed," he said in the 2020 interview.

Privette was born and raised in Rolesville and was known for his love of classic cars.

Rodney Privette, former fire chief of Rolesville

Locals are used to seeing him drive around his old-fashioned cars, waving at anyone he can. People describe him as the "nicest man in town," who cared deeply about others.

"Rodney was a great friend and outstanding member of the community," one Rolesville resident wrote on Facebook.

“This is a huge loss for everyone who knew Chief Privette,” said Assistant Chief Donnie Lawrence. “His commitment to the community was second to none, and he dedicated his life to serving the Town of Rolesville and beyond.”

There are no funeral arrangements made for Privette at this time, according to Wake County officials.

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