Edgecombe County boosts fire safety with new county-wide fire department

Kermit Perkins is a volunteer firefighter for the Princeville Fire Department in Edgecombe County, following in his dad's footsteps.

"When I joined in 1982, we had a waiting list," he said. "Now we don't [have] a list."

As fire chief, he said finding volunteers has been a challenge.

"Hopefully, we will get someone to join now and then," Perkins said.

The challenge of finding volunteers is one reason Edgecombe County has implemented a county-wide fire department with two full-time employees.

It's something Perkins has looked forward to for some time.

"It's really nice to have some extra hands to help us. Some extra apparatus to help us," he said. "To me, this is a step in the right direction."

County Manager Eric Evans said the plans for an Edgecombe County Fire Department were discussed as early as five years ago. However, he said authorities saw an immediate need when the QVC warehouse caught fire in 2021.

"It reminded us that we need to be even better prepared if we were to have something like that happen again," Evans said.

Edgecombe County currently has 17 volunteer fire departments that serve the county. The addition of the new department will make 18.

"It is a big step because it includes considerable investment from the county, which is why it took time to plan for this," Evans said.

A $1.5 million state grant funded new equipment, while the county will pay for the cost of its employees.

So far, the department has two firefighters, with plans to expand soon.

In the near future, Edgecombe County firefighters will work out of a new station at the Kingsboro Business Park to protect the growing area.

Evans said he sees it as a draw for companies to invest in the business park, knowing there are fire services.

Edgecombe County Emergency Services Director Antwan Brown said the new department will allow for more coverage during the day. Rather than having to call in volunteer firefighters during the work day, a team will already be staffed.

"I am an Edgecombe County resident," Brown said. "Knowing there are people at all times to respond is a big deal personally and professionally."

Until the new fire station is constructed at the Kingsboro Business Park, the Edgecombe County Fire Department is housed at the Emergency Services Department in Tarboro.

As of Tuesday, county leaders have not set a timeline for construction on the new station.