Town of Wrightsville Beach

	WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH FIRE DEPARTMENT
Welcome to the Wrightsville Beach Fire Department. We are a combination department consisting of both career and volunteer firefighters. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life in Wrightsville Beach through fire prevention, fire suppression, emergency medical services and protection from dangerous conditions created by man or nature.

Fire Chief
Frank Smith

The Wrightsville Beach Fire Department is headquartered within the municipal complex at 10 Seawater Lane. Our fire apparatus include one pumper and two combination pumper/aerial rigs (known as "quints"). The combined pumping capacity of these apparatus is 4000 gallons of water per minute. We continuously staff a 4-wheel drive emergency medical "squad" with an EMT. We respond to approximately 150 fire alarms and 350 emergency medical calls annually. We are proud to hold a Public Protection Classification of 4 (on a scale of 10 to1 with 1 being a perfect score).

We continuously seek innovative, cost-effective methods of providing high quality emergency services. Our intern program is one notable example of this approach. Interns receive a free dormitory room in the fire station in exchange for their service as firefighters. The program strengthens the ranks of the fire department while cutting costs for college students.

Looking for an exciting opportunity to help make a difference in our community? Interested in meeting new friends and learning valuable skills? Join us as a volunteer firefighter! Inquire about our paid on-call, part-time or intern positions. One of these programs may be right for you. Contact us today for details!

Emergency preparedness is another important element of our mission. We constantly strive to enhance our state of readiness. We encourage you to do the same! Visit our hurricane page for valuable information on preparing your family, your home, or your business for a hurricane or other natural disaster. If the town is threatened by a storm or other disaster, consult this website and local media for up-to-date information.

Please remember to change the batteries in your smoke detectors at least twice per year. Think about your smoke detector batteries when you change your clocks to and from daylight savings time. Test your smoke detectors every thirty days. SMOKE DETECTORS SAVE LIVES! No home should be without smoke detectors. The Wrightsville Beach Volunteer Firefighters Association offers free smoke detectors and fire extinguishers to Town residents and property owners (limit one per household). Please call to schedule delivery. If you burn fossil fuels in your home (oil, gas, wood) we recommend that you install carbon monoxide detectors. Please see our fire prevention page for more safety tips.

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Ocean Rescue

The fire department's Ocean Rescue Squad is responsible for ensuring public safety on the beach strand. Led by a full-time Ocean Rescue Director and an Operation's Captain who are both a firefighter and EMT for the Town. Ocean Rescue employs 29 seasonal lifeguards from Memorial Day through Labor Day. Our Ocean Rescue program is certified by the U.S. Lifesaving Association. We staff 13 lifeguard stands, and we also patrol the entire length of the beach strand using all-terrain vehicles and a personal watercraft. All seasonal lifeguards are certified in lifesaving and first aid. Our lifeguards are supported by full-time fire department staff who are certified EMTs. Lifeguards also assist bathers by providing public information, recovering lost children, and enforcing beach regulations. Our Ocean Rescue Team is in the lifeguard stands from 10AM to 5PM, seven days per week.

Please pay close attention to the signal flags flown from our lifeguard stands. The color of the flag indicates the water conditions observed in the area.

Please consult a member of our Ocean Rescue Squad for further information concerning water safety or beach regulations. Our goal is to make your visit to the beach safe and enjoyable!

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Lifeguard Stand Locations

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