Calabash Fire Department

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05/29/2026

*SMOKE ADVISORY* DUE TO LAND CLEARING

This morning, we were contacted by the NC Forest Service and advised that a burn permit has been issued to a company conducting land-clearing operations on Thomasboro Road near Highway 17.

Because there is currently no signage posted along Highway 17 to notify motorists of the permitted burn, we anticipate receiving multiple reports of a brush or woods fire in this area throughout the day. While we are aware of the source of the smoke, our personnel will still respond to reported incidents due to the possibility of an actual emergency occurring nearby.

We are sharing this information to help keep our community informed and to reduce unnecessary 911 calls regarding the visible smoke in the area between Thomasboro Road/Pea Landing Road and Brunswick Plantation. We have already responded once to this location since the fire was lit.

If you see smoke in this area today, please be aware that it is associated with the permitted land-clearing burn. However, if you observe flames outside the designated area, rapidly changing conditions, or any situation that appears to be an emergency, please do not hesitate to call 911.

Thank you for your cooperation and understanding.

⚠️ Traffic Alert – Calabash Road ⚠️One lane of Calabash Road is currently blocked due to a rollover vehicle crash. The d...
05/28/2026

⚠️ Traffic Alert – Calabash Road ⚠️

One lane of Calabash Road is currently blocked due to a rollover vehicle crash. The driver was extricated by Calabash Fire personnel and transported by Brunswick County EMS. Emergency units remain on scene awaiting the arrival of the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

This incident is located between Seneca Drive and Koolabrew Drive.

Please use caution when traveling through the area, as our traffic team is actively managing traffic flow. Expect delays and consider alternate routes if possible

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05/27/2026

Please try to avoid Beach Drive at the entrance to Hidden Valley subdivision. A multi-vehicle accident with injuries has all lanes of Beach Drive blocked.

Calabash Fire is extinguishing a small grass fire on Calabash Road just before Hickman’s Crossroads. One lane of Calabas...
05/23/2026

Calabash Fire is extinguishing a small grass fire on Calabash Road just before Hickman’s Crossroads. One lane of Calabash Road is closed but we should be clearing up in 10-15 minutes.

Want to save money and support a good cause?! Our awesome fire department auxiliary is once again participating in the ...
05/22/2026

Want to save money and support a good cause?! Our awesome fire department auxiliary is once again participating in the Belks Charity Sale that will take place June 5-7, with early shopping days May 26 - June 4. Buy a $5 coupon from an auxiliary member and get $5 off your first purchase during the sale or pre-sale days--plus get 25% off some of your favorite brands! Auxiliary members will be selling coupons at the Shallotte Belks on May 30th from 10-12, June 3rd from 12-2, June 5th from 10-12, and June 6th from 10-12. Or you can call Auxiliary President Amy Barrett at 908-930-8982 to get your coupon. Happy Shopping!!

Fire chiefs from across the state converged in Raleigh today for North Carolina Legislative Day. This was an opportunity...
05/20/2026

Fire chiefs from across the state converged in Raleigh today for North Carolina Legislative Day. This was an opportunity for fire departments to come together and speak with a unified voice to our elected leaders at the state level on issues that directly impact the fire service and the communities we serve.

I’m proud to say Brunswick County was strongly represented by a good group of fire chiefs that made the almost 3 hour drive to Raleigh. Throughout the day, we discussed several key topics currently in the legislative process that directly affect the NC fire service, including:

• Expanding coverage for firefighter occupational cancer protections
• Expanding Line of Duty Death (LODD) benefits to include certain occupational cancer-related deaths
• Increasing the Firefighters’ Pension Fund benefit from $175 per month to $180 per month
• Reducing the years of service requirement for full retirement benefits from 30 years to 25 years
• Providing logistical and operational support when fire stations are used as voting locations

We sincerely appreciate the valuable time we were able to spend with Representatives Charlie Miller and Frank Iler discussing these, and other important matters while advocating for the needs of the Brunswick County fire service.

Unfortunately, we were unable to meet with Senator Bill Rabon due to his hectic schedule as Chair of the Rules and Operations of the Senate Committee.

I was also excited that I got to meet Phil Ford, a childhood hero, while walking in the halls of the Legislative Building.

05/19/2026

We are conducting some tests of the fire hydrants along Beach Drive this morning.

Yesterday afternoon, just before 4:30 PM, Calabash Fire and our automatic aid partners were dispatched to a non-dwelling...
05/14/2026

Yesterday afternoon, just before 4:30 PM, Calabash Fire and our automatic aid partners were dispatched to a non-dwelling structure fire on No. 5 School Rd.

Upon arrival, crews found a shed fully involved in fire along with a nearby pile of burning yard debris. Firefighters from Calabash Fire, Sunset Beach Fire, Ocean Isle Beach Fire and Horry County Fire Rescue worked quickly to bring the fire under control and extinguish it with no injuries reported.

We are grateful for the strong working relationships we share with our neighboring departments, which continue to lead to successful outcomes during emergency incidents like this one.

As a reminder for anyone burning yard debris at home:

• Keep burn piles at least 50 feet away from structures and 25 feet away from wooded areas or combustible materials
• Never leave a fire unattended
• Keep a water source or tools nearby to control the fire if needed
• Avoid burning on windy or dry days
• Only burn natural vegetation — never household trash, treated wood, or construction debris
• Always check for local burn restrictions or burn bans before burning

Please burn responsibly and help us keep our community safe.

05/04/2026

During today’s Board of Commissioners meeting, commissioners will vote on a resolution in support of increasing the current caps on fire fees, recognizing the financial realities facing fire departments across Brunswick County.

Fire departments across Brunswick County are requesting an adjustment to the current cap on fire fees, not as an automatic increase, but as a necessary measure to address a growing funding gap that is impacting service delivery.

There is a misconception that financial challenges within fire departments are the result of mismanagement or issues within local fire department control. In reality, these challenges are driven by structural funding limitations. The cost of providing modern fire protection has increased dramatically, far outpacing the revenue generated under the current fee structure.

To put this into perspective, the cost of replacing a single fire engine now exceeds the total annual fire fee revenue for approximately half of the departments in the county. When considering specialized apparatus—such as aerial trucks—the financial disparity becomes even more pronounced, with costs exceeding the annual fire fee revenue of approximately 75% of our departments.

This is not a matter of inefficiency; it is a matter of economics. Fire departments are being asked to maintain readiness, replace aging equipment, and meet increasing service demands with a funding model that has not kept pace with real-world costs.

Adjusting the cap provides flexibility—not a mandate—for departments that need it to sustain operations, maintain safe staffing and equipment standards, and continue protecting their communities effectively. The Calabash Fire Dept. does not plan to increase our rates for the FY27 budget year.

The fire service continues to stand ready to partner with County leadership in developing a sustainable funding model that ensures fire protection services keep pace with the demands of a growing county.

Today, our flags are lowered to half-staff in honor of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.We pause to remember th...
05/04/2026

Today, our flags are lowered to half-staff in honor of National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Day.

We pause to remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities. We reflect on tragic, high-profile events such as the Worcester Cold Storage Warehouse fire (1999), where six firefighters lost their lives searching for a reported victim in a maze-like, smoke-filled structure; the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City, where 343 FDNY firefighters were killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center; and the Charleston Sofa Super Store fire (2007), where nine firefighters died in a fast-moving fire fueled by showroom contents and challenging building conditions. They will never be forgotten.

We also recognize those losses that don’t always make headlines. We honor the firefighters who fought courageous battles against the #1 killer in the fire service—occupational cancer, as well as those who suffered fatal cardiac events brought on by the extreme physical and emotional demands of the job. The exposures and stress endured in the line of duty continue to claim lives long after the fire is out. These losses may not receive the same public attention, but the impact on families, departments, and communities is no less profound.

The pain carried by those left behind is just as real. Today, we stand in remembrance of all our fallen—seen and unseen—and reaffirm our commitment to never forget their sacrifice.

Address

892 Persimmon Road
Calabash, NC
28467

Telephone

+19105792355

Website

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