Southport Fire Department

08/28/2026

Southport Fire Department 9/11 memorial ceremony will be held, Friday, September 11, 2026 at 9am. There will be a few tributes commemorating the 2 attacks prior to 9am.

This is an impressive display and ceremony. If you have never been, please make plans to attend this year for the 25th Anniversary. We will never forget.

08/28/2026

The new school year brings new faces, new routines, and the first fire drill.
For many classrooms, one of the first safety routines students will practice is a fire drill.
Learn Not to Burn® provides educators with free lesson plans and activities to help students understand what a fire drill is, why it's important, and how to respond safely.
Download the free lesson plans here: https://sparkyschoolhouse.org/resource/learn-not-to-burn/

08/28/2026

We have 215/500 pre-orders for the Southport specialty license plate! Help us reach our goal by pre-ordering yours today. 🚘
Email [email protected] with questions.

We have 215/500 pre-orders for the Southport specialty license plate! Help us reach our goal by pre-ordering yours today. 🚘

Email [email protected] with questions.

08/27/2026

Southport Fire Department is tasked to "PUT OUT FIRES". Here is a SOCIAL MEDIA FIRE - Putting it OUT with a cold dose of WATER!

Several citizens have contacted Chief Charles A Drew about a recent post on a page that states; "What does our fire department need a "tricked up" NEW golf cart for?" with several comments attached - "The Christmas Parade for sure". "Another NEW toy". Etc. Etc. Etc.

Folks, it is NOT true, we do not have a "NEW TRICKED UP GOLF CART". We do have a golf cart, that we inherited from Southport Rescue Squad when they merged with us in 2016. However, that GOLF CART is 30+ years old, and was purchased for Southport Rescue Squad by the Auxiliary with fundraisers/donations to assist with patient transfers during festivals and large-scale events. The 30+ year old golf cart, is still in use and does come in handy when there are 50 thousand+ people in Southport.

SOCIAL MEDIA KEYBOARD WARRIORS - don't always tell the full story. Putting out fires, is our specialty, real ones, live ones, and sometimes FAKE ONES TOO! Have a good evening!

08/11/2026

Statement from Fire Chief Charles A. Drew
Southport Fire Department — 2026/2027 Fire Fee Adjustment.

The Southport Fire Department remains committed to providing professional, dependable, and responsive fire protection and emergency services to every citizen, property owner, and community we serve.

As part of the 2026/2027 budget, the Fire Fee was increased by 25%. While we understand that no increase in fees is ever welcomed, this adjustment was necessary to maintain the financial stability of our Department and ensure that we can continue providing the level of fire protection our district expects and deserves.

The Southport Fire Department had not received an increase in Fire Fee revenue since 2019. During those years, the costs associated with providing emergency services have continued to rise, including apparatus, equipment, protective gear, maintenance, fuel, training, insurance, and the many other expenses required to maintain an effective and prepared fire department.

The 25% adjustment has helped stabilize our budget challenges while also creating a more equitable system for funding fire protection throughout the entire Southport Fire District. Fire protection extends beyond the municipal limits of the City of Southport, and this adjustment helps ensure that the responsibility for supporting these essential services is more fairly shared throughout the district—not placed disproportionately upon municipal taxpayers.

The Fire Fee rate was carefully reviewed by the Fire Fee Rate Setting Committee, which is comprised of two Mayors, the Fire Chief, the District 3 County Commissioner, and two citizen appointees. After reviewing the financial needs of the Department and the services provided throughout the district, the committee voted unanimously to approve the 25% increase.

This decision was not made lightly. It was made with the goal of protecting the financial stability of the Southport Fire Department, maintaining our operational readiness, and continuing to provide quality fire and emergency services to the citizens we are entrusted to serve.

We are grateful for the continued confidence and support of the citizens and communities of the Southport Fire District. Your support allows our firefighters and emergency personnel to remain trained, equipped, and ready when the call for help comes.

Thank you for your continued support of the Southport Fire Department.

Questions regarding the Fire Fee or Department operations may be directed to:

Fire Chief Charles A. Drew
Southport Fire Department
Fire Headquarters: 910-457-7915

07/13/2026

You can call to register your kids from 9am to 5pm, Monday thru Friday, 910-457-7915. If you've left a message, we have you covered. Kids need to bring a change of clothes, towel, and lunch for each day. This camp is free of charge. We look forward to hosting this every year.

07/12/2026

Rest easy, Johnny Gage.

Today, Hollywood lost more than an actor. The fire service and EMS community lost someone who inspired generations.

Randolph Mantooth, best known for portraying firefighter/paramedic John Gage on Emergency!, passed away on July 9 at the age of 80.

For many of us, Emergency! wasn’t just another television show. It was the first time millions of people saw what firefighter/paramedics did and how important prehospital emergency care could be. The show arrived at a time when paramedic programs were still in their infancy, helping introduce the profession to the public and inspiring countless communities to embrace modern EMS.

There’s no way to count how many firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and first responders first dreamed of the job while watching Squad 51 roll out of that station. For countless kids, John Gage wasn’t just a TV character; he was a hero. He showed courage, compassion, humor, and the importance of serving others.

Even today, when Emergency! comes on in a firehouse, the remote usually gets set down. It’s more than nostalgia; it’s a quiet tribute to the show that inspired generations of firefighters and paramedics.

Thank you, Randolph Mantooth, for inspiring generations to answer the call.

Randolph Mantooth spent his later years attending fire conferences, while signing autographed pictures. Chief Drew and several members from Southport Fire Department have met him, and what a very inspiring gentleman he was, promoting first responders and always offering that Hollywood smile. Thank you sir, for inspiring so many.

07/11/2026

🔥7/11/26 EVENING -- FIRE INFORMATION UPDATE🔥
QUARRY ROAD FIRE -- SHALLOTTE (BRUNSWICK COUNTY)

PLEASE BE AWARE: Firefighting engines and equipment are working and moving in the fire area. Motorists are urged to exercise caution, stay alert and avoid the area if possible.

The Quarry Road Fire ignited Friday, July 10, in Shallotte.

The N.C. Forest Service and Tri-Beach Fire Department remain in unified command of the Quarry Road Fire. Multiple personnel and equipment resources are engaged. N.C. Forest Service aircraft are providing aerial support for wildland firefighters on the ground.

The Office of the State Fire Marshal, North Carolina Highway Patrol, several local fire departments and county agencies are providing incident support.

📌Acreage and containment: Due to more accurate mapping and reconnaissance flight data, the fire is 300 acres in size and 10% contained.
Percent containment represents sections of fire line that pose no escape risk without further action from firefighters.

📌Weather and Fire Behavior: Due to extreme heat, dry conditions and gusty winds, fire behavior was erratic, active and running, for the operational period. Scattered thunderstorms are expected into the evening hours, followed by a cold front moving across the area Sunday and producing widespread rain showers and thunderstorms. Current fire behavior, conditions and forecast weather may challenge containment efforts. Firefighting crews will continue establishing and reinforcing containment lines around the fire to stop forward progress. Structure protection for homes in the area will be ongoing.

📌Structures/Homes Damaged or Destroyed: Two nonresidential commercial structures have been destroyed, and 30 homes are threatened.

📌Evacuations / Closures: All previous evacuation orders have been lifted, and residents have returned to their homes. For the most up-to-date information about evacuation orders and road closures, stay in tune with local Brunswick County emergency management channels. https://brunswickcountync.gov/

📌Wildfires are a no-drone zone. Flying a drone near or over a wildfire is ILLEGAL. Don’t do it. Firefighting aircraft that respond to wildfires fly low in support of ground personnel. Drones can pose a serious threat to pilot and public safety. A drone that disrupts air operations also puts firefighters, residents and property at risk of loss to wildfire.