Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Volunteer Fire Department

03/28/2026

A burning ban has been issued. No outside burning is permitted.

02/10/2026

It was a heartfelt sight to see a long row of tables covered with this past year’s worth (2025) of thank you letters and cards with personal greetings and expressions of gratitude for the Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Volunteer Fire Department and its members. “On behalf of the members of the Fire Department, thank you to all those that took time to send us words of encouragement. We appreciate both your financial support and more importantly your well wishes. We are very grateful.” ~ Brian McMahan, Fire Chief.

11/02/2025

UPDATE: SUBJECT HAS BEEN LOCATED SAFE & HEALTHY
11/2/25 12:00 PM

MISSING PERSON
11/2/25 08:00 AM
SUGAR CREEK GAP TRAIL
TUCKASEGEE, NC

Emergency services have been searching for 60 year old, Mark Phillips, since late yesterday afternoon. Mr. Phillips was hiking with family and friends when he got separated from the group in the area of Wet Camp Gap. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt, camo pants, and bright green toboggan and gloves. He is about 6’ 1” and 190lbs. If you have seen Mr. Phillips or know anything about his whereabouts please call 911 or contact Jackson County Communications 828-586-1911.

04/29/2025

A good Monday night of training with air packs for our younger members, trying out some different equipment, and refreshing up on our skills.

03/21/2025

Please share this important information.

Due to increased fire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 8 a.m. Friday, March 21 until further notice.

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within that 100 feet.

Read news release: https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2025/03/20/burn-ban-issued-all-north-carolina-counties-due-hazardous-forest-fire-conditions

01/07/2025

In remembrance of former Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Volunteer Fire Chief Jerry Thompson. He served as Chief from 1983 until 1986. Jerry was very involved in the early days of the department, helping to establish the department.

Edwin "Jerry" Emilous Thompson
Edwin Thompson never really went by his first name. Known as "Jerry" to anybody within eyesight, he was a man of dreams, conviction, and deep love. He never met a stranger.

On Sunday, January 5th, 2025, he passed away, just a little over a month before his 86th birthday.

Born February 9, 1939 in Sylva, Jerry stayed in Jackson County most of his life, with much of it centered around the Ochre Hill community and made a career working for decades at what was then known as C.J. Harris Community Hospital in Sylva.

However, he always had dreams, which included everything from being a famous radio DJ, to a singer--the latter of which he was able to do regularly, for years, in Sunday church services. He would also serve his community in a variety of ways and even once served as chief of the Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Volunteer Fire Department.

Even with all the things he did and all the dreams he had, he was a family man at heart.

To those who loved him, he was "Daddy" and "Papaw". He was a good man whose wealth was measured in the love from those who were close to him and served as a cornerstone for the family he loved right back.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lucy Blanton Thompson and William Carl Thompson, and by his sister, Mary Parks.

He is survived by his sister, Edna Scott. He is also survived by three daughters: Delonda Boozer of Whittier, Shelly Busa of Albany, NY, and Freida Thompson of Riegelwood, NC; five grandchildren: Jessica Swanger, Derek Dellinger, Taryn Voltz, Mylah Bisnett, and Waylon Crisp; and three great-grandchildren: Tyler Lenart, Lily Swanger, and Lincoln Bisnett. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews and extended family.

A visitation for Jerry will be at Ochre Hill Baptist Church Thursday, January 9, 2025 from 11:00am until 1:00pm with his funeral service to follow. Burial will take place following the funeral service at the nearby Blanton-Norman Cemetery, with the Reverend J.D. Grant officiating.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Lord's Closet at Ochre Hill Baptist Church.

Words cannot adequately express what Jerry meant to his family, and what Jerry's family meant to him. However, he never needed words to express his love. One could always see the love he had and the pride he took in everything that they did and in the hugs that each and every one of them will miss.

Appalachian Funeral Services is handling the arrangements.

May God forever bless the memory and legacy of Jerry Thompson and comfort his family and friends during this time of mourning.

01/05/2025

James Givens “Jim”, 89, of Balsam, NC passed away Friday January 3, 2025 in a Jackson County care facility.

He was a native of Cherokee County and was raised on the Givens family farm on Moccasin Creek. He served in the U.S. Army. He then returned to Western North Carolina taking a job with the North Carolina Department of Transportation 14th Division and settled in the Balsam community. He worked as a concrete and asphalt inspector for the D.O.T. until retiring.

James was a founding member of the Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Volunteer Fire Department when it began in 1981. He served without interruption as a member of the Fire Department Board of Directors since the first meeting until his passing. Additionally, he served in several other capacities over the years such as a Lieutenant in the command structure, Treasurer, and as a firefighter, obtaining his required training to meet state certification, even into his late 80’s. The fire department was his pride and joy. He was always one of the first to arrive at the station on meeting and training nights and his service could be easily summed up in one word…Dedicated.

James also worked as a caretaker for over 70 of the part time residents in the greater Balsam Community, checking in on their homes and performing general maintenance and upkeep. He often led the 4th of July parade through Balsam on his John Deere tractor.

He was the son of the late Willie and Ella Henson Givens and husband of the late Carol Henson Givens who died August 22, 2020. He was also preceded in death by one sister; Doris Gulley, and one niece; Karen McClure.

Surviving are his daughter, Lynn Sheehan and husband Donald of Balsam, NC.

A graveside service will be held at 1:30 pm, Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at the Bellview Community Cemetery with the Reverend Dr. Chester Jones officiating. Members of the Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Fire Department will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 12:00-1:00 pm, Tuesday, January 7, 2025 at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy.

The family requests memorials be made in memory of James Givens to the Balsam-Willets-Ochre Hill Fire Department, P.O. Box 291 Balsam, NC 28707.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy is in charge of all arrangements.

May God forever bless the memory of James Givens and comfort his family and friends as they honor his legacy and mourn his passing.

12/01/2024

2024 Sylva Christmas Parade.

12/03/2023

2023 Sylva Christmas Parade.

11/07/2023

In 2020, we lost one of our own members, Mike “Fluffy” Lawson. Mike was not only a member of our fire department, but an active member of the Jackson County Rescue Squad and employed by Harris EMS.

After his passing, the fire department acquired the vehicle he owned, which was beyond repair. Tonight, we used that vehicle to conduct a special joint vehicle extraction training session alongside members of the Jackson County Rescue Squad.

We took time tonight to pause and remember our larger than life brother in emergency services. Offering a prayer of thanksgiving for his service to our community and the friendship he provided to so many. As we worked in teams to practice our skills on his former vehicle, we felt sure Fluffy was looking down with a big smile.

11/06/2023

Please take notice. No outside burning is allowed in Jackson County until this order is cancelled.

Jackson County has prohibited all open burning due to atmospheric conditions and extreme fire danger. The order will become effective at 5:00PM today, November 6, 2023. Jackson County will take all measures necessary to prevent fires in accordance with Section 307.1.1 of the North Carolina Fire Prevention Code and the Jackson County Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance.