Bethlehem Community Fire and Rescue Inc.

05/24/2026

While rainy conditions may keep some people off the water this weekend, Memorial Day also marks the start of boating season for many families across our area. Bethlehem Community Fire and Rescue would like to remind everyone to make boater safety a priority.

Always wear a properly fitted life jacket, avoid alcohol while operating a boat, and make sure you have all required safety equipment onboard before heading out. Life jackets save lives — for adults and children alike.

Have fun, stay alert, and help make this holiday weekend a safe one for everyone on the water.

🚤☀️🦺

PC: Brown & Crouppen Law Firm

05/24/2026

Bethlehem Community Fire and Rescue honors and remembers the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice while serving our country. Their courage, dedication, and selflessness will never be forgotten.

As we spend time with family and friends this Memorial Day, let us take a moment to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy because of those who gave everything in service to our nation.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all Gold Star families and to those who continue to serve our country today.

🇺🇸 “All gave some, some gave all.” 🇺🇸

05/23/2026

Bethlehem Community Fire and Rescue would like to congratulate all of the 2026 graduates of Alexander Central High School on this major accomplishment and milestone in your lives and wish you the very best in your future endeavors.

We would also like to give a special congratulations to our Junior Firefighters — Kade Church, Jacob Davis, Kolvin Walker, and Coley Whitener. Thank you for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to serving our community while balancing school, training, and extracurricular activities. We are proud to have each of you as part of our department and look forward to seeing what the future holds for you all.

Congratulations Class of 2026! 🎓🚒

05/23/2026

This week, Fire Chief Starnes and Deputy Chief Fox had the honor of attending NC Fire Services Legislative Day in Raleigh. It was a valuable opportunity to speak directly with lawmakers about the needs and challenges facing our fire service and the Bethlehem community as a whole.

We are especially grateful to all the representatives for taking the time to meet with Chief Starnes, Deputy Chief Fox, and other fire service leaders. Their willingness to listen and engage in meaningful conversations about public safety is deeply appreciated.

05/19/2026

We are honored to have had some of our junior members in attendance and grateful for the opportunity for them to learn alongside so many motivated Junior FFs from across the area. Events like this play a huge role in developing the future of the fire service, and we appreciate everyone who invested their time and support into making it such a success.

From the instructors and departments that dedicated their time and knowledge, to the organizers, and sponsors — it truly took a team effort to provide such an outstanding experience for these young firefighters.

04/27/2026

Local and Statewide burn bans remain in effect!!!

Rain last weekend and forecasted rain this week still leave hazardous conditions in our area for open burning!!

The statewide burn ban remains in effect until further notice despite weekend rain in some areas. Persistent dry weather and increasing rainfall deficits from the last several months have left most of the state needing 10 inches of rain or more.

“While the rainfall we received over the weekend was a welcome sight, it offered little to no relief from widespread drought conditions while being nowhere near enough to reduce our wildfire risk,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Even the areas that received the heaviest amount of rain will quickly dry out from the sunshine and warmer temperatures. Until we get some additional rain and see more green-up in our forests, holding the burn ban in place statewide is the best option right now.”

While green-up and leaf-out are progressing at normal rate, low soil moisture, dry surface fuels and persistent low humidity are contributing to wildfire activity. For Western North Carolina, excessive forest fuels from Hurricane Helene are more available now than they were in 2025, low water levels in coastal areas have helped produce intense fire behavior where ground fire will likely be a long-term issue, and the Piedmont experienced 87 new wildfire starts over the weekend alone. Extended attack and mop-up efforts will be taxing and long-winded until drought conditions improve.

Read news release: https://bit.ly/497dNht

04/15/2026

Bethlehem Community Fire & Rescue will be conducting hydrant maintenance throughout the month of May. This is a critical part of ensuring our hydrants are ready when you need us most.

Please keep an eye out for our members and apparatus working along the roads during morning and afternoon hours. Your caution helps keep everyone safe!

During hydrant testing, you might notice temporary cloudy or discolored water. This is normal and caused by stirred-up sediment in the pipes. If it happens:

Let your cold water tap run for a few minutes before use and try to avoid doing laundry in the morning and afternoon hours.

04/12/2026

During National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, Bethlehem Community Fire and Rescue would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Alexander County 9-1-1 & Emergency Management.

Your team is the critical first link in every call for help—providing calm, clear direction in moments of chaos and ensuring our crews have the information we need to respond effectively.

We are grateful for the partnership we share and the countless hours you spend serving our community behind the scenes. Your voice is often the first one heard in an emergency, and it makes all the difference.

Thank you for everything you do to support our department and protect the citizens of Alexander County.

03/30/2026

Recently Bethlehem Community Fire & Rescue celebrated our outstanding members who go above and beyond in service to our community.

Firefighter of the Year: Caleb Evan
Rookie of the Year: James Moser
Junior Firefighter of the Year: Brody Berrong
Department Before Self Award: Michael Farthing

These individuals represent the dedication, courage, and selflessness that define our department. We are grateful for their commitment and proud to recognize their achievements.

03/29/2026

🚫 BURN BAN IN EFFECT 🚫

A local and statewide burn ban is currently in effect due to dry conditions and increased fire danger. Please do not burn yard debris, trash, or any outdoor materials at this time.

Even small fires can quickly get out of control—help us protect lives, property, and our community.

Due to increased wildfire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28 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 those 100 feet.

Read news release: https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2026/03/28/statewide-burn-ban-issued-north-carolina-due-hazardous-forest-fire-conditions