Pender County will take over fire and medical services on July 5 after a year-long consolidation effort.
According to WECT 6 News, the Pender County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 in June 2025 to approve the consolidation. The plan, called Option B, had a cost of $1,821,130. It would merge most emergency services departments, excluding the Rocky Point and Maple Hill fire departments.
The details of the consolidation include Pender Fire & EMS employees becoming Pender County employees with full county benefits, volunteers from Penderlea Fire Department and Pender Fire & EMS will remain active and equipment and property will be transfered to the county. Additionally, response times, station location and staffing will not change and vehicles and equipment wil be rebranded over time.
“Pender County will continue working with all departments within the county, including volunteer and municipal, to create a long-term plan for station location and service delivery models, ensuring all our dedicated first responder agencies have a voice in the future of Pender County Emergency Services,” county officials said.
The new Pender County Emergency Services will be overseen by an emergency services director and will include a fire marshal’s office, fire and EMS divisions, emergency management, logistics, field communications, and training and professional development.
