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Brunswick County Fire Chiefs propose new funding recommendation after stakeholder meetings
Summary
Charles Drew, president of the Brunswick County Fire Chiefs Association, told county commissioners the association has unanimously recommended a new funding mechanism for local fire services after a July 30 meeting of chiefs that identified understaffing, aging equipment and rising costs.
Charles Drew, president of the Brunswick County Fire Chiefs Association, told the Brunswick County Board of Commissioners that the association has unanimously recommended a new countywide funding mechanism for fire services after a series of internal meetings.
Drew said the meetings were held at the urging of county officials, commissioners and mayors because “the current funding mechanism is not sustainable and adequate to support fire services in Brunswick County.” He told commissioners many departments are understaffed, equipment is aging and financial burdens have increased.
The association’s process included a July 30, 2025 meeting at the Winnebago Fire Department where the chiefs discussed four options and ultimately placed a single recommendation on the table. “3 of the 4 options presented did not receive any traction from any of the fire chiefs present. A majority of the fire chiefs did vote unanimously on a recommendation for a new funding mechanism,” Drew said, adding he emphasized to the board that the association’s action is a recommendation, not a demand.
Drew said the association has reached out to local elected leaders to vet the proposal. He said he and Chief McGee of the Calabash Fire Department, the association’s vice president, will meet with Brunswick County mayors on Aug. 15, 2025, to present the chiefs’ recommendation, listen to concerns, field questions and receive ideas. The association plans to reconvene Aug. 21, 2025, to review any adjustments before deciding how to present the recommendation to the county — either at a commissioners meeting or to the county manager and chair.
Drew framed the association’s approach as collaborative: “We come to you with an olive branch, not boxing gloves,” and said the chiefs expect any new funding mechanism will require compromises and new county contracts. He also disputed media or other claims that the chiefs had issued nonnegotiable demands.
Discussion in the meeting record did not show a formal county action on the chiefs’ recommendation; Drew concluded by asking for the opportunity to work collectively with the county to protect lives and property.
Next steps described by Drew were the mayoral meeting on Aug. 15 and the chiefs’ follow-up meeting on Aug. 21. The transcript does not show a timeline or formal county direction to staff to place a specific funding proposal on a future agenda.
