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Louisburg fire department seeks funding to form swift-water rescue team after Tar River drowning
Summary
The Louisburg Fire Department reported plans to stand up a county swift-water rescue team, estimated cost about $45,000; local business Powell donated $4,000 toward initial funding and the department is soliciting further donations and fundraising.
Louisburg — In the wake of a recent drowning in the Tar River, the Louisburg Fire Department told the Town Council on April 8 that it will pursue a county-level swift-water rescue team and is seeking donations to cover start-up costs.
The department reported an estimated cost of about $45,000 to equip a team of eight personnel and said Powell (a local business) donated $4,000 to the effort. "The project has, it's gonna cost about 45,000 to get it up and running with 8 personnel," the fire representative, Jamie, told the council. The department said it will host training classes and open membership to other county departments once funding and equipment are secured.
The chief also reported operational equipment needs discovered since the recent onboarding, including a failed hose discovered during testing and turnout-gear issues. The hose was reported to have failed state standards and will be replaced. The department said it recently hired one full-time staffer from its part-time roster and is working through reclassification and HR steps to fill two full-time vacancies.
Why it matters: The swift-water rescue capability is intended to allow local responders to attempt timely rescues on the Tar River rather than waiting for outside resources. The reported costs and the request for donations signal the department's plan to build local capacity quickly.
Details and next steps: The fire department said it will distribute a fundraising flyer and pursue community and business donations; it has scheduled a June meeting to build partnerships and finalize funding. The department named nearby agencies (Rocky Mount, Wake Forest) that have been called for past incidents and said the goal is to reduce reliance on outside teams.
Public involvement: The department is preparing a flyer and has discussed fundraising partnerships (including an ABC-store fundraiser) to solicit community contributions.
Outlook: The department will continue equipment replacement and training work and follow up with Council on funding progress and scheduled training.
