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Edgecombe County adds daytime paid staff to support volunteer fire departments
Summary
County officials introduced two daytime firefighting employees and two new apparatus funded in large part by federal recovery funds; the new paid crew will respond to commercial and confirmed residential fires to support volunteer departments during weekday hours.
Edgecombe County officials introduced two newly hired daytime fire staff and a three-vehicle operational plan Monday, describing the personnel as a paid “manpower squad” intended to support volunteer fire departments during weekday hours.
County emergency services staff said the effort was funded in part with $1.5 million from state or federal recovery funding linked to a prior regional event. Antoine Brown, director of emergency services, and county manager staff announced that Captain Desmond Thorne and firefighter Jade Lyons will staff an engine and a secondary unit during daytime hours (Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) out of the county emergency operations center. The county also has a brush/skid-unit for initial response to brush and smaller incidents.
Officials said the paid crew will respond to commercial structure fires, confirmed residential structure fires and instances where volunteer departments require supplemental daytime support. County staff stressed the arrangement is intended as a supplement — not a replacement — for local volunteer departments.
County leaders noted the staffing addresses daytime coverage gaps when volunteers may be at work and helps protect property and first responders. The county manager said the program is an interim step while the county explores longer-term options to build capacity and ensure reliable daytime response across the jurisdiction.
The board welcomed the new hires and asked staff to continue reporting outcomes and coordination with volunteer fire departments.
