Residents press Onslow commissioners to fund volunteer fire departments; commissioners point to contract requirements

A resident and volunteer advocates pressed the Onslow County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 18 to prioritize capital funding for long‑standing volunteer fire departments amid a broader county push to reorganize fire and emergency services.

"Volunteer departments have been here through hurricanes, wildfires, wrecks, and structure fires without fanfare and without the full support they deserve," said Elliot Jarman, a resident who told the board volunteer units received no capital improvement funding in the county’s current plan and asked commissioners to "take a hard look at your budget…