At the Dec. 1 Onslow County Board of Commissioners meeting, longtime volunteer fire chief Kevin Rouse told the board he and other volunteers are worried about the future of volunteer fire departments and asked commissioners to make decisions that preserve those community services.

Rouse, who identified himself as former chief of Backswamp Volunteer Fire Department, said some history and institutional memory “was pretty much thrown at you” during recent organizational changes and expressed concern that a volunteer‑first responder master plan has left volunteer departments "sailing in uncharted waters." He emphasized that volunteer and paid firefighters meet the same state training standards and that volunteers serve “out of the love of their hearts.”

Commissioners responded during the comment and commissioner‑comment periods by thanking Rouse for his service and emphasizing the county’s intent to support volunteer departments. Commissioner Bennett said the fire‑service strategic plan is designed to identify how the county should support volunteers over the next 10 years and called preservation of heritage important to sustaining those services.

Several commissioners noted operational challenges for volunteers, including aging equipment and the rising cost of fire apparatus; Commissioner Padgett observed that a new ladder or truck can cost more than $1 million today.

The remarks came amid a broader discussion of public safety, county staffing and the board’s strategic plan. Commissioners unanimously expressed gratitude for volunteers’ service and signaled they will use the strategic‑planning process to guide funding and support decisions.

No formal action was taken during public comment; commissioners said implementation questions will be addressed through the county’s ongoing strategic planning and budget processes.