Residents urge stronger fire staffing; commissioners praise emergency response during winter storms
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Summary
A resident urged increased manpower for unincorporated fire departments after recent fires, and commissioners and staff praised county emergency-management response to the recent winter storm while discussing generator fuel and resilience planning.
A resident told the Gaston County Board of Commissioners Jan. 27 that limited staffing among unincorporated fire departments has hindered response to recent fires and can cost lives, prompting discussion of broader emergency-management planning by county leaders.
Joshua Brown of 1149 Knowles Drive recounted three December incidents in which limited staffing and equipment slowed response: a trailer fire on Dec. 3 where rescuers lacked manpower to extricate a resident, a Dec. 29 structure fire in the Riverbend Fire District where Brown said he waited for tanker support, and two two-alarm structure fires in Gastonia on Dec. 26 and Dec. 31 that depleted city resources and required mutual aid. Brown urged increased staffing levels at unincorporated departments, noting improved ISO ratings can lower insurance premiums for homeowners and businesses.
Commissioners and staff also reviewed the county’s broader winter-storm response. Commissioner Scott Sheehan praised Emergency Management and the county’s partners for preparation and response; Assistant County Manager Skiba and other staff described intergovernmental cooperation, including fuel support from the City of Gastonia and a school-district fueling truck staged at the CRC. Chair Chad Brownovich asked staff to examine options to convert standby generator fuel sources from diesel to natural gas to reduce fuel logistics challenges experienced during the storm.
Separately, Commissioner Jim Bailey spoke in the meeting’s other-matters segment about constituency requests asking the board to denounce ICE operations. Bailey said he would not do so, expressed support for law enforcement and military personnel, urged investigations to run their course and called for cooperation among local, state and federal agencies.
No formal board action was taken on staffing levels or generator conversions during the meeting; commissioners asked staff to consider options and report back.