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Fire chief reports training, call volumes and pushes for stricter development burn limits; aldermen press for west-end station
Summary
Fire Chief Blockley reported 2,229 calls for service (June 1, 2025–May 31, 2026), thousands of training hours, and large prevention numbers; discussion centered on complaints from a 311-acre development burn pile and repeated requests to study a west-end fire station to improve response times.
Fire Chief Blockley told the New Bern Board of Aldermen the fire-rescue department responded to 2,229 calls for service between June 1, 2025 and May 31, 2026 and recorded 28,712 hours of training during the same period. He highlighted prevention efforts — 524 smoke alarms installed, 51 car-seat checks, 333 alarm-battery replacements and nearly 10,000 children reached through outreach programs.
On apparatus, the chief said one new truck is expected to arrive later this summer and go into service after inspections; an apparatus committee will make a final inspection before local delivery. On station coverage, aldermen said growth on the west side has driven repeated concerns about response times. Chief Blockley said trends show a need for an additional west-end station and that staff will return with project information as economic development and development agreements evolve.
A large part of the discussion focused on debris burning for recent developments. The chief described the permitting rules: developers must obtain burn permits from state and city authorities, the city has used a 1,500-foot buffer for some recent large projects (exceeding usual 500–1,000-foot standards), and typically crews may not add material to burn piles after 3 p.m. Nonetheless, aldermen and residents described smoke intrusion, and the chief said the city can choose stricter limits or decline permits — though denying permits may push burning to county land just outside the city limits. Several aldermen asked staff to research other municipalities’ bans or tighter rules and return recommendations.
Alderman Best and others said the board should prioritize station siting as development continues in the west. Chief Blockley noted HQ and Elizabeth Station split many calls and that some far-edge responses can exceed 10 minutes; he said that earlier studies also identified a west-end station as a priority and the item will be addressed in upcoming economic-development project schedules.
The board took no immediate ordinance action but asked staff to research municipal burn rules and return options for restricting or better regulating debris burning within city limits.
