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Fire chief: Pelletier-area EMS calls growing; department operating on two ambulances
Summary
West Carter Fire & EMS Chief Hunter reported 156 district calls in December and said the district is now responding to nearly 2,100 calls annually after mergers and population growth; the department is operating effectively with two ambulances (one currently in shop).
PELLETIER — West Carter Fire & EMS Chief Hunter told the board the district handled 156 calls in December and continues to see rising annual demand tied to population growth and service-area changes.
"Total of a 156 calls for the month of December," Chief Hunter said, adding that Pelletier recorded 22 calls in the month with roughly 16 EMS calls among them. He said EMS responses make up about 70–75% of the department's workload.
Hunter said the district is responding to nearly 2,100 calls a year since the 2017 merger with Stella Fire Department and population increases. "Now the total population for our district is over 12,000 people, and we're running almost 2,100 calls a year," he said.
The chief noted resource constraints: the department is effectively operating on two ambulances and one vehicle was in the shop at the time of the report. He attributed a drop in mutually provided calls from neighboring Onslow County to that county's staffing increases after the district raised concerns in September.
Hunter also announced personnel news: the district's fire inspector, Scott Williamson, retired and Bob Penrod — a retired Camp Lejeune and Swansboro chief — will serve as the new fire marshal and will be meeting local staff this week.
Board members expressed appreciation for the department's response record and asked that monthly data continue to be provided. Chief Hunter said the ILA (interlocal agreement) will receive an end-of-month report and appointed members will make the report available to the board.
