m., Clay County Fire & Rescue was dispatched to the Recreation Park Campground for a report of a man who had fallen from a kayak and was in distress.

Firefighters, paramedics from Clay County EMS, deputies from the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, rescue swimmers, and the department’s rescue boat arrived within minutes. Upon arrival, responders were advised that the victim had gone underwater and had ... (Full Story)

The presentation covered our staffing model, call volume growth, apparatus and equipment replacement needs, facility concerns, and comparisons with neighboring fire departments as well as several North Carolina departments with similar populations and call volumes. We also discussed how future funding decisions could impact service levels, response capabilities, and our ability to maintain current ... (Full Story & Photos)

Medical Emergency: 36
Motor Vehicle Collision: 2
Residential Structure Fire: 1
Carbon Monoxide Alarm: 2
Gas Leak: 1... (Full Story & Photos)

It’s a great safety feature, and when a real emergency occurs, it can help get responders on the way quickly. However, we’ve noticed a growing number of these alerts are being triggered when a phone falls from a moving vehicle after being left on a roof, hood, trunk, or truck bed.

In fact, the majority of automatic crash detection alerts we respond to end up being a phone that took an unexpected ... (Full Story & Photos)

Medical Emergency: 27
Motor Vehicle Collision: 1
Utility Fire: 1
Smoke Investigation: 1... (Full Story & Photos)

Medical Emergency: 49
Vehicle Fire: 1
Motor Vehicle Collision: 2
Fire Alarm: 3... (Full Story & Photos)

Medical Emergency: 31
Outside/Brush Fire, Illegal Burning or Smoke investigation: 2
Motor Vehicle Collision: 2
Fire Alarm: 1
Structure Fire: 1
Search and Rescue: 2... (Full Story & Photos)

Assistant Chief King dedicated 40 years of service to the Town of Murphy and its citizens, answering the call whenever his community needed him. Four decades of service is a remarkable legacy, and one that reflects true dedication to the fire service and to the people he protected.

His impact continues to be felt today through his family’s continued service to the Murphy Fire Department, carrying ... (Full Story & Photos)

Just before noon, firefighters located the hiker and determined there was no emergency. Their cell phone had died, preventing them from checking in with family as planned.

This incident serves as an important reminder to always have a plan before venturing into the woods or onto the trails. Let someone know where you are going, when you expect to return, and have a backup plan in case your phone ... (Full Story)

Medical Emergency: 33
Outside/Brush Fire, Illegal Burning or Smoke investigation: 3
Motor Vehicle Collision: 1
Fire Alarm: 2
Weather Damage Assessment: 3
Structure Fire: 1
Gas Leak: 2
Water Rescue: 1... (Full Story & Photos)