Pantego Vol. Fire Department - Station 83

05/04/2026

Thank you to our fellow firefighters, near and far, for the dedication and commitment it takes to respond to the call of their community and surrounding areas. We appreciate you. We see you. We are thankful for you.

05/03/2026

Most people assume community fire protection and rescue response comes from full-time, paid crews—but across the United States, the backbone of emergency response is the volunteer fire service. According to the National Fire Protection Association, roughly two-thirds of firefighters in the U.S. are volunteers. That means when a call comes in—house fire, car crash, medical emergency, lift assist, yes even “a cat in tree”—it’s often your neighbor leaving dinner, work, or sleep to respond.

That reality says something deeper about community. Volunteer fire departments aren’t just about putting out fires; they’re about shared responsibility. They exist because people choose to step forward and say, “If something happens here, I’ll be part of the solution.” In rural and small-town, without volunteers, there would not be anyone available so you would wait for nearest town to respond. Pantego closest paid department would be City of Washington.

I believe that being involved in your community—whether through the fire department, EMS, support roles, or in political leadership—builds resilience that government programs alone simply can't replicate (or, often even afford). It creates trust, accountability, and a sense that people are not alone when things go wrong. I've been with people experiencing their worst day, and that matters. It's good to know that you're not just protected by a system; you’re protected by people who know you, live near you, and care about the outcome.

Volunteer fire departments remind us that community isn’t an abstract idea—it’s action. It’s showing up when it matters most. I have an enormous amount of respect for the men and women who serve in volunteer fire departments, and I'm honored to be apart of one too. Volunteer's don't always have the time, but they have "the heart" and “the passion".

05/02/2026

04/27/2026

Update on Burn Ban!! Keep in mind, this includes but not limited to little piles, big piles, fire pits, trash and farm fields. Also, during a burn ban, all burning permits are considered revoked.

The statewide burn ban remains in effect until further notice despite weekend rain in some areas. Persistent dry weather and increasing rainfall deficits from the last several months have left most of the state needing 10 inches of rain or more.

“While the rainfall we received over the weekend was a welcome sight, it offered little to no relief from widespread drought conditions while being nowhere near enough to reduce our wildfire risk,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “Even the areas that received the heaviest amount of rain will quickly dry out from the sunshine and warmer temperatures. Until we get some additional rain and see more green-up in our forests, holding the burn ban in place statewide is the best option right now.”

While green-up and leaf-out are progressing at normal rate, low soil moisture, dry surface fuels and persistent low humidity are contributing to wildfire activity. For Western North Carolina, excessive forest fuels from Hurricane Helene are more available now than they were in 2025, low water levels in coastal areas have helped produce intense fire behavior where ground fire will likely be a long-term issue, and the Piedmont experienced 87 new wildfire starts over the weekend alone. Extended attack and mop-up efforts will be taxing and long-winded until drought conditions improve.

Read news release: https://bit.ly/497dNht

04/22/2026

Friendly Reminder!

04/15/2026

Stop burning! This includes yard debris (no matter how small), farm fields, “controlled burns”, etc.

Since the state-issued ban on open burning was enacted March 28, a total of 554 wildfires has burned more than 2,200 acres across the state. With little rainfall or improvement expected over the next 7-10 days, the statewide burn ban and enforcement action will continue until further notice.

Of the 554 wildfires that have burned since the burn ban took effect, only four have been determined to be the result of lightning strikes. Preliminary data indicates that 152 of those 554 wildfires were determined to be human caused, with the remainder listed as unknown or undetermined, likely pending law enforcement investigation and action. Since the state’s burn ban took effect, 150 citations have been issued for illegal burning.

During a state-issued burn ban, the same N.C. Forest Service personnel providing initial and extended attack for wildfire response are providing the necessary enforcement action to support the ban on open burning. Reducing the number of new ignitions is critical for sustaining adequate resource availability for an extended period, making state-issued bans a necessary tool for keeping wildfires contained and as small as possible until fully extinguished.

The public is urged to abide by the burn ban and to use extreme caution with farm equipment, machines, mowers, vehicles on dry grass, smoking materials such as ci******es, anything that can throw a spark. In current high-risk conditions, these could be a possible fire source. While not classified as open burning and not affected by the state’s ban on open burning, they are still contributors to new fire starts across the state.

Read news release: https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2026/04/14/statewide-burn-ban-and-enforcement-continue-dry-conditions-persist

04/14/2026

Today’s burn ban update.

Hazardous Weather Update 4.14.26

🔥 The combination of dry fuels, very warm temperatures, gusty winds, and reduced humidity will lead to an increased risk of wildfires again today.

🍂 Most dry grasses, dead leaves, and other tree litter could easily ignite and spread fire quickly.

❌ A statewide burn ban issued by the N.C. Forest Service remains in place.

For tips on how you can be prepared for wildfires, visit https://www.readync.gov/wildfire

04/13/2026

Our June 13th Concealed Carry class is now full! We will post if anyone drops out before then. Also planning another class in the fall for those who didn’t get a chance to take this one.

04/12/2026

There are only 4 open seats left for our Concealed Carry class on June 13th. If we have responded to you, your names on the list.