Northwest Harnett Fire Department

Our department would like to extend our sincerest appreciation to Mrs. Betts’ and Mrs. Lumoindong’s Fifth Grade Classes at Cape Fear Christian Academy for the generous donations of snacks/drinks given in remembrance of those who lost their lives on 9/11 and in honor of local first responders. All of these items will be greatly used during training sessions and while protecting lives and property. Thank you all again and may we all never forget those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on that dreadful day.🇺🇸

Please join us in congratulating Mason and Garrett Butts on receiving their Firefighter I and II Certification from the state and gaining their black helmets. Both of the twins have been with us since they were 16 years old and come from a family involved in the fire service, following in their grandpa and dad’s footsteps. We are very proud of all they have been able to accomplish and know that they will continue to be a vital asset to our community!

*Also, gentle reminder to review fire safety evacuation plans with your family and fire prevention tips with younger family members.

4th of July Special

NW Harnett wants to urge residents to be extra careful with Fireworks this year due to how dry it is. Firework accidents accounted for 9,700 Emergency Room visits just in 2023. Please take the time to understand firework laws and follow the below tips:

- Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks, including sparklers
- Make sure fireworks are legal before using or buying
- Keep a bucket of water or garden hose handy in case of fire or other mishaps
- Light fireworks one at a time and then move back quickly
- Never try to re-light or pick up fireworks that have not been ignited fully
- Never use fireworks while impaired by drugs or alcohol

For more firework safety tips, please visit www.cpsc.gov/fireworks

Please join us in congratulating Hailley Allen for completing the NC High School Firefighter Challenge this week at the Buncombe County Public Safety Training Facility/A-B Tech Woodfin Campus.

This is Hailley’s second year attending this training and for the second year in a row she was selected as overall class MVP by the instructors.

This is a physically and mentally intensive week of hands-on training, competition, and networking opportunities with NC OSFM staff and some of the leading fire instructors from across our state.

Remember to also practice fire safety and test your smoke alarms.

During the month of June, Northwest Harnett Fire Department wants to highlight the importance of Carbon Monoxide Detectors within your dwelling. CO detectors are a vital portion of home safety, especially if the presence of fireplaces, natural gas appliances or attached garages are within your home. Below are some facts and tips in regards to CO detectors.

- Carbon Monoxide is an odorless/colorless gas caused when fuels do not burn completely.
- Carbon Monoxide can cause ill effects with a high concentration over a short period or low concentrations over an extended period of time.
- Carbon Monoxide poisoning symptoms include shortness of breath, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, or headaches.
- Carbon Monoxide detectors can be found in conjunction with smoke detectors or solely powered by battery/wall outlets.
- CO detectors should be found on all floors within the house at a height of 3 to 5 foot from the floor.
- CO detectors should be replaced around 5-7 years or according to manufacturer’s instructions.

As always, if you have any further questions about fire safety or Carbon Monoxide dangers, reach out to us as we are always here for you!

May Fire Prevention Edition

With the vast amount of growth that our district is experiencing in new home construction, we want to bring a new topic to you. In the past couple of years, residential sprinkler systems are becoming increasingly popular and have proven to be an excellent fire protection device.

Over a period of 15 years, a recent study in Scottsdale, AZ has shown that residential fire sprinklers have lowered the average cost of fire loss from $45,000 to $2,166! Not only have residential sprinklers helped to save cost, the NFPA estimates that residential sprinklers decrease the probability of fire fatalities and injuries by 80%!

Talk with your general contractor and insurance companies about potential savings for installing residential sprinklers. Our department is always open to questions and can provide studies as to how these systems can make our community a safer place for you and your family.

Tonight, Northwest Harnett members officially moved into our new Station 3 off of 401 with our trucks. We are ready to serve the taxpayers further with our new station and decreased response times. We want to thank the community for their patience while we worked daily to meet this historic milestone. We would also like to thank Bobbitt Design Build for the delivery of our beautiful new facility and the hard work that went into making this happen. In the coming months, we will be announcing a date for a Station 3 open house for the community to be able to see the interior of our new facility.

If you or someone you know lives within our district and is curious about volunteering within our organization, please reach out as we are always accepting dedicated members!

Remember, the best fire prevention is to think of fire before it ever starts! We live by the motto “Fire safety first, prevent and protect”.

*Public Announcement*

There will be an increase in smoke around our district due to a large controlled burn at Raven Rock State Park. There is no reason for alarm and we are aware of the situation.

On Monday night, Operation BBQ Relief graciously visited our station to feed the guys on training night. We want to thank them for their community service and the deeds that they do for our community. Their food was absolutely delicious!

The weather is finally starting to warm up!
Grilling safety is crucial because it helps prevent accidents, fires, and injuries. Knowing how to grill safely reduces the risk of property damage and keeps people safe. It also ensures that food is cooked properly, avoiding food poisoning. Following safety rules and guidelines keeps grilling enjoyable and stress-free, allowing you to focus on good food and good times.

Fact:
Roughly half of injuries involving grills are thermal burns.

Below are a few helpful tips to avoid an accident while grilling as the warmer months approach:

1) Check the gas tank hose for leaks before using it for the first time each year.
2)If you smell gas while cooking, immediately step away from the grill and call 911.
3)Keep children and pets at least three feet away from the grill area.
4)Always make sure your gas grill lid is open before lighting it (Prevents explosion).
5)Always clean your grill before using to prevent grease fires.

Tonight was our quarterly mutual aid training. The importance of training with our mutual aid departments is vital for a strong working relationship if an incident calls for a mass response.

We want to thank Fuquay Varina Fire Department for providing a ladder truck and the valuable training on truck company operations. Also a big thank you to Summerville Bunnlevel Fire Rescue, Lillington Fire and Angier Black River Fire for taking time out of your night for some valuable training and fellowship.

Join us in congratulating Jason Jelen and Cameron Urquhart for gaining their black shield tonight. Jason and Cameron have given countless hours of service and dedication in the last year to get to this point with training in class and in house. Both of these individuals have come off of probationary status and are coming to a scene near you!

Northwest Harnett Fire Department wants to remind everyone that clocks are not the only item that needs attention this March. This is a friendly reminder to also change the batteries out in your smoke detectors!

Smoke detector batteries need to be changed every time we change our clocks. If your household has issues changing out your batteries or if you do not have working smoke alarms, please contact us or Harnett County Fire Marshall’s office and we will get you back squared away!

Smoke detectors save lives with early alarm!

Tonight Northwest Harnett Fire Department held our annual banquet to recognize all of our members for their contributions and success throughout the year. This event is for our members, board of directors, families and supporters of the department that allow us to serve our community and grow as professionals.

This year we recognized certain members for their accomplishments:

Cliff Behm - Firefighter of the Year
Lonnie Arnold - Andy Fredricks Training Award
Lonnie Arnold - Jerry Johnson Incident Response Award
Garrett Butts - Junior Firefighter Award
Bryan Barbour - Chief’s Award

Mike Williams - 15 Year Award
Bryan Barbour - 10 Year Award
Warren Locklear - 5 Year Award

*Santa Reminder - 12/23*

Santa will be at our Station 1 from 1 PM - 3 PM today for visits! Address of station 1 is 6015 Christian Light Rd. in Fuquay Varina.

After Santa’s visit today, we will be concluding our 2023 Santa ride with the following subdivisions starting at 3 PM.

Mason Point
Forrest Trails
Caley Drive
Allen Drive
Mill Branch
Captains Landing
Twin Fields
Lonnie Betts

We're looking to add some talented individuals to our growing team. Apply today!

Our first Santa route of 2023 is starting now!!!

We have spoken with the big man himself and set up our Santa routes for this year!!!! We have four dates next week when Santa will be escorted around neighborhoods in our fire district. Come outside when you hear the sirens for some Christmas cheer!!!

12/18/2023 6pm-8pm
-Highland Grove
-Prince Place
-Brier Woods
-Regal Crest
-Hammerstone
-Olive Branch
-Birchwood Grove
-Ballard Road Area
-Hectors Creek

12/20/2023 6pm-8pm
-Serinity
-Regal Wood
-Lake Point
-Rollins Road
-Lafayette Meadows
-Sherman Lakes
-Sherman Pines
-Hillard Road
-Magnolia

12/21/2023 6pm-8pm
-Dexterfield
-Avery Pond
-Pink Dogwood Area
-Mistywood
-Ironwood
-Lennie Smith Road
-Cokesbury Park
-Oak Haven
-Hidden Valley
-Rollins Mill Road
-Trulove Road Area
-Field Stone

12/23/2023
Santa @ Station 1 from 1pm-3pm
6015 Christian Light Road
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Route from 3pm-8pm
-Mason Point
-Forrest Trails
-Caley Drive
-Allen Drive
-Mill Branch
-Captains Landing
-Twin Fields
-Lonnie Betts

From our Family to your, Happy Thanksgiving!

Please practice good fire safety today, Thanksgiving annually has the greatest number of home cooking fires.

Planning on frying up a delicious bird 🦃 this Thanksgiving?

If so, please do it outside and away from your wooden deck or any combustible materials. If not, we may be paying you a visit 🔥🚒💨

This past Monday night 11/13 we conducted a controlled burn of an acquired structure on US 401. We had been using the house for training over the last couple months. The land owner was planning to demolish the house. Properties like these provide great training opportunities for local firefighters. Thank you to the land owner for allowing us to use the property.

❄️❄️ Cold weather is creeping in ❄️❄️

Review these space heater safety tips to keep you and your family fire safe during the colder months.

We need your help!!!!

Our Station #1 at 6015 Christian Light Road is an official drop of station for Toys For Tots. Please see this post for specifics.

You can drop off new and unwrapped toys at our Station #1 from now until December.

Members of Northwest Harnett VFD participated in the NC Extrication School at Sandhills Community College this weekend. This was great training for our members to work on their skills and learn new techniques and practice with different tools.

NC Extrication School, offered by NC OSFM, Sandhills Community College and NC Association of Rescue and EMS, Inc., is a weekend advanced hands-on practicals training program focused on best practices, up-to-date techniques, and latest equipment available to prepare first responders for a wide-range of extrication scenarios.

Last night Northwest Harnett Firefighters were able to participate in a joint commercial acquired structure training in Downtown Fuquay-Varina. Big thanks to Town of Fuquay-Varina Fire Department for helping plan this training and providing these great buildings. Great learning and brotherhood all around last night!

We are so very proud of our Assistant Chief of Operations Mike Williams on being named 947 QDR hometown hero! Mike is a dedicated member of our department and the glue that holds us together. Mike does so much for our fire district and all firefighters across the State of North Carolina. Congratulations Mike!!!!

Hometown Hero of the Week: Mike Williams, July 26th Our QDR Hometown Hero of the week is Mike Williams, Senior Deputy Commissioner of the NC Office of State Fire Marshal. Mike was nominated by his wife Kelly who says, "Mike has served his community as a volunteer firefighter for over 34 years and also as a paid firefighter and law enforcement offi