Oak Island Beach Services to merge with Ocean Rescue Unit

OAK ISLAND, NC (WWAY) — Two of Oak Island’s beach units are merging ahead of the summer season. 

Oak Island Beach Services—which operates under the town’s police department—and the Ocean Rescue Unit, which operates under the fire department, will both be brought under the fire department. 

The new unit will expand current services to patrol the beach 7 days a week. On Wednesday, new signs were placed at beach access points across the island as the two units make the transition. 

Fire Chief Lee Price said the merger will allow for streamlined operations. 

“In discussions with the police chief, the town manager, and myself, we felt that to provide better efficiencies on the beach is we would consolidate the units, enhancing on the safety, education, response and enforcement part of things,” Price said. 

The merger will not affect Oak Island Water Rescue, which operates as private entity.  

The merger is expected to be complete by May 15. The department also has some ocean rescue positions available. For those interested, the Ocean Rescue Academy starts on April 14.