Pender County Fire Marshal Amy Burton Named 2026 North Carolina Fire Marshal of the Year
PENDER COUNTY, N.C. (WWAY) — Pender County Fire Marshal Amy Burton has been named the 2026 North Carolina Fire Marshal of the Year.
The North Carolina Fire Marshals’ Association presented Burton with the award during its annual awards banquet in Greensboro, recognizing her leadership and service in fire prevention, life safety, code enforcement, fire investigations and community risk reduction.
Burton is the first woman to receive the North Carolina Fire Marshal of the Year award.
The recognition is the latest in a series of career milestones for Burton. In 2025, she became the first female Eastern Region Director in the history of the North Carolina Fire Marshals’ Association.
Burton was also the first female fire marshal in Pender County. Earlier in her career with the Town of Leland, she became the first woman to achieve the rank of EMS battalion chief.
Throughout her career, Burton has focused on public safety while helping develop those around her. Her nomination described her as a “transformative leader in fire prevention, life safety and code enforcement” and highlighted her commitment to mentorship and professional development.
As North Carolina’s Fire Marshal of the Year, Burton will be nominated for the National Fire Protection Association Fire Marshal of the Year award.
She is expected to travel to San Antonio, Texas, in June 2027 for the NFPA Conference, where she will represent North Carolina as a nominee for the national honor.
The national nomination will also provide an opportunity to highlight efforts in Pender County and across North Carolina aimed at strengthening fire prevention, life safety and community risk reduction.
