State awards funding to volunteer fire departments across Bladen, Columbus and Pender counties

RALEIGH, NC (WWAY) — More than $389,000 in state grant funding is going to volunteer fire departments in Bladen, Columbus and Pender counties.

The North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal approved more than $12 million through the Volunteer Fire Department Fund program for Fiscal Year 2026.

Locally, eight departments in Bladen County received a total of $219,617.22, while eight departments in Columbus County received $125,719.72. Two departments in Pender County received a combined $44,532.89.

Departments receiving funding in Bladen County include Bay Tree Lakes Volunteer Fire Department, Bladenboro Fire Department, Carvers Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Clarkton Fire Department, Kelly Volunteer Fire Department, Ammon Volunteer Fire Department, East Arcadia Volunteer Fire Department and White Lake Fire Department.

In Columbus County, grants were awarded to Bolton Volunteer Fire and Rescue, Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department, Nakina Fire & Rescue Squad, North Whiteville Volunteer Fire Department, Old Dock/Cypress Creek Volunteer Fire Department and Auxiliary, Roseland Volunteer Fire Department, St. James Volunteer Fire Department and Williams Township Community Volunteer Fire Department.

In Pender County, the Atkinson Fire Department and Maple Hill Volunteer Fire Department received funding.

The grant program helps volunteer fire departments purchase equipment and make capital improvements.

Statewide, the Office of State Fire Marshal received 647 applications by the March 1 deadline. Of those, 555 applications met requirements for review and 463 departments were approved for funding.

“Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of emergency response in many of our North Carolina communities,” State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor said. “These grants provide critical equipment and resources that help keep firefighters safe while ensuring departments can continue protecting the people they serve.”

OSFM says firefighter safety remains the top priority of the program. Turnout gear had the highest number of approved requests this year, totaling 1,939 items including boots, coats, gloves, helmets, pants and hoods.

The grants will also support capital improvement projects, new fire apparatus, fire hoses and rescue tools.