Changes, upgrades expected for county fire departments

By Lisa Majors-Duff

To that end, some $800,000 has been earmarked in next year's county budget for use by seven volunteer fire departments and two rescue squads. The breakdown by department is proposed as follows: Cashiers, $105,000 ($15,000 each for both its substations); Cullowhee, $90,000 ($15,000 for its one substation); $75,000 each for Sylva, Canada, Savannah, Balsam and Qualla; and $45,000 each for Jackson County and Glenville-Cashiers rescue squads.

The total includes a $136,500 capital projects account to be pulled from for facility maintenance or when departments face emergency needs and $84,679 to hire and equip a fire marshal, whose duties would include inspection of required facilities (including schools, hospitals, places of public assembly and major industrial businesses) public education and working with fire departments to secure grants.

Additionally, some $12,000 has been set aside for Highlands and Maggie Valley fire departments, which respond to calls for assistance in Jackson County. During a meeting in January with commissioners, fire chiefs expressed appreciation for the additional funding, which should be used to cover operational expenses and in lieu of requests for the county to purchase emergency vehicles.

Also at that meeting, three chiefs - David Bell from Qualla, Tim Green from Cullowhee and Johnny Nicholson from Balsam - announced expansion plans they hoped to undertake during the upcoming fiscal year.

Caney Fork to get substation

Caney Fork community members continue to make plans for a fire substation, and the county budget includes $21,752 to support the construction of a building on Caney Fork Road sometime this fall and spring. The substation will be operated by the Cullowhee Fire Department.

Caney Fork is the last, largest community within Jackson County without a fire station or substation within its boundaries. According to Terry Ashe, treasurer for Cullowhee Fire Department, the substation is long overdue.

With more than 2,000 residents living miles from a fire station, coverage has at times been inadequate and insurance companies are sometimes reluctant to provide fire insurance, said CDC President Donald Selzer.

A site for the new substation was recommended to commissioners by a committee of Cullowhee Fire Department members and community representatives in February. According to community representative Ron Stephens, who helped make the presentation, a site at or close to the Caney Fork Community Building would put the largest number of residents within the 6-mile limit insurance companies consider when assessing fees for homeowners.

"Although the location has not been finalized, the most likely building site will be on the community building grounds at the far end of the parking lot, away from the playground equipment and community building," Selzer said.

Discussions continue between community representatives and the county concerning details for the building and its financing. It is anticipated that the Caney Fork Community Development Council will plan, finance and construct the building, with reimbursements from the county to fully repay the debt incurred by the CDC, said Selzer.

The Caney Fork Community Development Council has already begun to raise funds to support the substation. As part of that effort, a barbecue and raffle will be held this Saturday, June 7, at the East LaPorte River Access Park on N.C. 107. The event will include live music throughout the evening.

Qualla considering substation

Plans to improve fire protection services for residents of Qualla community have run the gamut, from a new site and building to a new building at the current site to a substation, said Assistant Chief Kent Moore.

"Our plans for a new location have been put on hold," Moore said. "Now we're considering a substation near Barkers Creek and staying where we are." Qualla Fire and Rescue has been located in the old Qualla School for nearly 20 years. But the department has outgrown the building, which is more than 60 years old and in poor condition, officials say.

A site for a new building near Wilmot had been located and settled upon, Moore said, until a more detailed investigation of the property proved it would not suit the department's needs.

"Anything (property) on (U.S. 441) is in the $250,000 range," said Moore. "The cost to construct a building on top of that seemed to be pretty high."

Talks with commissioners are continuing, Moore said, and plans to raze the old school building to make room from a new station have not been abandoned.

Balsam to get new address

Firefighters in Balsam are moving forward with plans to change their address from the current site on Woodfin Road to U.S. 23-74 near Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. A 3-acre tract was recently purchased from Pearl Henson and site work has begun, said Chief Nicholson.

"We'd like to move as soon as possible," Nicholson said. "But we're still in the planning stage."

Much like Qualla, Balsam has outgrown its 22-year-old building. While that site will most likely be kept for storage, the new department will include four bays, a meeting room, kitchen and office space, he said.

"Jackson County is growing," Nicholson said. "We need more equipment to cover our area and a place to house it."

As a clear sign of this growth, Nicholson points to three new housing developments under construction in the Balsam-Ochre Hill-Willets area. These include the Balsam Mountain Preserve on Sugar Loaf, North Fork in the Woodfin area and the Dunn Estates on Cabin Flats.

Once plans are more solidified, Balsam fire department representatives will approach the county commissioners about financing options.

"That may not even happen in this budget year," Nicholson said. "We've got a lot we'd like to get done before we start on the building."

Moving the station from its present location will not affect anyone in the coverage area, the chief said. One reason for this is changes recently approved by the N.C. Department of Insurance, which extended all department coverage areas from 5 to 6 miles, including Balsam.

Another reason, one which isn't immediately obvious, is the fact that fully-loaded trucks will have an easier time climbing Balsam Mountain with a "running start" through Willets straights as opposed to a "dead pull" from mid-way up the road, he said.

A public hearing on the 2003-04 proposed county budget, which includes emergency funding, has been scheduled for 5 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, at the Justice Center.

Back to Headlines.