Pender EMS & Fire employees will become county employees as most emergency services shift under county management

PENDER COUNTY, N.C. — Pender County will take over emergency medical and fire services on July 5, completing a consolidation effort that has been more than a year in the making.

The Pender County Board of Commissioners voted 4-1 in June 2025 to bring fire and EMS operations under county management, WECT reported. Commissioners cited concerns that the EMS and Fire board of directors had not provided documents showing how county funds were spent.

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The consolidation plan, known as Option B, is expected to cost $1,821,130. It will merge most emergency services departments under the county, except the Rocky Point and Maple Hill fire departments.

Pender EMS & Fire employees will become Pender County employees with full county benefits under the consolidation. Volunteers from Pender EMS & Fire and Penderlea Fire Department will remain active, and emergency services equipment and property will transfer to the county.

The new Pender County Emergency Services department will include fire, EMS, emergency management, logistics, communications, training and the fire marshal’s office, all overseen by an emergency services director.

County officials said response times, station locations and staffing will not change. Vehicles and equipment will be rebranded over time, so residents may see multiple agency names during the transition.

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