By Ali Rockett
The Fayetteville Observer
RAEFORD, N.C. — Fire departments in eastern Hoke County are trying to keep up with the population and development boom near the Cumberland County line.
What were once volunteer departments have now added full-time firefighters to account for the increased volume that has jumped from about 300 fire calls per year to more than 400 per department per year.
Puppy Creek station, just off Pittman Grove Church Road, on Thursday started 24-hour shifts. Hillcrest earlier this year built a $1 million addition to its facility on U.S. 401 Business, doubling the number of engines the department can house from four to eight — and there’s room to add more.
Hoke is one of the fastest-growing counties in the U.S., with a 28 percent population increase from 2000 to 2010, according to census data.
Between 2000 and 2012, the number of housing units increased 52 percent from 12,518 units to 19,118.
Despite this growth, no department in the county has a ladder or platform firetruck, which is needed to fight flames in any building three stories or taller.
“We really have had no need for it,” said Freddy Johnson, senior emergency management director and fire marshal in Hoke County. “But the need is coming now.”
Within the past year, about 400 three-story apartments were built — and another 800 are coming, Johnson said. Two hospitals have started construction along the commercial and residential corridor that connects Fayetteville and Raeford.
The same corridor has a large Walmart shopping center and Paraclete XP SkyVenture, the five-story indoor sky-diving center.
Puppy Creek Fire Chief John Joseph said his department has not responded to a fire at these facilities where a ladder truck was specifically needed.
Should that happen, Joseph said, Puppy Creek has an agreement with Fayetteville’s Lake Rim department, which is just across the county line, to dispatch their ladder truck.
Lake Rim is dispatched to any commercial or three-story structure fires in Hoke County at the same time as county engines.
According to Fayetteville Battalion Chief Ron Lewis, the Lake Rim ladder truck is one of four trucks that the city Fire Department has in service.
Three departments, Rockfish, Hillcrest and Puppy Creek, have seen the brunt of the growth, Johnson said.
“They have been proactive to stay ahead of the growth,” Johnson said.
The Hoke County commissioners this fiscal year upped Puppy Creek’s fire tax rate 2 cents — from 6 cents to 8 cents per $100 property valuation, Johnson said. That brings in about $750,000 a year to cover its seven full-time employees, insurance and benefits, maintenance and equipment costs.
Joseph said along with hiring full-time firefighters to cover 24-hour shifts, the station expanded its volunteer roster from 40 to 50 people. He said they are looking for more volunteers.
Johnson said the department has discussed purchasing a ladder truck, which could cost nearly $1 million.
Johnson said he predicts within five years, all three departments will need ladders. He said they will all become full-time, 24-hour services responding to fires and emergency medical calls. Currently, only Rockfish runs EMS calls.
“It’s the growth that has necessitated the planning,” he said. “People in that area are going to demand (these services).”
Staff writer Ali Rockett can be reached at rocketta@fayobserver.com or 910-486-3528.
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