By Michelle Piper
The Free Press
KINSTON, N.C. — The Kinston Fire and Rescue Department is known for rushing to the scene of a fire or accident, but they also help fix flag poles and install car seats.
Administrative Cmdr. Earnest Davis said many firefighters will take on duties like fire investigations, home and building inspections, car seat installation, giving out directions, painting fire hydrants, changing tires, installing smoke detectors and attending public events on top of their regular duties as a firefighter.
“We get real involved in the community,” Davis said.
Davis said if the department receives any calls, regardless of what it is, they will figure a way to solve the problem.
Administrative Capt. William Barss said the department likes to be a part of any kind of community service that they can be.
“We want to make sure our community is served correctly,” Barss said.
Residents can call the department or drop by the main station on Vernon Avenue for inspections, pre-plans, car seat installation and home safety inspections, all of which are free.
“We have someone who is certified on every shift,” Davis said.
When installing car seats, firefighters will make sure they are not expired, recalled or damaged from previous wrecks.
“We try to help people get new car seats through Safe Kids if we find one like that,” Davis said.
The department has also has had a few calls to fix flagpoles at different parks or local businesses.
“We’ve put the ladder up and put a new rope in it,” Davis said. “It’s easier for us to do it.”
Barss said public education and fire prevention is a big part of what he and the firefighters do on a daily basis.
“We have different ways to reach the kids with the age-old message of fire safety, but we try to use the most recent ways to reach them,” he said.
The department wants to make sure everything residents might need is done quickly and efficiently.
“We do a lot of things that a lot of people in the community don’t know we do,” Davis said.
Copyright 2016 The Free Press