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N.C. town ends volunteer firefighter program amid low turnout, shifts focus to full-time staffing

With only a handful of volunteers responding, Mocksville officials will end the volunteer program this month and ramp up daily staffing and training for full-time firefighters

August 18, 2025 12:31 PM • 
Bill Carey

MOCKSVILLE, N.C. — Mocksville will end its volunteer firefighter program at the end of August.

The town manager said the decision, made with the fire chief, follows a sharp decline in volunteer turnout on calls.

| SPECIAL REPORT: What Firefighters Want in 2025

Career firefighters handled about 1,000 runs in 2024 while only a small share of the program’s six volunteers responded, WXII reported.

The town is working to increase daily staffing and prioritize training for its full-time firefighters.

“The Town is fully committed to public safety and the safety of its team members,” Town Manager H. Lee Rollins said in a statement to WFMY. “This requires taking continued steps to increase daily staffing on apparatus to ensure the Mocksville Fire Department has a safe and effective response.”

What’s the best way to address declining volunteer firefighter turnout?



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Bill Carey
Bill Carey
Bill Carey is the associate editor for FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. A former Maryland volunteer firefighter, sergeant, and lieutenant, Bill has written for several fire service publications and platforms. His work on firefighter behavioral health garnered a 2014 Neal Award nomination. His ongoing research and writings about line-of-duty death data is frequently cited in articles, presentations, and trainings. Have a news tip? He can be reached at news@lexipol.com.