The Firefighter Fall 2021 East

Black Mountain IAFF Local 5246 In an emotional funeral ceremony on Tuesday, PFFPNC President Scott Mullins knelt in front of grieving widow to present her with the IAFF Martin E. Pierce Medal of Honor, the highest award given by the IAFF, in memorial of Black Mountain Firefighter Garrett Presnell. Presnell died of COVID-19 on August 31 at age 28 and is survived by his wife Kelsey, who is expecting a daughter they planned to name Kora. The solid gold medal etched with the words “Honor and Sacrifice” is named after a Boston firefighter who spent his life working on behalf of firefighters. “Garrett's name will also be forever memorialized in the granite walls of the the IAFF Fallen Fire Fighter Memorial located in the shadow of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado,” said Mullins after the ceremony. “Our fallen brother will join every other firefighter who has perished in the line of duty.” Presnell was a proud member of the Professional Fire Fighters of Black Mountain (Local 5246), located just outside Asheville.

The funeral included an outpouring of grief from the communities Presnell served, including Buncombe County where he served on Task Force 2, which led water rescues just weeks ago as Tropical Storm Fred left the community devastated with lives lost.

Like many professional firefighters, Presnell also worked part-time at area fire departments, including North Cove, Pleasant Gardens, Old Fort, and volunteered for Sugar Hill-Montfort Cove Fire Department. Presnell also taught classes on selfrescue and how to save oneself in a medical and fire emergency.

To watch the 90-minute funeral service, including Mullins’ presentation of the IAFF memorial medal, click this video captured by WLOS and posted on its Facebook page.

Locals 3286 and 4633 (OBX)

PFFPNC political director Josh Smith traveled to Currituck County in the western part of North Carolina, alongside District Vice President Ben Bobzene to meet with local IAFF leaders to asssit in building the Fire and EMS Professioanals of Currituck County. Constant contact from PFFPNC with members statewide is critical to ensure all local’s remain up to date on the latest information from the state organization but also to ensure the needs of the local’s are being met by PFFPNC.

HICKORY IAFF LOCAL 2653 Local 2653 President John Warren (left) alongside Conover Fire Department firefighter Ricky Allen.

Brother Allen has recently received a cancer diagnosis and Local 2653 members extended a helping hand to assist in ensuring he and his family are taken care of both financailly and mentally during his upcoming trying times.

Conover Fire Department is also located in Catawba County, home to IAFF Local 2653.

HICKORY IAFF LOCAL 2653

Each fall, the Hickory Fire Fighters Association award two scholarships to members or their children who are futuring their education. This year, Local 2653 was proud to be able to contribute to four of their members children to assist ease the financial burden associated with college expenses. Pictured top left is Local 2653 member Tom Oxentine and his daughter; Emma. Top right is Local 2653 member Nick Reese and son Noah. Bottom left is the Kelsey; daughter of Local 2653 member Chris Wise. Bottom right is Clayon; son of Local 2653 member Jeffrey Boggs.

Congratulations on your recent high school graduations and good luck on your college journeys!

With Halloween right around the corner, PFFPNC would like to provide a few tips for children across the state as well as their parents to assist in ensuring a COVID-19 safe night of trick-or-treating. These tips provided by the International Association of Fire Fighters are just a few ways our little goblins can remain as safe as possible!

Sunday November 7, 2021 will mark the end of daylight savings time.

Your professional fire fighters across the state remind you that when you change you set your clocks back; this is an excellent time to change the batteries in your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your residence. With the constant evolving technology in these proven life saving detectors, lithium ion battiers may be present that do not require or allow changing. Some of these newer batteries can last up to ten years and only need to be tested. Often, they are labeled when they are manufactured as well as the expected life span of the batteries. If you find this is the case, simply press and hold the test button on the detector to ensure proper operation. If you need assistance or are not sure what kind of detector you have, do not hesitate to call the non emergency phone number for your local fire station and the fire fighters on duty will gladly respond out to assist you!

PFFPNC members from Asheville to Wilmington responded to recent flooding caused by Tropical Storm Fred in the Western part of North Carolina. Multiple rescues were performed by crews in the areas of Cruso and Canton in Haywood County, North Carolina. Not only do these fire fighters serve their respective communities on a day-to-day basis; they respond at a moment’s notice anywhere in the state when needed anytime disaster strikes. Pictured top left is North Carolina Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 11 from New Hanover County which is over five hours from the affected areas.

Thanks to these emergency responders who make the sacrifice to be away from their families to ensure safety to our citizens of North Carolina.

On August 25, 2021 PFFPNC leaders were at the General Assembly in Raleigh, North Carolina along with IAFF President Ed Kelly and DVP Walt Dix advocating for inclusion of the Firefighters Fighting Cancer Act in the final budget. Firefighters are nearly 250% times more likely at risk for cancer than someone who does not work in the fire service. With statistics like this that have been discovered and proven through constant research across the country, statewide cancer coverage for fire fighters is a main priority for PFFPNC. Thanks to all the legislators who took the time to meet with PFFPNC leadership while advocating for inclusion of the Firefighters Fighting Cancer Act in the final budget.

Happy Halloween from the Professional Fire Fighters and Paramedics of North Carolina

Raleigh IAFF Local 548 Engine 21 was first arriving to a working fire in a mobile home. E21 had fire attack. E12 gave water supply and assisted E21. L12 cleared searches for victims.

Your Raleigh firefighters are dedicated to providing a high level of service to the citizens of the city of Raleigh.

To support your Raleigh Firefighters and Local 548 visit local548.com and check out our store.

NEW HANOVER COUNTY IAFF LOCAL 4576 Two members from Local 4576 recently traveled to Baton Rouge, LA to assist residents recover from damages sustained from Hurricane Ida. Laura Leigh and Blair teamed up with Heart 9/11 to make sure citizens could return to normalcy as fast as possible.

We will never forget September 11, 2001- not ever.

We will never forget what our profession sacrificed for others twenty years ago as these brave men and women ran into the twin towers as they came crumbling to the ground.

May God continue to hold our brothers and sisters and may their families feel a semblance of peace.

THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL FRIENDS PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE APEX CERAMIC TILE & MARBLE

910-617-6200

GARRETT TRUCKING 1701 ELLIOTT FARM RD. FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28311 910-488-2115

MILLS INTERNATIONAL 801 S QUEEN ST. KINSTON, NC 28502 252-527-3500

CAPE FEAR LAND COMPANY 4526 BANNOCK CIRCLE WILMINGTON, NC 28409 910-540-5329

HI-TECH TRANSMISSION SERVICE 115 GUM TREE LOOP STEDMAN, NC 28391 910-482-8562

GREENVILLE MARINE & SPORT CTR. 3600 GREENVILLE BLVD NE GREENVILLE, NC 27834 252-758-5938

ERWIN LAW 824 GUM BRANCH RD JACKSONVILLE, NC 28540 910-346-3365

ALBERT F. RHODES JEWELERS

SEARCY CARE COUNSELING 700 BROOKS AVE. RALEIGH, NC 27607-4132 252-305-4880

6608 WINDMILL WAY WILMINGTON, NC 28405

PORT CITY PLUMBING SUPPLY WILMINGTON AUTO WHOLESALE

SADALE UTILITIES 717 5 MILE RD. RICHLANDS, NC 28574 910-389-0774

FRIENDLY NURSERY

HAMILTON REFRIGERATION 2708 JONATHAN LANE LEBRANGE, NC 28551 252-268-9067

THE FOLLOWING BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL FRIENDS PAY SPECIAL TRIBUTE TO OUR FIREFIGHTERS FOR KEEPING OUR COMMUNITY SAFE LEGECY FUNDING SERVICE RALEIGH, NC 27605 919-747-3723

MCNAMARA & COMPANY 9203 BAILEYWICK RD. #103 RALEIGH, NC 27615 919-329-2997

QUEST MARTIAL ARTS 10760 WAKEFIELD COMMONS DR. #10 RALEIGH., NC 27614 919-263-1457

PRO TECH FINISHES 5200 TRADEMARK DRIVE #101 RALEIGH, NC 27610 919-255-1510

INTENSE GLASS 13312 GARFFE SHERRON RD. WAKEFOREST, NC 27587 919-556-7414

MCINTYRE, PARADIA, WOOD CPA’S 112 CARDINAL DRIVE EXT. WILMINGTON, NC 28405 910-262-3148

SMITH AND SMITH CPA 1150 EXECUTIVE CIRCLE #5 CARY, NC 27511 919-380-06000..

NC CLASSIC RESTORATIONS 3301 BUSTER TRAIL RD. FUQUAY VARINA, NC 27526 919-567-0077

TERRI ALPHIN SMITH INC.

1012 HENDERSON DRIVE JACKSONVILLE, NC 28540

CRAFTY BEER SHOP 8450 HONEYCUTT ROAD #108 RALEIGH, NC 27615 919-703-0874

TERRY’S FLOOR FASHION 911 KILDARE FARM RD. CARY, NC 27511 919-467-3226

CAROLINA SPORTS MEDICINE 1717 SHIPYARD BLVD #300 WILMINGTON, NC 28403 910-799-0110

CAROLINA FUEL INJECTION 1416 HODGE RD. KNIGHTDALE, NC 27545 919-266-4471

INSURE 2607 GLENWOOD DRIVE RALEIGH, NC 27608 919-781-9235

STEVE’S HOME IMPROVEMENTS 104 KENSINGTON RAEFORD, NC 28376 910-920-6255

LINDSAY PSYCHOLOGICAL 8601 SIX FORKS RD # 400 RALEIGH, NC 27615 919-810-2890

RGC INC. 117 SIGMA DRIVE GARNER, NC 27529 919-779-8890

CAROLINA GIRLS GRILL & CAFÉ 2535 CASTLE HAYNE RD. WILMNGTON, NC 28401 910-251-8004

SPA & POOL OUTLET 7963 FAYETTEVILLE ST. RALEIGH, NC 27603 919-772-7745

DELTORO CONCRETE 107 ASHBOURNE CT. GARDNER, NC 27529 919-395-1512

EYE SPY HOME INSPECTION WWW.EYESPYCAROLINA.COM 910-395-4424 WILMINGTON, NC

SOUTH LAW FIRM 3725 NATIONAL DR. #215 RALEIGH, NC 27612 919-881-4168

PRO AUTO REPAIR 2412 PAULA STREET RALEIGH, NC 27608 919-803-5253

TREGEMBO ANIML PARK 5813 CAROLINA BEACH RD. WILMINGTON, NC 28412 910-443-2708

AMERICAN INSTITUE OF HEALTHCARE & FITNESS 8300 HEALTH PARK STE 217 RALEIGH, NC 27615 919-238-4031

TRACTOR PLACE 1920 MIZE RD, KNIGHTDALE, NC 27545 919-266-5846

ACCESS COMMUNITY BASED SERVICES 1899 N. MARINE BLVD. #300 JACKSONVILLE, NC 28546 910-346-2311

1024 WASHINGTON ST A

910-358-1128