VIDEO: 5 pets perish as fire destroys Harnett County lake-front home

A large fire destroyed a lake-front home in Harnett County and displaced a family. Five animals in the home all died in the fire, the Red Cross said. It happened Tuesday afternoon at a home on Summer Creek Lane. The home backs up to Silver Run Lake near Carolina Lakes Golf Course. Chopper 11 flew over the burning home as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames. The fire had already destroyed the home, razing all of it to the ground except the garage and one side of the home. The Red Cross told ABC11 that one adult and two children, ages 5 and 8 were displaced. The homes next to the one destroyed in the fire also sustained damage.
WTVD-TV ABC 11 Durham

Hillcrest Fire Department fire chief suffers head injury after fall from fire engine, officials say

A fire department in Hoke County is asking the community to keep their fire chief in their prayers after an unfortunate accident. On Tuesday evening, the Hillcrest Fire Department shared on Facebook that Fire Chief Michael Scott fell off the fire engine while assisting with vehicle washing and maintenance, and suffered a head injury. They said he was seen by medical staff and transferred to a specialty facility. “Please keep the Fire Chief in your prayers,” the fire department said in their post. “Thank you for the support from our partners in and out of county, and the community as a whole.”
WGHP-TV FOX 8 High Point

Man charged after firefighter was shot at, Chatham County sheriff’s office says

A man with a pistol was seen emerging from a field before taking out a pistol and reportedly firing it at a Goldston firefighter on Jan. 5, according to the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office. The sheriff’s office announced Tuesday that Jackie Ray Caudle, a 52-year-old Goldston man, is now charged with a felony in connection to the incident which began with a reported brush fire. The Goldston Fire Department was called to the area of J. Cook Road to put out a brush fire. As the crew was working to determine the source of the smoke, that’s when the sheriff’s office said Caudle came from a field, approaching a fence line. He then “took aim at a firefighter inside a truck and discharged the firearm in the direction of the emergency responder,” the sheriff’s office said in a release. The firefighter was not injured.
WGHP-TV FOX 8 High Point

Ocean Isle Beach to expand fire department

VIDEO: The Town of Ocean Isle Beach is gearing up to expand its fire department. “It’s time we expand. We don’t have enough space,” Town Mayor Debbie Smith said. Smith says the current fire station was built about 30 years ago, when the island and surrounding mainland area looked much different. “We’re in an aged-out building,” Smith said. Over the years more and more people have moved in, putting a strain on what the fire department’s facilities were originally meant to do. Smith says there’s not enough space and that the station needs more beds for first responders. More than just the facilities are expected to expand. “As our area grows, I expect that we will have to hire additional firefighters and staff in the future,” Smith said.
WECT-TV NBC/FOX 6 Wilmington

South Charlotte fire causes more than half million dollars in damage

VIDEO: A fire at a south Charlotte home left one family with more than $500,000 in damage, according to investigators. The fire happened Saturday shortly before 2 a.m. off the 11000 block of Stonepath Lane, located in the Ballantyne area of south Charlotte. Charlotte fire crews said it took about 54 minutes to get the fire under control. Investigators later determined the fire started in or around the sun porch area toward the back of the house. “Extreme” fire damage inside and outside of the house was reported, and the damage was estimated to be about $540,000 worth. No injuries were reported.
WBTV CBS 3 Charlotte

Durham City Council to weigh raises for police, firefighters in budget

VIDEO: Good news for Durham city employees. They could be getting pay bumps starting in July with next year's budget. The city council is considering the raises as part of the budget process. The numbers show all four categories of Durham employees. Those on general step plans, open range pay, police and fire are all being paid below market rate right now. The new budget could change that as the raises are projected to cost about $28.5 million. After protests from a range of employees at city meetings, pay raises could be in next year's budget. The city's classification study and budget proposal keep all employees, including police and fire, on their pay steps. Changes for general step employees range from almost 8% up to 20%.
WRAL-TV NBC 5 Raleigh