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.