Operations
The Town of Carolina Beach Fire Department (CBFD) is a full- service organization. The operational staff consists of career positions and 20+ part-time and paid on call positions. Career staff is organized into 2 shifts working daily from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on a rotational schedule. Our personnel are required to maintain skills in firefighting. We also assist New Hanover Emergency Medical Services as needed. All personnel are responsible for the routine maintenance and care of all equipment and to maintain a high level of readiness for any incident. Our staff clean, inspect, repair, and test all department resources to ensure a safe and efficient work environment.
All personnel are subject to emergency callback to insure adequate staffing is available to respond to the wide variety of emergencies including those in single family homes, commercial structures and industrial occupancies.
Our goal is to have a minimum of two engines, one ladder and fifteen personnel respond to all structure fires within the town to meet the following service objectives:
- Turnout within 60 seconds
- Arrive on scene, with five personnel, within 5 minutes of dispatch 90% of the time
- Set up two 150 GPM attack lines and attack the fire within 2 minutes of arrival. (NFPA 1720)
- Provide 2 person RIT crew within 2 minutes of arrival as required by CFR 1910.134 (two-in/two-out)
- Provide a 2 person search and rescue crew within two minutes of arrival. (NFPA 1710)
- Respond a minimum of 15 personnel to all structure fires within 9 minutes of dispatch 90% of the time
The fire department responds to more than just fire calls. We also providemedical responder services and response to hazardous materials incidents. In total, the department responds to over 400 calls per year and handles the emergency phase of each situation before turning the incident over to other appropriate personnel such as police officers or EMS personnel. Whenever a customer calls, we will do everything possible to help with their situation, even the occasional "cat in the tree." If you have a problem, call us; we may have the inside track to the solution.