Pender County hires new fire division chief ahead of merger

Follow us on Google

Pender County in coastal North Carolina has appointed longtime fire service veteran Bruce Tucker as its new Division Chief of Fire, adding senior leadership experience as the county completes a major merger of its emergency services operations.

New leadership role for evolving fire services

Recent regional coverage indicates that Pender County Emergency Services has selected Bruce Tucker, a fire service veteran with roughly three decades of experience, to serve as Division Chief of Fire beginning in early August 2026. The appointment places an experienced administrator at the center of a rapidly changing emergency services landscape in one of North Carolina’s fastest growing coastal counties.

The Division Chief of Fire position typically provides high level oversight of fire suppression, emergency medical response support, rescue operations, and community risk reduction programs. Public job descriptions for similar roles across North Carolina show that division chiefs often act as second in command to a fire chief, are responsible for maintaining operational readiness across multiple stations, and may assume command during complex incidents when needed.

In Pender County, the new division chief is expected to guide the county’s fire operations as they transition from a patchwork of contracted and volunteer agencies into a unified county run system. Local government documents describe the broader goal as building a coordinated emergency services department that can share personnel, equipment, and communications infrastructure across rural communities, beaches, and growing suburban areas near Wilmington.

The hiring of a seasoned leader comes at a time when demand for emergency response has been increasing along the Cape Fear coast. County planning materials note that Pender has seen a steady rise in call volume as residential development expands along major corridors and near popular beach destinations, placing new pressure on both career and volunteer firefighters.

Key position in newly created Emergency Services Department

Pender County has spent the past year reshaping how it delivers fire and medical response. County briefing materials outline a merger that brings Pender EMS & Fire and Penderlea Fire under direct county management, creating a consolidated Emergency Services Department. Under that structure, the Division of Fire is one of several coordinated branches that also include emergency medical services, emergency management, the Fire Marshal’s Office, and logistics and emergency communications.

According to those documents, the new department began operating under county control on July 1, 2026, with existing staff shifting to become county employees. Officials have described the merger as a way to streamline funding, improve interoperability between agencies, and standardize training and response protocols. The Division Chief of Fire role sits within that framework and will report to the Emergency Services Director.

Planning records for the merger highlight that every fire station in Pender County now includes some level of paid staffing, even at locations historically described as volunteer stations. The Division Chief of Fire will be responsible for coordinating those resources, ensuring coverage in both inland areas and coastal communities that experience seasonal population surges tied to tourism and second homes.

The restructuring is also intended to support long range capital planning. County budget documents for the 2025 to 2027 period reference ongoing investments in apparatus, station upgrades, and communications systems, along with adjustments to fire district and EMS tax rates to keep funding at what the county describes as revenue neutral levels after recent property revaluations.

Fire readiness in a county facing drought and growth

Pender County’s changing fire leadership arrives as the region continues to balance growth, wildfire risk, and hurricane preparedness. In early May 2026, the county’s Fire Marshal’s Office announced the lifting of a countywide burn ban that had been imposed during dry conditions, while still urging residents to exercise caution and follow state and local regulations when conducting any outdoor burning.

That advisory followed a period of heightened wildfire concern, with county notices pointing to ongoing drought conditions and an active fire within the county even as rainfall improved the overall outlook. Public guidance stressed the importance of monitoring weather conditions, never leaving fires unattended, and ensuring that water or other extinguishing tools are available when burning debris.

At the same time, the county’s tourism and residential growth create additional challenges for fire services. Pender’s mix of small towns, rural communities, and coastal areas means firefighters must be prepared for structure fires, vehicle collisions along interstate and state highways, brush fires in wooded areas, and emergencies at beach rentals and waterfront developments popular with visitors.

The Division Chief of Fire is expected to play a central role in coordinating station coverage, training personnel for that broad range of incidents, and working with other branches of the Emergency Services Department on evacuation planning and storm response during the Atlantic hurricane season.

Implications for residents, volunteers, and travelers

County information on the emergency services merger indicates that career firefighters and emergency medical personnel have transitioned to county employment without reductions in staff levels. Volunteer firefighters remain part of the system, with the option to continue serving alongside career crews stationed throughout the county. The new division chief will be responsible for integrating those teams and aligning them under unified policies and operating procedures.

For residents, the changes are intended to provide more consistent coverage, clearer lines of command, and shared resources such as specialized rescue equipment and advanced life support units. The structure is also designed to reduce duplication between agencies and to make it easier for the county to plan for long term capital needs, from new fire stations to upgraded communications networks.

Visitors traveling through Pender County’s beaches, small towns, and rural byways are likely to see little outward change in day to day operations, but the presence of a Division Chief of Fire with extensive experience may help strengthen behind the scenes coordination during large incidents or severe weather events. The new leadership position, supported by the county’s broader emergency services reorganization, is aimed at ensuring that fire and rescue responses keep pace with both population growth and evolving risks.

As the August start date approaches for the new division chief, Pender County’s fire services are adjusting to a more unified model that brings together career staff, volunteers, and multiple disciplines under one umbrella. The appointment of a seasoned leader suggests that the county is placing significant emphasis on professionalizing and stabilizing its fire operations during a period of rapid change along North Carolina’s southeastern coast.