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Emergency Services Merger
Here you will find information regarding the ongoing Emergency Services merger, including: where we are in the process, important dates, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). This information will be updated as the process moves forward.
Pender County has undertaken a merger of Emergency Services, including both Pender EMS & Fire and Penderlea Fire Department. Conversations regarding the merger have surfaced throughout the years, but began again in January 2025. In March 2025, a majority of the Board of County Commissioners voted to assume the services provided by Pender EMS & Fire and approved a plan in June 2025 to create a unified Emergency Services Department. Staff from Pender County, Pender EMS & Fire, Penderlea Fire, and Maple Hill Fire meet twice per month to work through the many task items that must be identified and completed prior to the effective date for staff and assets of July 1, 2026.
Here are important dates regarding the timeline:
- November 2025: Meetings with PEMSF staff (staff only)
- November 3, 2025: Presentation from NC Fire Chief Consulting on the merger process
- Spring 2026: Public Town Hall meetings
- Spring 2026: Final Merger Agreement
- July 1, 2026: Merger goal date; staff and assets transfer to County operation
What is the Merger Committee working on now?
- The Merger Committee is working through the extensive task lists to ensure we are assigning tasks to the right people or groups.
- The Finance & HR workgroup is working through finalizing benefits information and scheduling Town Halls for staff.
- The Technology workgroup is determining what equipment and software is compatible, what will need to be replaced, what can be migrated to the County, and appropriate timelines.
- The legal teams are scheduling a meeting to discuss the process for writing the final merger agreement and finalizing tasks.
- The operational workgroups (Fire, EMS, Special Ops & Training, and Volunteers) are being formed and assigned tasks.
Below are Frequently Asked Questions as well as documents requested during the public Town Halls in October 2025.
Updated 10/22/25
FAQ: Before the Merger
How did Pender County provide fire and EMS services before the merger?
Fire service is provided by a mix of municipal and non-profit departments. Burgaw Fire Department, Atkinson Fire Department, Surf City Fire Department, and Topsail Beach Fire Department are all municipal departments operated by the towns in which they are located. Pender EMS & Fire, Maple Hill Volunteer Fire Department, Penderlea Fire Department, and Rocky Point Fire Department are non-profits and provide service through a mixture of full-time paid staff, part-time staff, and volunteers. Pender EMS & Fire has primarily full-time paid firefighters. Rocky Point operates with part-time paid firefighters and volunteers. Maple Hill and Penderlea are staffed with full-time paid firefighters that are employees of Pender EMS & Fire and volunteers.
EMS services are provided by Pender EMS & Fire and Union Rescue Squad. Pender EMS & Fire provides paramedic-level coverage throughout the county on their Quick Response Vehicles (QRV) and staffs their ambulances with Advanced-level EMTs and Basic-level EMTs. Union Rescue Squad operates primarily in the Union district and staffs their ambulances with Basic-level EMTs. They intend to provide Advanced-level EMTs by the end of 2025.
Pender EMS & Fire also provides heavy rescue, swift water rescue, search and rescue, and other specialized functions.
How are the services funded?
Fire services are funded through the fire district tax for each district. The fire tax rate varies by district. Most departments also receive a supplement from the general fund during the annual budget process as costs have increased over the past several years with the transition to mostly paid staff.
EMS services are funded through the EMS tax, which is levied at a rate of $.0925 county wide. Departments also receive funds through EMS billing for services provided. Currently, Union Rescue is funded by general fund tax dollars.
How are other emergency services provided?
The County operates the Pender County Sheriff's Office, E-911, Emergency Management, and the Fire Marshal's Office. Funding for these agencies comes from the County general fund and some grants.
FAQ- About the Merger
What exactly is a merger?
A merger happens when two or more organizations agree to go forward with a shared vision to create a single new organization rather than remain separately managed and operated. In this case, the merger is between Pender County, Pender EMS & Fire, and Penderlea Fire Department.
Pender County contracted with North Carolina Fire Chief Consulting in May 2025 to help facilitate the process.
How will the merger affect service?
The excellent service delivery to the residents of Pender County will not be affected. Daily operational responses should remain seamless through the merger. The same dedicated staff serving the County before the merger will be the same dedicated staff serving the County after the merger.
Why are we undergoing a merger?
There has been discussion for more than 10 years about Pender County operating fire services. Many citizens no longer work close to home, and many businesses are no longer amenable to allowing employees to leave work to respond to fires as volunteer firefighters or to respond to medical calls as EMTs, making it very difficult to provide adequate coverage using only volunteers. Additionally, significant increases in call volume as the County has grown has led to a need for paid, career firefighters to staff stations and apparatus. Over the years, all fire stations in Pender County are staffed with some level of paid firefighters, including stations that are often referred to as volunteer stations.
Focused discussions regarding a merger resurfaced in January 2025, with the Board of County Commissioners voting in March 2025 to move fire and EMS operations under County operation. With the increasing demands and requirements of emergency services, it is the County's desire to build a countywide emergency services division in order to allow for more interoperability between all the County's dedicated responders and to streamline funding of emergency services.
A Memorandum of Understanding was approved in August and September 2025.
How will the merger affect Pender EMS & Fire staff?
Pender EMS & Fire employees will become County employees with the same benefits as other County staff. There will be no reduction in career staff associated with the merger.
How will the merger affect volunteers?
Any qualified volunteer at a fire department or EMS agency will still be able to volunteer with the County after the merger if they so choose.
When will this be completed?
Staff will become County employees and assets will be operated by Pender County on July 1, 2026. There will be numerous items to be completed after this date, such as closing out financials, filing taxes for each organization, and long-range planning for emergency services.
What will service delivery look like post-merger?
The County will be creating an Emergency Services Department, which will consist of a Fire Division, EMS Division, Emergency Management Division, Fire Marshal's Office, and a Logistics/ Emergency Communications Division. Having all emergency services together allows for the sharing of equipment and resources and enhanced communication. Each Division will report to the Emergency Services Director, who will report to the County Manager.
Who is making decisions about the merger?
Pender County is working on the merger through a committee including staff from Pender County, Pender EMS & Fire, Penderlea Fire, Maple Hill Fire, and NC Fire Chief Consulting. The boards of each department are responsible for approving any documents, such as a Memorandum of Understanding and the final merger agreement.
FAQ- What does this mean for me?
Will my property taxes increase as a result of the merger?
There is no planned tax increase as a result of the merger since funding for all fire and EMS services is already a part of the County budget. The way emergency services is paid for may change as the County investigates the best way to ensure similar coverage levels across the county.
There will be more detailed information regarding financial costs in Spring 2026 during the annual budget process.
Will my ISO rating change?
There are no planned changes to service level delivery, station locations, or training, and, therefore, significant impacts to ISO ratings are not anticipated. Any changes to ISO ratings are not expected to impact residential homeowner insurance.
Will there still be a fire truck/ ambulance at the station near me?
There are no planned changes to any station locations or reductions in staffing. Apparatus and crews will still respond from the fire or EMS station near you.
How will information be shared moving forward?
Information and progress will be kept up-to-date on the county's website under the "Emergency Services" tab. Regular updates will be shared at Board of County Commissioner meetings. Major updates and milestones will be shared via social media and the news media.