HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. – The Town of Huntersville will begin hiring full-time fire department staff to ensure residents receive quality fire service as Huntersville continues to grow.
The new Town Board of Commissioners sworn in during the Dec. 4, 2023, meeting, voted to approve a budget amendment that will fund the addition of a directly paid Town Chief and 18 full-time fire department staff for the Town of Huntersville. The budget amendment was for $304,952 from the Town’s general fund, and the rest of the $1.1 million being allocated for funding of these new positions will come from grants and existing funding that was already earmarked to pay part-time fire staff working for Huntersville Fire Department, Inc.
The addition of Town-paid fire staff does not eliminate any Huntersville Fire Department, Inc., positions. The Town encourages all current Huntersville Fire Department, Inc., staff that choose to report in a part-time capacity to continue to do so.
“Because Huntersville Fire Department, Inc., has had issues with staff coverage, especially on nights, weekends and holidays, the need for some full-time staff to supplement existing part-time staff has been discussed openly in 2023,” said Deputy Town Manager Jackie Huffman. “The Town of Huntersville is the most populated municipality in North Carolina that does not provide fire protection services with any municipal full-time employees until the addition of this staff. Additionally, having 18 full-time positions is likely to decrease the amount of overtime incurred to fill previously vacant positions.”
The Town will begin the recruiting and hiring process for six firefighter, six engineer and six captain positions immediately. The budget amendment will fund the additional staff effective Jan. 1, 2024. This board action does not dissolve or diminish the role of the existing non-profit organization Huntersville Fire Department, Inc. Both the Town and non-profit corporation departments will work together to provide quality fire service to the 63 square-mile area of Huntersville. The Town’s new full-time fire employees are expected to start work after the turn of the year.
The Huntersville Fire Department, Inc., has served the residents of Huntersville as a separate non-profit for 100 years with volunteer and part-time staff. The addition of full-time firefighting staff to create the municipal Huntersville Fire Department will ensure that residents continue receiving the excellent fire service they are accustomed to as both departments work together to cover the needs of Huntersville’s 63,000 residents. Both fire departments will operate out of the Town of Huntersville’s existing fire stations.
“Our main mission at Huntersville Fire Department is to continue to respond to our growing calls for service in a timely manner in order to save lives and property,” said Huntersville Fire Chief Jim Dotoli. “This continued high level of service will be executed utilizing both full-time and part-time firefighters who will work hand and hand, together, to accomplish this mission. As the town continues to grow, so will the fire department. We are fortunate to have town management and our elected officials understanding and supporting our need to transition our department.”
All qualified applicants are invited to apply for the new firefighting positions with the Town of Huntersville by visiting the jobs website. Relevant information about the positions, including salary ranges, is available on the jobs website. Any current volunteer or part-time firefighters with the Huntersville Fire Department, Inc., nonprofit organization are also invited to apply for full-time employment with the Town’s new municipal fire department if they wish to do so.
