West Stanly Fire Department

03/29/2026

A statewide burn ban has been issued by the N.C. Forest Service.

Due to increased wildfire risk, the N.C. Forest Service has issued a ban on all open burning and has canceled all burning permits statewide effective 6 p.m. Saturday, March 28 until further notice.

Under North Carolina law, the ban prohibits all open burning in the affected counties, regardless of whether a permit was previously issued. The issuance of any new permits has also been suspended until the ban is lifted. Anyone violating the burn ban faces a $100 fine plus $183 court costs. Any person responsible for setting a fire may be liable for any expenses related to extinguishing the fire.

The burn ban does not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling. The local fire marshal has authority to issue a burn ban within those 100 feet.

Read news release: https://www.ncagr.gov/news/press-releases/2026/03/28/statewide-burn-ban-issued-north-carolina-due-hazardous-forest-fire-conditions

03/26/2026

MVA Update

The West Stanly Firefighter involved in yesterday’s motor vehicle accident was released from the hospital around 9pm last night.

We continue to thank our community members for their prayers and support.

03/25/2026

Apparatus MVA

At 4:49 p.m., the West Stanly Fire Department and Stanly County EMS were dispatched to a cardiac arrest near the Locust Town Center. West Stanly Squad 47 and Engine 461 responded.

While in route, Squad 47 was involved in a serious accident at the intersection of Main Street and Central Avenue. Engine 461, following behind Squad 47, immediately notified Stanly County 911 via radio and requested an emergency EMS response.

Mutual aid units were dispatched to the original cardiac arrest call. Rescue 46, Squad 46, and multiple off-duty personnel responded to the scene of the MVA. One firefighter and one civilian were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The Locust Police Department is conducting the accident investigation. Any media inquiries regarding this incident should be directed to Fire Chief Dakota Raborn at [email protected].

We would like to thank the Midland Fire and Rescue for providing a move-up during the incident. We also extend our gratitude to the many agencies that have reached out to check on the wellbeing of our personnel.

03/24/2026

03/21/2026

FATAL FIRE

At 06:06 this morning, West Stanly, Oakboro, Ridgecrest, New Salem, and Midland were dispatched to a residential structure fire in the 13000-block of Brooks Rd. West Stanly Engine 461, Tanker 464, and Squad 47 responded. While en route, Stanly County 911 advised that the caller reported smoke and flames visible on two floors, with the possibility of two residents trapped inside.

Due to the lack of hydrants in the area, Engine 461 requested a Tanker Task Force while responding. This task force added Fairview, Endy, and Unionville Fire Departments to the response.

Engine 461 arrived on scene to find a 1.5-story single-family dwelling that was 60% involved. Personnel stretched a single attack line and began fire suppression. Given the reports of trapped victims, crews from Engine 461 and Squad 47 entered the rear of the residence to begin a primary search. They were able to search approximately 30% of the structure before the Engine Officer ordered an evacuation due to a compromised roof system, significant fire involvement and the lack of an established water supply.

As additional units arrived, two drop-tank operations were established on each end of the incident. Crews remained in a defensive posture until the fire was knocked down. A control time was transmitted at 06:55.

During the event, Command confirmed through a relative that one person remained unaccounted for. During a secondary search, a deceased victim was located.

Notably, during the incident, a firefighter was struck by a live power line that failed due to radiant heat from the fire. Thankfully, that member was uninjured.

The fire fatality and origin investigation is currently being conducted by the Stanly County Fire Marshal’s Office and the North Carolina Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM). All further inquiries should be directed to the Stanly County Fire Marshal’s Office. No further information is available at this time.

We would like to thank all supporting agencies for their assistance: Stanly County 911, Oakboro Police Department, Stanly County Sheriff’s Office, Stanly County EMS, Stanly County Emergency Management, Albemarle FD and Union Power.

03/15/2026

Stay weather aware tomorrow!

03/13/2026

Department Recognition

Last night, our staff was invited to the City Of Locust Council meeting by Police Chief Jeff Shew. During the meeting, Chief Shew presented our department with the Locust Police Department’s Citizen(s) of the Year award! We were honored to be recognized by our brothers and sisters in blue.

Chief Shew highlighted the exceptional working relationship our two agencies share, which is demonstrated on a daily basis:

“This partnership allows both our agencies to operate effectively during complex incidents and ensures that residents receive a coordinated, professional response when emergencies occur. This strong working relationship between the West Stanly Fire Department and the Locust Police Department reflects a shared commitment to public service and demonstrates how teamwork among first responders strengthens the safety and resilience of the Locust community.”

Our agency continues to lean on strong relationships with all our county emergency services departments to ensure that we can swiftly and properly handle any emergency incident.

We thank Chief Shew and his staff for the recognition and look forward to continuing to foster our strong relationship with the Locust Police Department.

03/04/2026

2026 Alarm Total - 199
Working Fires - 10

02/28/2026

🚨A Busy Start to 2026🚨

The West Side is off to an incredibly busy start this year!

Since January 1st, our members have responded to 10 working fires within our district and in support of our mutual aid partners. This brings our total to 16 significant incidents over the last six months.

Professional Response, Proven Results

While this is an unusually high volume of fire activity for our area, it highlights the critical importance of having staffed apparatus ready to deploy.

Staffing: On average, our department has placed 8 firefighters on the scene of every working fire.

Collaboration: This internal strength, combined with seamless support from our neighboring departments, has ensured effective fireground operations.

Safety: Most importantly, these efforts have resulted in zero civilian injuries.

A Quick Safety Reminder

These recent incidents serve as a vital reminder for every household:

Check your smoke detectors: Ensure they are functional and tested monthly.

Have a plan: Establish and practice an escape plan with your family.

We sincerely thank the community for your support as we continue to respond to increasing call volume!

02/05/2026

2026 Alarm Total - 97
Working Fires - 4

02/04/2026

West Stanly Fire will be conducting a controlled burn on Friday morning. Bethel Church Rd, West of Coley Store Rd, will be down to one lane until approximately 1pm. We thank the public for their patience during this time while conducting this valuable training exercise!

🚨 Public Notice: Controlled Burn 🚨

West Stanly Fire Department will be conducting a controlled burn at 12078 Bethel Church Road on Friday, February 6, beginning at 8:30 AM. One lane of traffic is expected to be closed from 8:00 AM–1:00 PM. Please plan accordingly and thank you for your patience as crews work to ensure safety.

01/23/2026

⚠️ ICE STORM WARNING: Prepare Now

An Ice Storm Warning is in effect for most of the Carolinas from tomorrow through Monday afternoon. Significant ice and sleet will make travel dangerous and likely cause widespread power outages.

What you need to do:

Prepare now: Get your supplies and charge your devices today.

Stay off the roads: Once the storm starts, please stay home.

Use 911 for emergencies only: Do not call 911 to report power outages.

Who to call:

Power Outages: Contact your local utility provider directly.

Emergencies: We have increased our daily staffing and ready to respond if you need us.

Stay safe, look out for your neighbors, and stay off the ice!