10/30/2026
🚒 FRONT LINE FRIDAY: JOSEPH HENRY 🚒
Meet Joseph Henry, Firefighter Specialist and Acting Lieutenant on C Shift, who has proudly served Western Carteret Fire and EMS for 9 years! Joseph originally started as a PRN in 2017 before stepping into a full-time role in 2020.
What sparked his journey into fire and EMS wasn't a childhood dream of riding on a big red truck, it was watching his wife come home every day as a vet tech, deeply proud of the career she built. Tired of the standard 9-to-5 grind, Joseph wanted that same sense of fulfillment.
It wasn't until he entered the fire academy that he discovered a deep family connection to the service: his grandfather had volunteered with the Cape Carteret Fire Department in the late '80s and early '90s, cementing his choice to plant his career right here at Western.
When asked what keeps him coming back, Joseph highlights the unpredictability and the brotherhood: "One minute you're helping memaw up off the ground and the next you're sent to 2 fully involved structure fires." Working 48-hour shifts builds an unbreakable bond with his crew, which "makes some of the things we see easier to deal with."
From driving fire engines and training on the water with the department boat to Public Ed visits at local schools like diving straight into the dunk tank during water day at White Oak Elementary just to hear the kids' excitement—Joseph loves every facet of the job. He still carries a memorable piece of that community connection from the water day cheers.
Off duty, you'll find Joseph spending time with family, hitting the beach during the off-season, working out, bowling in his Wednesday night league, hitting the golf course, and tackling paramedic school studies.
And as anyone on shift can attest, Joe is always finding a way to keep everyone laughing, whether he’s dreaming up hilarious birthday cakes, keeping Lt. Dominy’s wife supplied with unsolicited photos of her husband “looking like a stud,” or winding down at the end of the day with a cigar in the back of the bay.
When asked why he continues to serve, Joseph puts it simply: "This job is the most rewarding career, knowing you've made a difference on someone's worst day keeps me going and learning."
Thank you for your dedication, leadership, and all you do for our community, Joseph!
